In an interview with Newsweek, Andrew VanWyngarden, the lead vocalist, guitar player and songwriter for the band stated that 1980s Soviet synth-pop was influential to the song.

[4] The cast includes, among others, VanWyngarden and Goldwasser along with New Zealand musician Connan Mockasin,[8] Playboy Playmate Hiromi Oshima,[9] and magician Kid Ace.

[10] In late 2020, it experienced a resurgence in popularity due to a viral TikTok trend where hundreds of thousands utilized the song.

[11] A report published in August 2021 by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that "Little Dark Age" was "by far the most popular Sound among extremist creators on TikTok" and was central to videos promoting "Hyperborea and a wider trend of esoteric Nazism.

"[12][13] The song has also been used to soundtrack clips of anime, superhero movies, video games, Renaissance art as well as a wide range of social issues, including transgender rights, the Black Lives Matter movement and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"[14] On June 29, 2024, an election campaign advertisement using a slowed-down, unauthorized version of the song was posted to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak's X account, promoting the Conservative Party's stance on the British Military.