Heavy metal and hard rock may no longer dominate the mainstream like they once did, but that doesn’t mean the genres have disappeared from entertainment. In fact, some of the biggest bands from past decades continue to find new audiences, and video games are taking notice.

That’s the case with Madden NFL 27, the latest installment in EA Sports’ popular American football franchise. The game features a surprisingly metal-heavy soundtrack packed with heavy metal, hard rock, alternative rock, and several legendary bands.

Good music is still alive in the NFL, at least inside Raiders stadiums and among their fans, and now it’s making its way into the hands of players who know that crushing tackles pair perfectly with a killer guitar riff, bassline, and drumbeat.

Madden NFL 27 features a metal-heavy soundtrack

Madden NFL 27 launches August 13, and EA Sports has revealed the soundtrack that will accompany players throughout the upcoming season.

While every installment traditionally features an impressive and diverse collection of songs, this year’s soundtrack stands out for its particularly strong presence of heavy metal and rock.

The game features 24 rock and metal tracks, giving players plenty of opportunities to hear some of the biggest names in the genre throughout their time with the game.

Here’s the full list:

  • Sons Of Legion — Out The Cage
  • Lamb Of God — Into Oblivion
  • Incubus — Pardon Me
  • Helmet — Unsung
  • Audioslave — Cochise
  • Styx — Renegade
  • YUNGBLUD — Hello Heaven, Hello
  • Underoath — Writing On The Walls
  • The White Stripes — Seven Nation Army
  • Mötley Crüe — Kickstart My Heart
  • Trivium — Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr
  • The Who — Won’t Get Fooled Again
  • Stone Temple Pilots — Plush
  • Paramore — Misery Business
  • The Paradox — Bender (feat. Travis Barker)
  • The Killers — Mr. Brightside
  • Good Charlotte — The Anthem
  • Return To Dust — Bored
  • House Of Protection — Pulling Teeth
  • Metallica — For Whom The Bell Tolls
  • Ozzy Osbourne — Crazy Train
  • Quicksand — Fazer
  • Motörhead — Ace Of Spades
  • Souls Of Mischief — 93 ’Til Infinity

With legendary acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, The Who, and Lamb of God, this year’s soundtrack has plenty of material to satisfy fans of heavier music.

What improvements does Madden NFL 27 have?

This year’s Madden NFL focuses on making games feel more physical and strategic. The game introduces new interactions between receivers and defenders, placing greater emphasis on contact, positioning, and timing when fighting for the ball.

Defensive coverage, short-yardage situations, and pre-snap controls have also been improved, giving players more options to determine how their teams line up and react before the play begins.

One of the biggest changes comes to the game’s modes. Franchise mode now uses the Persona Engine, a system that gives players personalities and motivations designed to create a more dynamic league. The revamped free agency system also allows multiple teams to compete for the same players simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Superstar mode introduces the GOAT Career Journey campaign, branching skill trees, new positions, and deeper progression designed to take players from their early career all the way to the Hall of Fame.

Madden NFL 27 launches August 13 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.