With the release of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning, there’s no better time to revisit the absolute chaos, glory, and leather-clad energy of the franchise’s wildest entry: Mission: Impossible 2. Say what you will about John Woo’s doves and slow-mo shootouts, but one thing that can’t be denied is that the soundtrack goes hard.
We’re talking about a collection of songs so specifically locked into the turn-of-the-century zeitgeist that it becomes a full-on cultural artifact. It’s got rock legends, nu-metal firestarters, goth grooves, alt-rock anomalies, and even Tori Amos. It’s unhinged. It’s beautiful. It’s 2000.
More than just a musical time capsule, the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack is an essential landmark in rock and metal history. It’s where Limp Bizkit redefined a spy theme, where Metallica triggered a music industry upheaval, and where Chris Cornell, Rob Zombie, Brian May and Taylor Hawkins all collided in a sonic multiverse only possible through the magic of blockbuster excess.
It may not make a ton of sense next to the clean-cut, orchestral scores of the franchise’s later entries, but that’s the point. This thing is its own mission entirely - and we’re going track-by-track to celebrate every crunchy riff, growled lyric, and inexplicable inclusion. Let’s dive in to some of the standout tracks.
Take a Look Around - Limp Bizkit
We pretty much peak right off the bat here with this first song. When you kick things off with the one and only notorious Limp Bizkit - and more than that - when you place them before Metallica, you establish exactly what the vibes were in that fateful year of 2000. A seminal track off their legendary album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Limp Bizkit dropped this ongoing staple of their live sets on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack first, blessing our eardrums with the iconic theme delivered in the styles of Wes Borland, Fred Durst and company. Nothing’s going to give you a better feel for what the movie is like than this song - and no future song on any future Mission: Impossible soundtrack is gonna top this one. Probably.
I Disappear - Metallica
A song that was destined to change the course of music history, ‘I Disappear’ is easily one of the better tunes to come from Metallica in their turn-of-the-century era. The riff is delicious, the beat is mean as hell, and Hetfield gives some of his very best grungy vocals. But while the official song certainly stands strong in its own right, it was an early pre-release version of the track that made headlines. Well before streaming in the early days of the internet, Napster found themselves locked in a legal battle with California’s most famous metal band when that demo version of ‘I Disappear’ was spread across the site and beyond, leading to the infamous Metallica v. Napster, Inc. court case. Whichever version of the song you prefer, both make you wanna put on some dark sunglasses and a black leather jacket and drive off into the desert. Gotta love Hetfield’s yelling all over the bridge, too.
Scum of the Earth - Rob Zombie
What’s this song even doing here? I can’t imagine a single instance of the movie where this Rob Zombie goth club banger would actually fit. It hardly matters though, I suppose. What you’ve got here is classic Zombie at the height of his initial run of solo popularity; a song that sets off mosh pits and gets heads instantly banging to this very day. Metal fans love to get a good “Hey! Hey! Hey!” chant going, and ‘Scum of the Earth’ delivers in spades. This is one of the more energetic songs to come from Mr. Zombie’s illustrious career and it’s stuck around his live shows for good reason. What’s perhaps most interesting here is that the track made its debut on this soundtrack, well over a year before it’d permanently find its home on Zombie’s second album, The Sinister Urge.
They Came In - Butthole Surfers
Similar to the previous song on this list, ‘They Came In’ wouldn’t show up on Butthole Surfers’ actual discography until a year later. It’s the final track on the band’s final album, so there’s undeniably some significance there. Butthole Surfers’ unique musicality shines through as always here, with Gibby Haynes’ instantly recognizable voice cutting through the cacophony of sounds loud and clear. It's a nice deviation from the hard-hitting metal of the previous three tracks, offering some strong variety from one of the alternative’s scene’s more respectable acts.
Rocket Science - The Pimps
This one’s got the groove! Feel that bass! There’s nothing but bouncy rock goodness here. The way it gets quiet before exploding into that final chorus? That’s good stuff, right there. The Pimps planted their flag and based on the plethora of comments found under this old YouTube video, there’s still plenty of people still jamming this infectious, adrenaline-rush of a tune. Makes me wanna run through a brick wall.
Have a Cigar - Foo Fighters & Brian May
Brian May on lead guitar may seem like the obvious draw here - and boy does he deliver - but the true gem of this cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Have a Cigar’ is that it’s one of the rare Foo Fighters songs that features Taylor Hawkins on lead vocals. Rest in peace to that legend. As further proof of this soundtrack’s impact, this version of the track would go on to be included on the Foo Fighters’ Greatest Hits album.
