If there’s one thing as electrifying as Thor’s hammer crash-landing into an army of enemies, it’s the pulsating beats of the Thor: Ragnarok soundtrack. Composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, the man who helped shape the sound of modern pop and new wave with the band Devo, this soundtrack was released on October 20, 2017, to accompany the Marvel movie of the same name. It punches harder than a politically incorrect post on social media at your liberal cousin’s Thanksgiving dinner. With its retro synth-wave aesthetics, the music is a perfect match to a film that doesn't shy away from being bold, bright, and audacious—exactly what you’d expect from a saga featuring the god of thunder himself.
Let’s start with the big picture—the movie itself. Thor: Ragnarok puts Chris Hemsworth back in the cape (well, metaphorically speaking, since Thor loses most of his fancy gear in this flick for a while). This time, he’s teamed up with Taika Waititi, a filmmaker renowned for his quirky style and unconventional storytelling methods. Where does this cinematic marvel take place? Across the universe! From the fiery pits of the demon Surtur’s lair in Muspelheim to the junk-laden planet of Sakaar, the soundtrack ties together an intergalactic journey as rich in sound as it is in spectacle. But why does this soundtrack matter more today than ever before? Because it’s a reminder of how even in our world full of noise, good music will always be a cherished breath of fresh air.
First, let’s talk throwbacks. Anyone with an ounce of taste knows that the 80s was the heyday of everything flashy—from fashion to film. The Thor: Ragnarok soundtrack embraces this with a firm, unapologetic grip, bringing synth-heavy tracks that jolt awake the nostalgia for those neon days of synth-pop and arcade games. The soundtrack’s homage to 1980s electronic music serves to remind us of when melodies were catchy and lyrics didn’t have to stand on a soapbox. Why complicate things?
The opening track, "Ragnarok Suite," sets the tone right off with its wild, unbridled energy. Vibrant synth pads and aggressive staccato strings invoke an atmosphere of impending chaos while staying rhythmically catchy. It's a powerful orchestral piece with an electronic push, proving that old-school analog sound blended with a modern flair hits the sweet spot—much like finding a classic car with an updated engine under the hood.
Next on the list is "Grandmaster Jam Session." Here, Mothersbaugh channels his Devo roots, bringing the funk back with some deep bass grooves and spaced-out synth lines. It’s the kind of track that makes you feel like you’ve walked into both an interstellar disco club and a strategy meeting between the Guardians and the Avengers. This tune perfectly captures Jeff Goldblum’s eccentric character, the Grandmaster. It feels weird, wild, and slightly unhinged, just like an improvised foreign policy speech that actually makes more sense than you’d expect.
The track "Asgard is a People" deserves mention because it carries the emotional heft of the movie. Instead of sticking to a predictable heroic score, Mothersbaugh infuses this piece with a sense of melancholy wrapped in synths. As the character stresses the significance of Asgard not being the place but the people, the music reinforces the message that identity is more about the values than the geography. If only certain folks today realized that strength comes from within, not just rigid borders.
And then there’s "Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song," a powerful inclusion that threads its way through the narrative. One can argue if it really fits into the original soundtrack, but the licensing coup itself deserves a standing ovation. It’s an unmissable call to arms, an anthem that kicks the film's pivotal action scenes into overdrive with its thunderous rock-and-roll vigor. When you're spending a fanciful night at the movies, aren't you there for the adrenaline kicks anyway?
Our penultimate stop on this magical aural journey is "Planet Sakaar." This track epitomizes the wild, vibrant, slightly chaotic nature of the bizarre planet ruled by the Grandmaster. Mixing otherworldly instruments and a wild chorus, it brings the hustle and buzz of a cosmic free market into the movie’s soundscape. Who wouldn’t want to put a little cosmic funk into their daily commute chaos?
Finally, "Devil’s Anus"—I kid you not, that’s a real track on this album—caps the soundtrack with a nod to the movie’s light-hearted irreverence. It’s a whirlwind track that feels more like the musical equivalent of a joyride mixed with a roller coaster scream—kind of like hearing the hard truths about life but with a candy wrapper smirk. It captures the comedic undertone of Thor: Ragnarok and its ability to contrast serious stakes with levity.
In summary, the Thor: Ragnarok soundtrack is a high-voltage love letter to the 80s with its tendency to steal the auditory spotlight in a manner far different from your typical superhero fare. It's music that doesn’t care for being safe or serious but insists on making your heart race and your foot tap. If you haven’t given it a chance yet, it might be the perfectly-crafted soundtrack you never knew you needed.