Sinners isn’t only known for its horror elements and sharp social commentary. One of the film’s most powerful and enduring features is its score and soundtrack, which elevate every scene with haunting intensity. The music of Sinners plays a crucial role in shaping its emotional weight, blending blues, metal, soul, and atmospheric tension into something deeply cinematic.
Following the film’s recent Golden Globe wins for Best Original Score and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, renewed attention has turned to the Sinners soundtrack and the albums that influenced its sound. If you loved the music in Sinners, these seven albums capture the same mood, themes, and sonic DNA.
…And Justice for All by Metallica
Heavy Metal Themes of Injustice That Echo Sinners
Kicking this list off is Metallica’s …And Justice for All. Director Ryan Coogler mentioned in a past interview that he’s gotten inspiration for the movie’s vision after listening to ‘One.’ As you give the album itself a listen too, you’ll note the themes of social injustices that juxtapose against the build-up of fast and complex guitar riffs.
Some standouts in this compilation include ‘Harvester of Sorrow,’ the album’s title song, ‘…And Justice for All,’ and ‘Dyers Eve.’ Another reason why you should listen to this album is that it mirrors how Sinners flows as a movie. The start is often steady, followed by some intensity, and at some point, it just turns into abrupt chaos, befitting fans of this horror-action film.
Moanin’ In the Moonlight by Howlin’ Wolf
Raw Blues That Informed the Sound and Symbolism of Sinners
From the progressive metal tracks of Metallica, we immediately jump right into Moanin’ In the Moonlight by Howlin’ Wolf. A compilation album of songs he recorded between 1951 and 1959, the tracks here are electrifying with their blues music, hints of ragtime, and poignant lyricism.
A famous track from this album is ‘Smokestack Lightnin’, which you can guess is also the inspiration for Sinners’ iconic twins Smoke and Stack, played by Michael B. Jordan. You’ll also love the string of notes that build up in ‘How Many More Years’ that are accompanied by a rock-like guitar lick heard throughout the song. This made the song unique and notable during its time. Other songs worth mentioning include ‘Evil (Is Going On)’ and ‘Forty Four’ with its storytelling aspects.
Country Curious (Deluxe) by Lola Kirke
Americana Storytelling That Matches Sinners’ Emotional Core
If you’re into plainspoken lyrics that feel emotionally grounded, you might like Country Curious (Deluxe) by Lola Kirke. Kirke also sang ‘Pick Poor Robin Clean’ alongside Jack O’ Connell and Peter Dreams in the movie. Starting as an EP, Country Curious was re-released as an album with additional songs.
Kirke puts forward female-led storytelling in her music and fuses it with her love of country and Americana. While country music seems very traditional, her spin on classic country tropes with some playfulness makes her album worth picking up. With songs like ‘My House (Acoustic)’, which touch on themes of independence, or ‘Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?’ with its concepts of idealized romance and rugged masculinity, Kirke’s expanding discography elevates country music into something more.
The Real Folk Blues by Muddy Waters
Gritty Blues Music That Mirrors the Mood of Sinners
Then we have Muddy Waters’ The Real Folk Blues. The first in The Real Folk Blues series of albums, this one with Muddy Waters’ music carries a lot of grit, longing, and lived experience, much like the atmospheric weight Sinners uses to pull its audiences in interest.
Tracks like ‘Gypsy Woman,’ ‘Forty Days and Forty Nights,’ and ‘Mannish Boy’ have a slow-burn intensity and stripped-down blues arrangements with sharp guitars. This album brings a swaggering confidence that’s totally magnetic and at the same time moody.
Awaken My Love! by Childish Gambino
Funk, Soul, and Psychedelia That Feel Cinematic Like Sinners
Next up is Childish Gambino’s Awaken, My Love!. This album mirrors a lot of the hip-hop beats in Sinners’ iconic track ‘I Lied to You,’ blending funk, psychedelic soul, and R&B elements into a cinematic soundscape. You’ve probably seen this in songs like ‘Redbone’ and ‘Me and Your Mama’ with the slippery basslines and analog synths, creating an eerie atmosphere.
To change it up, ‘Have Some Love’ and ‘Stand Tall’ both have a lot of percussive elements, creating a dream-like trance for listeners. If you’re drawn to moody, groove-driven tracks with a movie-like flair, this album is a natural next listen.
King of the Delta Blues Singers by Robert Johnson
Dark Delta Blues That Inspired the Atmosphere of Sinners
For those drawn to the dark and brooding atmosphere of Sinners, you can’t miss listening to Robert Johnson’s King of the Delta Blues Singers. A collection of 1930s Delta blues tracks, there’s something otherworldly about this album that makes it a gripping inspiration for the movie’s score and soundtrack.
Songs like ‘Terraplane Blues,’ ‘Hellhound on my Trail,’ and ‘Me and the Devil Blues’ all show Johnson’s intricate acoustics paired with raw vocals. While the instrumentals of the album’s tracks seem deceptively simple, there’s a lot of unease and suspense that continue to linger in Johnson’s music.
Kingfish by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Modern Blues With the Same Emotional Weight as Sinners’ Soundtrack
So far, we’ve mentioned a lot of blues albums. And now, you might be wondering if there are any modern blues albums with the same level of gravity and emotional intensity. This is where Kingfish by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram comes in. The album channels raw, heartfelt blues with a modern edge.
‘Fresh Out’ has some masterful guitar work, and ‘Got to Go’ highlights Ingram’s tight rhythms and resonant basslines. There’s just the right balance of soulfulness with his impassioned vocals that make the album ache with such intimate vulnerability. In ‘Before I’m Old,’ there’s a build of tension that tracks a sense of urgency and emotional weight.
Why the Music of Sinners Hits So Hard
The soundtrack and score of Sinners are central to why the film lingers long after the credits roll. Drawing from blues, metal, soul, funk, and Americana, its music taps into themes of injustice, identity, violence, and emotional reckoning. These seven albums capture that same tension and intensity, offering a deeper look at the sounds that helped shape Sinners’ haunting cinematic voice.
If the music of Sinners pulled you in as much as its visuals and performances, these records are the natural next step — albums that don’t just complement the film, but help explain why its sound hits so hard.