13 gloriously spooky artists to soundtrack your Halloween

With Halloween approaching, it’s crucial to put together a playlist to get you in the spirit of the gloriously spooky holiday. While there are logical additions that are important for any Halloween playlist (Ice Nine Kills, Misfits, Motionless In White, the standard “Monster Mash”), we’re providing some deep cuts instead. Not only will they stand out among other Halloween classics, but they’ll also score you cool points at any Halloween celebration. 

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From Kim Petras to Type O Negative, these are the 13 artists to soundtrack your Halloween season. Chances are, you’ll discover some hidden gems along the way. 

Kim Petras 

Electropop star Kim Petras’ sophomore album Turn Off the Light beams with Halloween and horror references, set to the soundtrack of dark disco arrangements and chilling synths. The album finds Petras referencing classic Halloween movie scores as well as tales of zombies and vampires. She even enlists horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark for the title track. If you’re throwing a Halloween party and want to get the entire room dancing, look no further than Kim Petras. 

Son of Sam 

While AFI frontman Davey Havok has been involved in several notable side projects, his work with the horror supergroup Son of Sam in the early 2000s was criminally underrated. Son of Sam released just one album with Havok on lead vocals titled Songs From The Earth (2001), which featured a stacked lineup of horror-punk icons — guitarist Todd Youth (Danzig) and bassist Steve Zing (Samhain) — to create a truly powerful blend of deathrock, psychobilly and the classic Misfits-inspired sound that was pivotal during the early days of AFI.

Carach Angren 

Black metal has always been associated with spooky imagery, the occult and Satan, but when you add orchestral and theatrical elements, it hits completely different. Carach Angren are a symphonic black-metal group from the Netherlands that offer the familiar onslaught of blast beats, fry screams and tremolo guitar sweeps you expect from most black-metal bands. But they add a nightmarish cinematic flair to their music that feels like a horror movie soundtrack from hell. If you’re a fan of bands like Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, then you will be in for a treat with this eccentric black-metal group. 

Chelsea Wolfe 

Chelsea Wolfe has made a name for herself through her inimitable blending of genres ranging from folk, doom metal and ambient goth-rock — making her a truly versatile artist and enigmatic force you can’t help but be drawn to. Wolfe’s music is riddled with darkness and haunting, delicate energy that is perfect for a chilly autumn night while reading a classic horror novel with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee. 

Schoolyard Heroes 

During their short tenure as a band, Schoolyard Heroes released three exceptional horror-punk albums that toe the line between riot grrrl punk and hardcore to pop punk, with sugar-sweet choruses that tackle topics of the occult, macabre and the undead. The band’s breakthrough song “Dawn Of The Dead” showcases their intense and frenetic instrumentation, coupled with the sheer power and versatility of frontwoman Ryann Donnelly’s voice, which adds a sense of melody and catchiness through the darkness. Schoolyard Heroes’ music, while serious at its core, manages to be quite tongue in cheek with the lyricism, demonstrated brilliantly in songs such as “The Plastic Surgery Hall Of Fame,” “Blood-Spattered Sundress” and “Cemetery Girls.” 

Wednesday 13

Joseph Poole, better known as Wednesday 13, is a musician who lives and breathes horror. Initially coming to prominence as the frontman of the musical duo Murderdolls alongside former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, Wednesday 13 has carved out an impressive niche as a solo artist within the horror-punk and heavy-metal communities. From chilling synth lines to dark lyrics that contain classic horror references, Wednesday 13 is a logical choice for any Halloween playlist or a trip through a haunted house.

The Haxans 

The Haxans are a goth-pop duo consisting of New Years Day frontwoman Ash Costello (vocals) and Piggy D, the longtime bassist of horror-rock icon Rob Zombie. The band’s moniker is derived from the witchcraft-centered 1920s silent horror film Haxan, which couldn’t be a more fitting name considering the duo’s commitment to all things dark and the occult. With their unique blend of darkwave and industrial music, the Haxans’ are the perfect soundtrack for a black-clad night out on the town.

HorrorPops

Danish psychobilly group HorrorPops have been a staple in the horror-punk scene since the mid-1990s due to their energetic and captivating live shows and the undeniable star power of frontwoman and stand-up bass player Patricia Day. HorrorPops only released three studio albums before going on hiatus nearly a decade ago but have been playing more shows in honor of their anniversary, including When We Were Young. Queue up classic tunes such as “Walk Like A Zombie” and “Freaks In Uniforms” to get you amped for a wild and rowdy Halloween.

Twin Temple

Twin Temple are a Satanic doo-wop duo — yes, you read right that — who play a classic ‘50s-inspired blend of ritualistic rock ‘n’ roll. The band truly shine when it comes to writing love songs dedicated to Lucifer (case in point: the infectious track “Lucifer, My Love”) but also cover a great deal of social commentary with their music. Twin Temple’s powerhouse frontwoman Alexandra James’ voice is beautifully reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, and the humble duo have not only captivated audiences while touring alongside major rock acts such as Ghost but have also managed to piss off several far-right conservative groups along the way by being entirely themselves.

The Cramps 

With songs such as “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” and “The Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon,” the Cramps have been instrumental in forming the horror-punk genre we know and love today. Formed by the late Lux Interior and his wife Poison Ivy, the Cramps stood out due to their spooky imagery, lyrics and Interior’s howling vocal style. The Cramps have been cited as key influences on major artists such as AFI and Tiger Army, with an impact in the same vein as Misfits.

Alkaline Trio 

While punk mainstays Alkaline Trio have covered a significant amount of sonic avenues through their 25-year career, they’ve undoubtedly embodied the spirit of horror punk with the holy trinity of their three most beloved records — From Here to Infirmary, Good Mourning and Crimson. Notable tracks include “Mr. Chainsaw,” “We’ve Had Enough” and “Sadie,” the latter of which was written and named after one of the key members of Charles Manson’s murderous cult.

T.S.O.L. 

T.S.O.L. have always been known for their provocative and polarizing lyrics that border on disturbing and flat-out gross. However, they have carved out a unique niche within the horror-punk genre that has lasted since the late ‘70s. Upon first listening to the band’s classic song “Code Blue,” the lyrics, which detail a fictitious account of necrophilia, are certainly not for the faint of heart. Once you understand the metaphors in place, however, the band’s music is hard to ignore and makes for an unsettling but unforgettable listening experience.

Type O Negative 

Type O Negative frontman and chief songwriter Peter Steele was an unforgettable presence in the ’90s goth and metal scene through his dark, risque lyricism, evocative music and looking like a buffed-out version of Dracula. Steele sadly passed away in 2010, but Type O Negative left behind a legacy of spooktacular goth-metal classics that are the perfect soundtrack for any Halloween festivities. That includes “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All),” a fan-favorite track that tells the tale of a love gone awry on All Hallows Eve.