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DJMC #4: Satan’s Soldier Mixtape by Tom Scioli

By | June 26th, 2013
Posted in Columns | % Comments

We are all big fans of Tom Scioli around these parts – he’s one of our favorite all-time guests on The Hour Cosmic, in addition to producing some of the most vibrant work of his career with his free webcomics. One of those webcomics, “Satan’s Soldier,” now has its first installment available in print from Tom’s website, Ambarb.com. To celebrate this, we thought we’d ask Tom what Satan’s Soldier would be listening to as he flies around the world, popping people’s heads off, killing a sack of babies, and other hideous things. He obliged, and we couldn’t be happier.

And please pick up your signed copy of “Satan’s Soldier” #1 via PayPal!





Take it away, Tom!

“Satan’s Soldier” is an ominous fever dream of science, superheroes and madness. The music was chosen to match or enhance the tone and themes of the comic.

“Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath on Grooveshark

The original anthem of evil. This is a scary song. Ominous church bells, a description of a shadowy figure just out of focus. It could be describing Soldier’s shadowy companion, D’Ark, or the dark god himself, Black Sabbyth. I bought this in my late 20’s and was afraid the earth might open up beneath me on the walk home from the record store. It’s just that evil.

“Lightning Strikes the Postman” by The Flaming Lips

Lightning Strikes The Postman by The Flaming Lips on Grooveshark

It’s off-kilter, with a tightening, escalating tension, and descriptions of dementia and sky power.

“Baby’s on Fire” by Brian Eno

Baby's on Fire by Brian Eno on Grooveshark

Satan’s Soldier has a sometimes-antagonistic relationship with his offspring, viewing them as nuisances and possibly a threat to his absolute power. He has been known to incinerate his superbabies with his laser eyes from time to time. A main criteria for a song worthy of Satan’s Soldier is a sense of being off balance. It’s got to sound disconcerting and keep you looking over your shoulder. This track from Eno’s first solo album is exactly that: a frightening, moody, and surprisingly poppy journey. It’s a close fit for the comic.

“Aluminum” by White Stripes

Aluminum by The White Stripes on Grooveshark

This was the unofficial theme song for American Barbarian, but it probably works even better for Satan’s Soldier. It’s faux 70’s metal, boiling down the essence of Sabbath and Zeppelin to a repeated revolving speaker “ahhh” accompanied by a heavy minimalist riff. The riff from “They Live.”

“Take A Bow” by Muse

Take A Bow by Muse on Grooveshark

Continued below

This song made me want to see Watchmen. It was on one short commercial, but never showed up in the movie itself, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s still up for grabs. An orchestral retro-synth Wagnerian electronica epic for my retro-synth pop epic supercomic. The lyrical content, bombastic overwrought adolescent meditation on the abuse of power, interests me less than the music itself which is transcendent.

“Helter Skelter” by the Beatles

Helter Skelter by The Beatles – www.musicasparabaixar.org on Grooveshark

The heaviest, scariest thing the Beatles could muster. “I’m coming down fast, but don’t let me break you.” Pretty heavy, pretty scary even if it is a little over-played.

“My God” by Jethro Tull

My God by Jethro Tull on Grooveshark

“My God what have you done?” It’s got a nice sense of impending doom paired with religious motifs. An instrumental version would work well in Satan’s Soldier: The Movie.

“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” by Jimi Hendrix

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix on Grooveshark

It’s song about magic and super powers and an unforgettable syncopated riff. It explodes halfway through. “I stand up next to a mountain, chop it down with the edge of my hand.”

“The Bewlay Brothers” by David Bowie

The Bewlay Brothers by David Bowie on Grooveshark

I’m picking songs that make you feel off-kilter, but are still tuneful, with a bit of pop clinging to the bones, which is how I see my comic. It’s dark, but there’s a major key playing just beneath all the discord.

“I can See For Miles” by The Who

I Can See for Miles by The Who on Grooveshark

It describes an all-seeing all-knowing angry jealous dude. The sound is massive and echoes into cosmic infinity.

“In the Court of the Crimson King” by King Crimson

The Court Of The Crimson Song (Including The Return Of The Fire Witch/The Dance Of The Puppets) by King Krimson on Grooveshark

This was another unofficial theme for American Barbarian. The Crimson King is the most powerful man in his world and is dressed all in red.

Complete Playlist:

DJMC #4: Satan's Soldier by Multiversity Comics on Grooveshark


//TAGS | DJMC

Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

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