Mission 2000 - Chris Cornell
Another unmistakable legend graces this soundtrack. While Chris Cornell’s most famous soundtrack song is probably forever ‘You Know My Name’ from Casino Royale, he also contributed to yet another spy franchise. ‘Mission 2000’ is classic Cornell start to finish, with his iconic voice ringing through - in fact, this track is a reworked version of the song ‘Mission’ from his first solo album Euphoria Morning, which dropped only a year prior. Rest in peace, king.
Goin’ Down - Godsmack
Hell yeah, brother. An old school Godsmack banger if there ever was one, this track would pop up again just a few months later on their second album Awake. Riding strong off the chewy bass riff, the band gradually grows this song into an undeniably funky headbanger, complete with Sully Erna’s signature growls. Crush a beer to this tune.
What ‘Chu Lookin’ At? - Uncle Kracker
Now we switch gears a bit again into more country rock and hip-hop influenced style with Uncle Kracker, brightening things up with a solid beat, piano loops, catchy hooks, and everything rolled into one. It’s hard not to just drop what you’re doing, jam out and groove along to this one. It’s infectious. Put it on repeat.
Backwards - Apartment 26
Back to aggressive moshing business. Apartment 26 fall more in line with the drum and bass, industrial-tinged acts of the late 90s obviously inspired heavily by Nine Inch Nails and the like, and this opening track off their debut album Hallucinating fits neatly into that distinct mold. Whip this one out at the next function for some true goth cred.
Karma - Diffuser
Long Island rockers Diffuser arrive on the soundtrack next to lighten it up once again. Not that a song about people getting what they deserve is necessarily light subject matter, but the pop punk sounds of ‘Karma’s certainly do offer up a nice patch of levity after the previous track. I’m not sure how this song really pertains to or even fits the tone of Mission: Impossible 2 at all, but then again the last three tracks have kinda all been like that. Great song, regardless.
Alone - Buckcherry
This will probably be the only time you’ll see Buckcherry with a writing credit alongside Hans Zimmer. Probably. It’s not too late for the infamous California band to join in on the Dune 3 soundtrack. Hell, I’ll go ahead and be the first to advocate for that reunion, because this track is an absolute one hundred percent heater. Josh Todd is unmistakable here and at the top of his game, screeching overtop a sinister guitar lick that’s actually used a bit throughout the film for the villain, rogue IMF agent Sean Ambrose. Do yourself a favor and check this one out again, seriously.
Immune - Tinfed
Sacramento group Tinfed guides us back into the alternative side of the scene with a hip-shaking bass groove, psychedelic guitars and an overall chill vibe that suits this portion of the journey well. Now that we’re nearing the finish line, it’s nice to lean back into a groove like this one and reminisce on all the wonderful memories we’ve made along the way. What a great tune. What a great soundtrack. We should talk about it more. I’m glad we are now.
Not My Kinda Scene - Powderfinger
The official title for this song is actually just ‘My Kinda Scene’, but on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack, it’s NOT my kinda scene, dammit! Underrated Australian rockers Powderfinger contributed this perfect road trip song to the tail end of the soundtrack and boy, oh, boy does it work perfectly. The guitar at the end of this is just gorgeous. How can you not love this song? Makes you have to drive off into the sunset.
Carnival - Tori Amos
In a surprise turn of events, none other than Tori Amos arrives to close things out in a completely unexpected way. Dropping both the hard-hitting metal and mellow rock vibes entirely, this haunting rendition of ‘Manhã de Carnaval’ seeps into your brain, driven by Amos’ voice before the track goes into overdrive in its final moments, ramping things up in a final, fitting way. A strong, unexpectedly perfect ending to one of cinema’s finest soundtracks. But what’s this? A final track remains?
Nyah - Hans Zimmer feat. Heitor Pereira
The incomparable Hans Zimmer joins forces with not just Buckcherry, but the renowned Heitor Pereira as well for Mission: Impossible 2. I adore this track. A wonderfully inspired motif for the film’s character, and a blazing song in its own right. The Spanish influence helps this stand out from the vast array of other Zimmer projects, and it makes me wish he’d revisit this particular style a bit should the need arise. Take it in. That’s culture.
