Horrorpunk is for life... not just for Halloween, but lets face it, a lot of these tunes were made for Halloween party fun!! Fans of the music spend their time listening to this immensely varied genres many offerings and each will have their preferred style but just know that it is all creepingly good fun. When many think of horrorpunk they most probably think of Misfits, The Cramps, Danzig, T.S.O.L and The Undead from the 80s and maybe the odd late 90s/early 00s band like The Others, Blitzkid, Murderdolls and Calabrese who managed to claw their way from the grave into the public eye. Many, many other great horrorpunk bands remain underground but are creating fantastic music and making a name for themselves within the horrorpunk community around the globe.
When I say there are a variety of styles within the horrorpunk genre I mean it. Often described as psychobilly, rockabilly, punk rock and pop punk there are so many styles that combine a whole host of other sub genres within the alternative scene, as well as those mentioned the amount of thrash, power and doom metal even synthwave elements coming into horrorpunk is growing strong too creating a whole other chapter. No matter what style of horrorpunk you are the most important thing you need to be a horrorpunk artist is great horror content. The two subjects, to me, are a match made in heaven and no matter how you do it you cant go wrong with a great horror theme or original ghoulish story.
I am no horrorpunk aficionado, I've dropped in and out of the scene ever since my teenage years but coming back into the community now has opened my eyes to the vast variety that is still around and the awesome bands that are out there waiting to be discovered by a wider audience and Halloween is the time to shout about horrorpunk! The following 5 songs are a very small selection of the horrorpunk that I like. They are a mixture of old and new and quite different in style. These are the songs that would definitely feature on my Halloween party playlist...
1
Creature Feature – The Netherworld
I feel like I have already sullied the name of horrorpunk for some by choosing this as my top horrorpunk song but Creature Feature and this track in particular embodies everything that is horrorpunk in my opinion. Okay so Creature Feature are better described as goth rock but I will fight anyone that disagrees that they don't wholly embrace horrorpunk. They are horrorpunk, every song is horror themed, The Netherworld in particular is punky and catchy. Creature Feature are a wonderful creepy duo that have created some of the best electro/gothic/horror/carnival crossover music of recent times and they should be more well known then they are. That is why The Netherworld is a must for your halloween playlist!
2
The Ruined – She Must Die
True, authentic horrorpunk is my next choice. British horrorpunk degenerates The Ruined ooze raw, angry and shouty music with a dark punk attitude and some great horror content. Another song to feature on your Halloween party playlist but one to be saved for later when you've had a few drinks and only jumping about is an option.
3
Coffin Carousel – March Of The Dead
A bit of sludge/doom infused horrorpunk for you next with Australias finest, Coffin Carousel. I absolutely adore this combination of thumping backline, chugging guitars and strong vocal lines. Melodic and dirty all at the same time with a frantic pace at times mellowing into the hypnotic. Another great track for the playlist and one that will appeal to the metal heads as well.
4
The Deathtones – All Hallows Eve
Haunting horror themed power metal meets Misfits next with the awesome masked horror villain quartet The Deathtones! I really, really love the vocals on this and the sweeping guitar riff. Certainly not out of place on a Halloween playlist.
5
The Cramps – Surfin' Dead
One of the oldies and still one of the best, Surfin' Dead is not only a really cool song to twitch about on the dance floor to but it also featured in one of my all time favourite zombie movies The Return Of The Living Dead (1985). How could you not include this on your list??
