It's the most wonderful time of the year, for the more macabre of us anyway. The nights are getting longer, the movies are getting gorier and the music is getting creepier. We asked some of our favourite bands to choose a song each for our Halloween playlist.
‘This is Halloween’ from The Nightmare Before Christmas
The first track was chosen by Skies In Motion. “Can’t get much spookier than a song from a film about Halloween can you? Marilyn Manson did a cover version of this too, and it’s REALLY good.”
‘Demons Gate’ by Candlemass, chosen by Seaway
‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby Pickett, chosen by Aidan Razzall from Weirds
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – ‘Red Right Hand’
Chosen by Lewis Naggs from Lullaby: “Great tune. The production reminds me of a skeleton moving through some wind chimes or something haha… with Nick Cave narrating. Another classic. Arctic Monkeys did a great cover of this too. Check that out if this song tickles your bones.”
SSQ – ‘Tonight (We’ll make Love Until We Die’)
Chosen by Laurent Barnard of Gallows / Gold Key: “It’s from ‘Return of the Living Dead,’ my favourite zombie film.”
Darkthrone – ‘Kaatharian Life Code’
Says Archie Cruz from Santa Cruz: “Sit in a dark room and play this on full volume on headphones. It’s scarier than your worst horror-flick.”
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – ‘I Put A Spell On You’
Chosen by Collette Williams from Rews: “The Bette Midler version (which sadly wasn’t on Spotify) is from one of the best Halloween films, Hocus Pocus!! Second only to the Nightmare before Christmas. It’s my favourite time of year.”
The Misfits – ‘Some Kinda Hate’
Chosen by Briana from Monster Treasure: “Misfits are the ultimate Halloween time band. ‘Halloween’ was the obvious choice, with ‘Skulls’ at a close second but this track speaks to me.”
Ryan Adams – ‘Halloweenhead’
Chosen by Paceshifters: “We don’t like Halloween that much, but we do like Ryan Adams and this one has Halloween in the title.”
Alice Cooper – ‘Feed My Frankenstein’, chosen by Tomm E. Williams from Go Primitive
Korn – ‘Twist’, chosen by Bonny Fraser of Stand Atlantic
Calabrese – ‘Midnight Spookshow’
Chosen by Alex Marshall from Miss Vincent: “That band do Halloween all year round and I love it.”
Avenged Sevenfold – ‘A Little Piece Of Heaven’
Chosen by Jack Ford from Echoic: “Such a random song, but so great. It gets real messed up in a spooky way, and has the video to go with it!”
Angelo Badalamenti – ‘The Theme Form Twin Peaks’, chosen by Aidan Razzall from Weirds
Iron Maiden – ‘Fear Of The Dark’, chosen by Liam from Highlives
Michael Jackson – ‘Thriller’
And our final track was chosen by Ciaran Scanlon from Fizzy Blood. “I don’t think there is a better Halloween song then Michael Jacksons Thriller is there? Without a doubt you will see me on the dance floor busting some serious shapes.”
You can follow Punktastic on Spotify for more guest playlists, festival previews and round-ups of our favourite music.