When Call of Duty’s Zombies mode launched in 2008, it was bare bones. It unlocked upon completion of the Call of Duty: World at War campaign, offering a tense, creepy experience. Trapped in a bunker, you, a nameless, faceless soldier, must defend yourself from the incoming zombie horde. Your weapons are as limited as your space to move, which makes it increasingly difficult to stay alive against the undead. Nevertheless, gamers absolutely adored the surprise mode.
Now, almost 20 years after Zombies began, it has evolved drastically. Most notably, the game mode now features complex Easter eggs that give players something to do other than mindlessly kill zombies. Some unlock cutscenes that expand on the saga’s lore, while others gift new weapons to aid in survival. Others merely play a song. Sure, they’re not the most imperative to seek out, but they’ve grown beloved by and customary to Zombies fans all the same.
Throughout the years, fans have seen numerous music Easter eggs emerge in Zombies. From “Won’t Back Down” by Eminem and Pink in Call of Duty: Black Ops‘ Five to “Mad Hatter” by Avenged Sevenfold in the map IX from Call of Duty: Black Ops IV, a variety of artists and genres have been represented by these add-ons. Naturally, though, some are significantly better than the rest, thanks to their sound, connections to their map, relation to the lore behind the mode, and other criteria.
These are the top five Call of Duty Zombies mode music Easter eggs, and how you can listen to them in-game.
5. Where Are We Going? – Blood of the Dead
Blood of the Dead from Call of Duty: Black Ops IV is an interesting map. A reimagining of Mob of the Dead from Call of Duty: Black Ops, the map centers on the main Zombies crew, Tank Dempsey (Steve Blum), Dr. Edward Richtofen (Nolan North), Nikolai Belinski (Fred Tatasciore), and Takeo Masaki (Tom Kane). Continuing their quest to break their endless cycle of death and rebirth, they arrive on Alcatraz Island. This is one of many locations they’ve visited on this voyage so far, hence why “Where Are We Going?” from Malukah, Kevin Sherwood, and James McCawley is such a strong Easter egg song.
In addition to being a remix of the Mob of the Dead Easter egg track, “Where Are We Going?” works because it perfectly encapsulates the sense of uncertainty that the Primis crew feels at this point. Their understanding of the multiverse continues to shift, and their objectives seem to change at a moment’s notice. They don’t quite know where they’re going next. Despite the confusion, the instrumental and Malukah’s vocals crecendo at the end of the song to remind listeners of the grandeur of the quest.
To play this track, first you have to build the zombie shield by collecting its three parts around the map. One of which is the Warden’s (North) key, which you collect by killing him. With the shield built and key in hand, you then must harness three zombie souls within the shield by killing three zombies. After doing so, you can then unlock the electric number pad with the key, activate it with a shield blast, and finally enter the code 115, as in the zombie-creating Element 115.5
4. Abracadavre – Ascension
Ascension from the original Black Ops has become a widely-loved Zombies map, and for good reason. The Soviet cosmodrome setting is fascinating and makes for an eerie and unique environment to run around in, it’s fairly accessible to new Zombies players thanks to its layout and weapon options, and it brings overarching Easter egg quests to the mode for the first time. On top of all of that, the music Easter egg provides a pretty awesome track for players to enjoy.
“Abracadavre” by Elena Siegman and Kevin Sherwood is an unsettling, hard-hitting tune that fits the feel of Zombies perfectly. That’s probably because it samples the theme song for the mode, “Damned,” which also comes from the mind of Sherwood. The piano, guitar riffs, rumbling drums, and Siegman’s hauntingly beautiful vocals come together in perfect harmony. Not to mention, the lyrics speak to the terrifying, hopeless, and other-worldly nature of the Zombies mode’s lore.
As an early music Easter egg, “Abracadavre” is easy to access, so long as you’re good at exploring and opening doors. Players must interact with three teddy bears holding sickles around the map. One is on a barrel by the Olympia wall buy in the map’s starting room, another is behind a gate near Stamin-Up and the Mystery Box spawn point, and the final is near Speed Cola above a wall to the left of a Mystery Box spawn.
