Original Doom soundtrack added to US Library of Congress

The soundtrack for the original Doom has been added to the United States Library of Congress National Recording Registry as part of the Class of 2026, recognising the score’s cultural and historical significance in gaming and music.

Composed by Bobby Prince for the 1993 release of Doom, the soundtrack was selected alongside 24 other recordings from more than 3,000 public nominations. The addition brings the registry’s total collection to 700 recordings.

This year’s class also includes Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Taylor Swift’s 1989, Weezer’s Blue Album and The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat.

Prince, who worked as both a lawyer and musician, composed the soundtrack using MIDI technology during the early 1990s.

According to reports referenced by Engadget, he used technical adjustments to ensure in-game sound effects could still be heard clearly through the limitations of sound cards available at the time.

Writing on his personal blog, Prince explained that he completed the music before Doom’s playable levels had been finalised. “None of the games I worked on had completed levels before I had already completed the music,” he wrote.

Doom chief designer John Romero reportedly provided Prince with CDs from bands including Alice in Chains, Pantera and Metallica to help shape the soundtrack’s direction. Heavy metal became a major influence, combined with elements of techno and ambient music.

The soundtrack has occasionally drawn discussion over similarities between some tracks and the music that inspired them.

PC Gamer noted comparisons between Alice in Chains’ “Them Bones” and Doom track “Bye Bye American Pie”, though the soundtrack remains widely recognised for its influence on video game music.

Prince later composed music for other games, including Duke Nukem 3D.