If you’ve spent any time running for your life through the rainy, medieval nightmare of Avalon, you know the feeling. The screen turns grey. The air gets heavy. Suddenly, the Citadelle des Morts song starts to swell, and you realize you aren't just playing a shooter anymore; you’re in a gothic horror film. It’s haunting. Honestly, it’s one of the most atmospheric pieces of music Treyarch has ever put into a Zombies map, and that’s saying a lot considering the legacy of Kevin Sherwood and Brian Tuey.
Most players are too busy dodging Manglers or trying to figure out the urn step to really listen. That’s a mistake. The music in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies isn't just background noise to fill the silence between rounds. It is the narrative glue. Specifically, the "Citadelle des Morts" theme—composed by the legendary Jack Wall—is designed to make you feel tiny. Vulnerable. Like the castle itself wants you dead.
The Sound of Avalon’s Curse
What makes this track stand out? It’s the sheer weight of it. While previous maps like Liberty Falls have a bit more of a 1990s synth-horror vibe, Avalon is purely orchestral and choral. It feels ancient.
Jack Wall, who has been the musical backbone of the Black Ops series since the second game, really leaned into the French setting here. You have these sweeping, mournful strings that evoke the feeling of a forgotten era. It’s not "jump scare" music. It’s "dread" music. There is a specific recurring motif—a descending minor key progression—that mimics the feeling of falling into a pit. Fitting, since you’re literally exploring a dungeon.
Why the Citadelle des Morts Song Hits Differently
The track uses a live orchestra, and you can hear the "grit" in the recording. It’s not overly polished or digital. There’s a certain raspiness to the cellos. When the brass kicks in during the higher rounds, it doesn't feel like a hero’s anthem. It feels like a warning.
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If you listen closely to the layering, there are these subtle, dissonant vocal textures. They aren't singing words, exactly. It’s more of a collective groan or a chant that’s been stretched out until it sounds like wind through a tomb. This is a classic trick in horror composition, but Wall executes it with a level of sophistication we haven't seen since the "Shadows of Evil" jazz-noir soundtrack. But where that was cool and sleek, this is cold and damp.
How to Trigger the Secret Music Easter Eggs
You can’t talk about a Zombies map without talking about the hidden tracks. It’s a tradition that goes back to "Lullaby of a Dead Man" in World at War.
On Citadelle des Morts, players have discovered that interacting with specific objects—usually three hidden items scattered across the castle—will trigger a unique version of the theme or a completely different song. These aren't just for show. Usually, the lyrics or the tone of these songs give us hints about the broader "Dark Aether" lore.
- The First Item: Look for a small, out-of-place record or a radio near the initial spawn area in the village.
- The Second Item: This one is usually tucked away in the more claustrophobic corridors of the actual Citadelle, often near a Perk-a-Cola machine.
- The Third Item: Usually found in the deepest part of the map, near the Pack-a-Punch or the boss arena.
Once you hit all three, the Citadelle des Morts song shifts into a high-octane version that makes training zombies a lot more intense. It’s the perfect tempo for a high-round run.
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Comparing Avalon to Past Soundtracks
Is it better than "115"? Or "Beauty of Annihilation"?
That depends on what you want. If you want heavy metal and screaming vocals, the base theme of Avalon might feel a bit slow for you. But if you appreciate the theatre of Zombies, this is a masterpiece. It shares DNA with "Der Eisendrache," another castle map, but Avalon is darker. It’s less about the wonder of discovery and more about the horror of what was left behind.
The "Citadelle des Morts" song also interacts dynamically with the gameplay. If you’re in a "holdout" objective, the percussion ramps up. The drums become more tribal, more frantic. It’s a subtle psychological trick that makes your heart rate spike without you even realizing why. You start playing faster because the music is demanding it.
The Narrative Power of the Score
We need to talk about the "Requiem" vs. "Terminus" vibe. Since the Black Ops 6 story is split between these two groups, the music reflects that tension. The Avalon score feels like it’s mourning the loss of the world. It’s heavy with the weight of the characters' past sins. When Weaver or Grey speak over the comms, the music often dips into a low hum, letting their dialogue take center stage, but the tension never truly leaves.
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The ending of the track—if you actually manage to survive long enough to hear the full loop—is surprisingly quiet. It doesn't end on a big bang. It fades out into a single, lonely violin note. It’s a reminder that in the world of Zombies, no one really wins. You just survive a little longer than the person before you.
Actionable Tips for Players
To get the most out of the audio experience in Citadelle des Morts, stop using your TV speakers. Seriously.
- Use Open-Back Headphones: The soundstage in this map is massive. Open-back headphones will let you hear the directional cues of the music and the zombies much better.
- Turn Down Dialogue: If you've already heard the character quotes a hundred times, drop the dialogue volume to 40% and boost the music to 100%. You’ll hear layers in the Citadelle des Morts song you never noticed before.
- Check the Sound Settings: Set your audio preset to "Treyarch Mix" or "Headphones." This emphasizes the low-end frequencies that make the castle's ambient music feel so oppressive.
- Sync the Easter Egg: Don't activate the hidden music until you’re ready for a big wave. The shift in energy is a great "focus" tool for when things get chaotic around Round 30.
The music isn't just a background file. It’s a character. Treat it like one, and your runs will feel a lot more epic.