3. Ace of Spades – Gorod Krovi
From the opening cutscene, Gorod Krovi from Call of Duty: Black Ops III drops gamers into one of the most chaotic Zombies environments ever. Tasked with tracking down an alternate universe Nikolai Belinski, the game’s crew traverses the war-torn streets of Stalingrad, Russia as bullets and mortars fire off, zombies lurk, and fire-breathing dragons fly overhead. Gorod Krovi is metal, so it’s only right that one of its music Easter eggs is a legendary song created by an equally legendary metal band.
Gorod Krovi features “Ace of Spades” by Motƶrhead as one of its Easter egg songs, and it’s also used in the opening cutscene. The guitar riffs from “Fast” Eddie Clarke fit the map’s wildness, while Lemmy Kilmister’s signature gravely vocals remind players of the grittiness of war. The lyrics tell of the Ace of Spades, a symbol of strength or death depending on the situation. At any rate, it represents the fast-paced, high-risk nature of card games and the perilous cycle-ending journey the zombies crew has taken on.
Much like with the “Abracadavre” music Easter egg, getting “Ace of Spades” to play on Gorod Krovi is straightforward. You need to find and interact with three Ace of Spades playing cards around the map. One is in the War Factory, to the left of the Double Tap on the corner of the chalkboard. The second is in the Dragon Command area in the room to the left, sitting on the desk with the telephone. The final is in the Pack-A-Punch area, specifically in the room to the right between two books on the desk by the radio.
2. 115 – Kino Der Toten
Call of Duty: Black Ops came out swinging with its first Zombies map, Kino Der Toten. Teleported to an abandoned Group 935 facility within a theater, the zombies crew must survive waves of undead and new enemies, the Nova Crawlers. In the eyes of many, this is the definitive round-based Zombie map, despite now being over a decade old and lacking many of the mode’s modern touches. Part of this perception is due to Kino’s now-iconic Easter egg song.
When one thinks of the premier Zombies Easter egg song, odds are “115” by Elena Siegman and Kevin Sherwood springs to mind. The screeching guitar at the start has become the stuff of Zombies legend and its quickened pace increases the urgency of an already urgent game. The lyrics describe a vengeful soul spreading death and destruction with their power, likely referring to Samantha Maxis (Julie Nathanson), who controls the zombies in hopes of destroying Dr. Richtofen. Naturally, the title “115” refers to Element 115.
If you’re looking to jam out to “115” next time you play Kino Der Toten, all you need to do is locate and interact with three meteorite fragments scattered around the theater. The first is in the starting room beside the right side staircase, the second is in the dressing room close to the MP5K, and the last is on a bookcase in the room between the alley and the stage.
1. Rusty Cage – Mob of the Dead
Mob of the Dead from Call of Duty: Black Ops II, considered one of the best Zombies maps of all time, is a standout. It centers on four mobsters from the early 20th century who are trapped in a hellish version of Alcatraz, doomed to a cycle of death and rebirth as they try and fail to escape the island prison. What could Treyarch have possibly cooked up as a music Easter egg for this one?
Fittingly, Mob of the Dead features “Rusty Cage,” as covered by country music icon Johnny Cash. The title and lyrics tell of someone being trapped in a cage, or prison, and trying desperately to escape and run as far away from it as possible. Is it a bit on the nose for the map? One could argue that, but the rugged sound of Cash’s aged voice paired with strong guitar and drum beats make it a must-listen all the same.
Though it’s heard in the intro cutscene, “Rusty Cage” can be heard in-game as well. Three whiskey bottles need to be interacted with, one being in the library start area on a bookshelf near the cell block gate, another behind boxes on the dock, and the last in the infirmary to the left of the Mystery Box spawn. With that, the best Zombies music Easter egg is activated.
