The whole point of Halloween is to dress up like a freak and party like a crazy person. If you are planning on hosting such festivities, you are going to need the right music. Music is more important than the booze at a party (well—... slightly more important than the booze). Sometimes rounding out a playlist can be a daunting task that can turn a killer party into a killjoy. A Halloween playlist needs to have the proper themes such as monsters, murder and mayhem of all kinds; so this year, make sure you upload this starter kit of awesomely creepy music. (In no particular order)
The Misfits
If you don't like The Misfits, then you're wrong. If you've never heard of The Misfits, put down the Taylor Swift album and listen to every Glenn Danzig era album of The Misfits right now, then go punch your dad in the scrotum for never telling you about them. You'll thank me later. With tracks about psycho killers, surrendering your skulls and getting hand jobs from a grieving Jackie O, this band should never be left out of a Halloween playlist.
Type O Negative
I cannot express how deeply and completely Type O has infected my life. If you are someone like me who finds a new source of power during Autumn when everything around you changes color and dies, then Type O Negative should be a permanent staple blasting out of your stereo this Samhain. My greatest regret is not having the chance to hear them play one of their epic Halloween shows. I missed my chance to see them in a cruel twist of irony, Type O front man Peter Steele, had to go and die on us, what an asshole.
Mayhem
Looking back on Mayhem's sordid past, you will understand why they deserve to be on this list. Church burning, suicides, cannibalism and murder have all been perpetrated by members or close friends of the band. Inclusion of Mayhem is a must, because they embody every drop of blood that we lust after as fans of horror. Mayhem did not just play songs about the extent of human darkness—... they bathed in it.
Deadbolt
Deadbolt hails from my hometown of San Diego, California. While San Diego is not the barren tundra of some Scandinavian wasteland, it can still produce “the scariest band in the world—. Deadbolt has coined their genre as ‘voodoobilly’, and after going through their bone chilling catalog soaked in dark humor, the labeling somehow makes a lot of sense. Deadbolt has many songs which include cursed highway truckers, serial killer hitchhikers, re-animated corpses, voodoo magic and one disturbingly diabolical clown who goes by the name ‘Patches’. Deadbolt will give any Halloween night the soundtrack it deserves.
Demented are Go!
This is the second time I have written about them on Nevermore Horror, and with good reason. Demented are Go! has everything you need when it comes to scary Halloween shit. Crypts, zombies vampires, murder, blood, guts and insanity. Do not leave them out of your fancy iPod machines and YouTube players or whatever you kids are listening to these days.
King Diamond
Photo by Greg Cristman | www.gregCphotography.com
I'm a huge fan of King Diamond. He has the ability to weave an awful tale of darkness and lamentation with each album and has an extensive collection of albums to choose from. Whether you like possessed marionettes or haunted voodoo mansions, any of King's songs is a perfect fit for All Hallows’ Eve. Even Christmas is not safe from King Diamond, he turns every night into Halloween!
Bauhaus
Bauhaus is responsible for terrifying countless parents into thinking they are one dinner table argument away from discovering their son or daughter with slit wrists in the upstairs bathroom. If you think you have a chance to hook up with that sexy goth girl or guy at the upcoming Halloween party, nothing will seal the deal like playing some Bauhaus at the right moment. Be careful though! Peter Murphy's mysteriously brooding vocals might turn your festive party into a writhing orgy. You've been warned!
The Creepshow
The Creepshow never fails to liven up the walking dead. They have changed vocalists a few times but they never lose their intensity. The thumping upright bass and spooky themes are a great way to get the monsters moving. Played at an appropriate volume can induce wild dancing and reckless drinking, so be sure to hide all the sharp objects. Put on The Creepshow early to set the tone and hold on for dear life!
So this Halloween night, don’t let Thriller and This is Halloween be the only holiday appropriate songs to adorn your Winamp queue. Use these suggestions to branch out and explore all the wonderfully horrific options. Even if you are not hosting a party, listen to them during your pre-game beers to get you in the spirit. Either way, let these bands be your soundtrack for the best Halloween ever!
