The Darkness Just Released a Perfect New Power Ballad for 'Masters of the Universe'

The power of '80s nostalgia is no match for cynicism about the new Masters of the Universemovie. After the first few trailers sparked discussion online about the target audience for the new film (almost exclusively elder millennials, seemingly), the early buzz for those who have seen the film has been overwhelmingly positive, perhaps even surprisingly so. Instead of being a cash-grab meant to look like the classic 1983 cartoon, it seems that Masters of the Universe is poised to have the heart and wit of something like Guardians of the Galaxy or one of the better Thor movies. And so, in keeping with the '80s vibes, a new song from composer Daniel Pemberton (Project Hail Mary) and the rock band The Darkness has arrived. It's called "Masters of the Universe," and it's perfect.

For those who remember when Queen did the title song for Flash Gordon in 1980, or when they did the title track "Princes of the Universe" for Highlander in 1986, the new power ballad "Masters of the Universe" feels like The Darkness is channeling all of that with a touch of ACDC and Stan Bush's "The Touch." (Which, oddly, had a re-released version out this month.)

Here's the full version of "Masters of the Universe" from The Darkness.

Stream "Masters of the Universe" by The Darkness

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With a soaring mix of synthesizers and big guitar riffs, "Masters of the Universe" is clearly going big. But, unlike the most famous song from The Darkness, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love," this song doesn't seem to be kidding around. The upbeat score from Pemberton clearly influences the song, making it feel less like a spoof of an '80s power ballad and more like the real thing.

Previously, Pemberton's and Brian May's new orchestral themes for the movie, titled "Eternia" and "Eternia-End Credits," were released on streaming platforms like Spotify and iTunes. And if you listen to these excellent tracks back-to-back with the new Darkness single, it will be nearly impossible not to be pumped for the new Masters of the Universe.

Last year, the original live-action He-Man star, Dolph Lundgren, offered his thoughts on why He-Man is experiencing an unlikely comeback. "Prince Adam has a bit more romanticism to the character than other superheroes," Lundgren told Men's Journal in 2025. "Marvel and DC are a little harder-edged. There's something magical and childlike about it. And even though they're kind of making an adult picture, there's something soft and positive about that character."

The new song from The Darkness seems to capture all of that spirit and more. Here's hoping the new movie has the same upbeat, epic, and uplifting feeling.

Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5, 2026.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 11:59 AM.