In case you’ve wondered whether or not Marshall Mathers has calmed down and found inner peace since you last heard from him, this latest number should put those fears to rest. In fact, you don’t even have to listen to the song to realize that Eminem is still rocking the same hotheaded, misanthropic, back-alley-in-a-Philip-K-Dick-story vibe as in his heyday. All you need to know is that it’s the title track for Tom Hardy’s upcoming Venom movie.
If you’ve got a Spotify account, you can listen to Eminem’s new little ditty (the final song on the above playlist), which beckons listeners to “let the devil in,” promises they “ain’t gonna know what hit ’em,” and revels in a menacing, guttural grumble of the M sound at the end of the eponymous symbiote’s chosen handle.
Truth be told, the song’s got some catch to it—that is, if you’re not opposed to the occasional expletive, gunshot sound effect, or reflection on the grim injustice that is life in the world today. Like I said, this is Eminem as he’s ever been. And while inclusion of an Eminem number on a feature film soundtrack may feel somewhat quaint in 2018, the song proves that there’s really no troubadour more apropos to sing the story of Eddie Brock and his toxic companion than the Detroit-born rapper who kicked off the new millennium with anthems decrying pretty much everything imaginable.
On a nicer note, Dr. Dre gets a shout-out! I’m glad they’re still friends.
What do you think of Eminem’s new song “Venom”? Let us know!
Image: Sony