A Nostalgic Journey with a New Sound
Stranger Things has always been a celebration of the 80s, capturing the essence of the era through its costumes, settings, and music. When Netflix released the first look teaser for its fifth and final season on July 16, fans were instantly transported back to the world of Hawkins and the terrifying Demogorgons. But there was something unique about this teaser that caught everyone’s attention—its background score.
The last iconic musical moment from the show was Metallica playing atop a bus in the Upside Down. However, with the character of Eddie Munson (played by Joseph Quin) no longer around, the show continues to embrace heavy metal in a different way. The upcoming Season 5 promises to be more shocking, heartbreaking, and unexpected than ever before, and the new piece of music featured in the teaser only adds to the excitement.
A Classic Rock Anthem
Stranger Things Season 5 brings back Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) as she faces off against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Alongside her are her friends Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Max (Sadie Sink), Will (Noah Schnapp), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and others, each battling their own challenges against the main villain. The show also features David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, and many more. Every emotion in the teaser is enhanced by a powerful riff with a symphonic arrangement, featuring a high-pitched, operatic wailing reminiscent of an “air-raid siren” in heavy metal singing.
A Unique Musical Choice
But there’s a twist! If you thought this was another 80s track, you might be surprised. The song used in the Stranger Things Season 5 teaser takes viewers even further back in time, to the 70s. It’s none other than “Child in Time” by the legendary hard-rock band Deep Purple. This track comes from their fourth album, In Rock. While the show’s composers have added new strings, they’ve preserved the original organ and guitars, along with the vocals of Deep Purple member Ian Gillan and the band’s instruments.
The Track in the Teaser
For those unfamiliar, the piece of music is quite intense in the teaser. It plays at a high volume right from the start when Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), who is shown as an alt-rock musician Djo, sets up a song at the 50,000-watt WSQK radio station. It looks like he’s using it as a weapon against Vecna’s monstrous army to protect Hawkins, much like Eddie did before.
The official X handle of Deep Purple confirmed the use of “Child in Time” in Stranger Things Season 5. They shared the teaser and wrote, “Check out a rather epic arrangement of Child In Time featured in today’s release of the Stranger Things Season 5 trailer.”
Fan Reactions
Fans have responded with amazement and excitement upon hearing “Child in Time” in the Stranger Things Season 5 teaser. One user wrote on X, “Stranger Things 5 already has a trailer, and it’s scored with ‘Child in Time’ by Deep Purple. A classic rock anthem (1970) that heightens the series’ dark and epic atmosphere. Netflix nails it again with a soundtrack that screams: this will be legendary (sic).”
Another post read, “The new preview for the wildly popular Netflix series features an overhauled version of the Deep Purple track Child In Time, which the English hard rock/heavy metal band released as a single back in 1970 and included on their fan-favourite fourth album.”
Release Details
Netflix has announced that Stranger Things 5 will be released in three parts. Volume 1, consisting of episodes 1-4, will drop on November 26, 2025. Volume 2, containing episodes 5-7, will arrive on Christmas Day, and the finale will premiere on New Year’s Eve: December 31.
