In 2025 and 2026, many music artists released albums based on Ancient Rome, with genres spanning from progressive rock to death metal.
Heavy Metal and Roman Mythology
Italian death metal band ADE has made ancient Rome central to their music. Combining death metal with traditional melody and folk instruments, their latest album has tracks like Ad Bestias, which refers to a Roman capital punishment and draws on the brutality of the Roman world.
Canadian symphonic metal band Ex Deo’s 2025 EP, Years of the Four Emperors, explores AD 69, when several Roman emperors held power in quick succession. Ex Deo have confirmed that their upcoming 2027 album will also be focused on the Roman Empire, signifying there’s still more historical ground to cover.
Progressive rock band The Flower Kings explored Rome with their 2026 single, Gods of Rome Pt. 2. Using ancient imagery as a backdrop for modern power, they drew comparisons between the past and the present.
WarKings are another example. Drawing on empires, battles, and warriors, one of their members, known as The Spartan, is directly inspired by ancient Roman armour.
One reason why heavier music draws on the theme of Ancient Rome is that history provides a lot of inspiration. Infamous emperors such as Nero and Caligula caused uprisings during their reign. The sheer size and theatrical scale of the Roman Empire also provide source material for concept albums and aggressive storytelling. The Battle of Actium is just one example, and it inspired Maurizio Iacono’s track of the same name.
Bands from the Mediterranean often tap into Roman history as a way to connect with their local heritage, just like bands from Scandinavia tap into Viking history.
Ancient Greek and Roman History Beyond Music
Those About to Die, which was released in 2024, explores gladiatorial combat and the political uprising that took place during the empire’s reign. Spartacus: House of Ashur, on the other hand, explores an alternative history, where Ashur survives and is rewarded with his own gladiatorial school. Philip Matyszak’s 2025 book, titled Rome Before Rome: The Legends That Shaped the Romans, delves into how Romans constructed their identity, referencing historical accounts that have helped to shape our culture.
Robin Pierson’s The History of Byzantium podcast follows the chronological story of the Eastern Roman Empire, finishing with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Many UK casino games also take inspiration from Ancient Rome and Greece. Age of the Gods Roulette is an example and features Zeus.
Zeus began as a Roman god, but was adopted by the Greek people through Hellenization. The figure became known as Jupiter. Both wield thunderbolts, rule the skies, and derive from the ancient concept of a sky father, but with distinctive cultural identities that stretch back thousands of years.
It’s evident that Roman and Greek history extends far beyond music. It’s used as a source of inspiration across multiple entertainment verticals, showing how culturally relevant it still is today.
