James Gunn, the showrunner of the hit superhero series Peacemaker and co-head of DC Studios, has addressed the surprising musical choice featured in the latest episode of the show. In the season two episode six finale, a song by the Swedish heavy metal band Dynazty plays during a pivotal and unsettling scene, a decision that drew mixed reactions behind the scenes. Gunn shared his reasoning on the official Peacemaker podcast, defending the selection of the track as an essential tone-setter for the episode’s climax.
The Impactful Final Scene and Dynazty’s Role
The episode reveals a dark twist where the alternate universe Chris ‘Peacemaker’ Smith inhabits is one dominated by Nazis, instead of the America he knows. As Peacemaker notices the swastika replacing the stars on the American flag, the narrative cuts to a tense chase where his friend Leota is pursued by a mob of hostile racists along a residential street. For this chase, Gunn chose Dynazty’s “Presence Of Mind,” from their seventh album The Dark Delight, released in 2020.
Despite the fact that this song was Gunn’s original pick for closing the episode, it initially faced resistance from some members of the Peacemaker creative team. Gunn revealed that co-executive producer Lars Winther and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran questioned the fit of the song, leading to behind-the-scenes debate.
James Gunn’s Defense of Dynazty and His Musical Preferences
Gunn expressed his personal enthusiasm for Dynazty, calling them one of his favorite metal bands and emphasizing their authenticity within the metal genre. He differentiated Dynazty from the glam metal styles that often populate the show’s soundtrack, noting,
“They’re one of my favourite metal bands.”
Gunn noted that glam metal bands frequently appear on the series, but Dynazty represent “actual real metal.”
The tension over the song’s inclusion peaked when other contenders were tested to replace it, including tracks like Alice Cooper’s “Brutal Planet.” Gunn recalled the process in the podcast, stating,
“And so we actually went through and tried another twenty songs at the end – Alice Cooper’s Brutal Planet and a bunch of other stuff – and nothing worked, so I’m like, ‘I dunno, what do they know?!’ So I kept in Dynazty!”
This decision highlights Gunn’s conviction that Dynazty’s intensity was the right emotional match for the episode’s gravity.
Earlier Musical Choices and Unintended Symbolism
In addition to the closing credit song, the episode features an earlier needle drop of “Forever & One (Neverland)” by German power metal icons Helloween. This song plays during a lighter, humorous segment that depicts the German band’s fictional status as massive stars in the alternate universe, akin to The Beatles.
Gunn observed that the track is notably melodic, which contrasts with much of Helloween’s usual style, and admitted to an accidental coincidence with the band’s nationality. He commented,
“They’re a great, fantastic band and we love them as much as Nazi Earth II loves them,”
adding with laughter,
“I didn’t know they were German! I would have maybe thought twice about that.”
This accidental alignment shows how some musical elements came about unintentionally in the series’ storytelling.
Embracing Glam and Sleaze Metal to Define Peacemaker’s Sound
James Gunn has previously explained his musical direction for Peacemaker, focusing on hair metal, glam metal, and sleaze metal bands to craft the show’s distinctive tone. The first season began with the glam metal anthem “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” by Wig Wam as its opening credits theme, setting a precedent for the series’ soundtrack style.
Reflecting on his approach, Gunn remarked in 2022,
“It’s taking hair metal, basically, or sleaze metal, or glam metal, and giving it a spotlight,”
further saying,
“And it’s a mix between these old bands and new bands. There’s a lot of European sleaze metal bands today that are actually really good. They’re actually overall much better than the hair metal bands that I grew up with. Being able to give that music that’s so out of fashion in America a chance to shine a little is one of the fun things about this show.”
This statement explains why the Peacemaker soundtrack intentionally highlights artists that might not receive mainstream American airplay, enriching the show’s identity.
Where Peacemaker’s Soundtrack Might Go Next
New episodes of Peacemaker continue to stream weekly on HBO Max in the U.S. and on Sky/Now TV in the U.K., maintaining viewer interest in both the narrative and its eclectic soundtrack. Gunn’s willingness to stand firm on music choices, like Dynazty’s “Presence Of Mind,” suggests future episodes may keep pushing boundaries with unconventional metal selections. This tension between creative instinct and collaborative input reflects the broader challenges of producing culturally resonant content amid complex themes.
