By: Michael Drukarsh
October is the month for ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and all things that go bump in the night. If you are looking to set the mood for a creepy Halloween get together here are five terrifying tracks you can cue up to get you in the Halloween spirit.
5) “Welcome to my Nightmare” - Alice Cooper
With a slow steady build, Alice’s opening track on his debut solo album invites listeners into the nightmare world of Steven, the little boy who’s nightmare plays out across the album. Steven welcomes us and is quite certain that we’ll feel like we belong. As the horn section kicks in and the song breaks into a frenzy we are told that within the nightmare “we sweat and laugh and scream here, cause life is just a dream here, you know inside you feel right at home.”
4) “Dragula” - Rob Zombie
Ok, to be fair, pretty much any Rob Zombie song would fit the criteria for this list. As an avid horror fan, Zombie litters his songs with scary, B-movie references and gory visuals. I choose “Dragula” mostly for the perfectly appropriate Halloween themed title and for lyrics that include “Dead I am the rat, feast upon the cat, tender is the fur, dying as you purr.” You really can’t get more Halloween schmaltzy than that.
3) “Bark at the Moon” - Ozzy Osbourne
“Screams break the silence, waking from the dead of night…” Ozzy seems to have mixed his horror movie characters in this story of revenge from what appears to be a zombie werewolf. After being buried in a nameless grave and spending some time in hell, the beast rises and goes in search of those who did him wrong. The album is the first to feature guitarist Jake E Lee and he makes an excellent impression on this opening track with haunting guitar riffs and an incredible solo. For a spooktacular add bonus at your Halloween gathering, play the video as well. Nothing says Halloween like Ozzy running round in a wolf costume barking at the moon.
2) “Halloween” - King Diamond
When the name of the holiday is literally the title, you know the song needs to be on the list. Couple that with a lead singer who fits right into the whole Halloween theme and there is no questioning this entry. King professes his love for the holiday stating “Halloween, you are my pride, Halloween not just a dream”. King continues to share his excitement about the holiday as “every night will be another evil scene, like in horror dreams…”
1) “Halloween” - Helloween
So, if King Diamond's “Halloween" makes the list because of its title, then “Halloween” by Helloween has to be number one! Unlike the first 3 songs, both holiday title songs are actually about Halloween, but Helloween’s “Halloween” (you following me?) really brings out the spirit of the night. At 13 minutes and 8 seconds, this epic tale of trick or treating and being abducted by “the power unknown” captures the glory and the horror of the night. Soaring vocals and sweeping guitars brings the horror of Halloween to light amidst the ever present allure of free candy.
(The official music videos pares down the 13 minute epic, but you can catch it in all its glory in the official audio - both versions presented here):
Got a favourite "Halloween" song that is not in this Top 5?
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