Heavy Metal Names Junkie XL As First-Ever Music Czar

Heavy Metal Entertainment has announced that multi-platinum musician, composer, and producer Tom Holkenborg, AKA Junkie XL, has been named Heavy Metal’s first-ever Music Czar. In a role created specifically for him, Holkenborg will develop Heavy Metal’s sound through his own work and by helping to guide other composers and musicians on Heavy Metal projects. Holkenborg will continue his successful scoring career outside of his role at Heavy Metal, and is currently working on George Miller’s 3000 Years of Longing and a number of major features slated for release in 2022 and 2023.

Known as a “full-contact composer,” Holkenborg will work directly with Heavy Metal Entertainment CEO Matthew Medney and President and Head of Studio Tommy Coriale throughout Heavy Metal’s divisions, most notably for its recently announced film and television branch, Heavy Metal Studios, which has a slate of projects in motion with producing and financing partner Range Media. In addition, Holkenborg will consult on scoring Heavy Metal’s upcoming screen adaptations of Dan Fogler’s Moon Lake graphic novel series, Blake Northcott’s Arena Mode, and Joe Trohman and Brian Posehn’s The Axe comic series.

“I’ve been reading Heavy Metal since I was a kid. I was a huge fan of Moebius titles like Blueberry, I loved its punk, outsider vibe,” said Holkenborg. “Heavy Metal has an incredible history and the chance to work alongside other composers and the studio itself to help shape its sound is unique and thrilling, especially to someone like me who spent his early music career as an Industrial noise producer!”

“Tom is a genius and a legend, and to say that I am ecstatic that he will define the sound of our slate for years to come is the understatement of the century,” said Tommy Coriale, President of Heavy Metal Entertainment and Head of Heavy Metal Studios. “With Heavy Metal’s goal of creating a new type of artist driven studio system, my job just got a hell of a lot easier with Tom as our Music Czar. The blood that pumps through his veins oozes Heavy Metal’s DNA, and every piece of music he has created for film, television, and video games has elevated those projects to unimaginable heights.” 

“Starting my career in the music business, Junkie XL was a name few didn’t know and revere,”  Remarked Heavy Metal Entertainment CEO Matthew Medney. “Now that I am at the helm of Heavy Metal, a unique opportunity arose to fuse the legendary brand with a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Tom will give sound to the spirit and the heart of what it means to be Heavy Metal, and we couldn’t be happier to give a musical genius like him the endless sandbox of Heavy Metal.”