Happy Halloween Geekscape! This is my favorite month of the year. I was born this month, New York Comic Con is usually this month and more importantly it’s Halloween so Horror movies and gore become acceptable.
My obsession of Horror Movies and Music have helped to lead into a love of anything that combines both. So Here’s 9 Horror Themed Groups you possibly have never heard of (and 1 Notoriously awful Rap Group who I already professed my love for in the past).
Enjoy!
Blaster the Rocketman – American Werewolf
I first discovered Blaster when one of my favorite groups Calibretto covered their song I’m Only Humanoid on their final album. It was my favorite song on that particular album and I had to hear the original. I was shocked how different they sounded to Calibretto (who was mostly surf-rock inspired punk). Blaster the Rocketman was a popular but short lived Christian Horror-Punk band out of Indiana known for it’s bizarre Dickies/Dead Kennedys inspired sound and for singing songs about Werewolves, Robots and Frankenstein.
The Cramps – Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon
I’m pretty sure the first time I heard of The Cramps was through Return of the Living Dead with their song Surfin’ Dead. I’d heard a few other songs over the years that I thought were okay but it wasn’t until earlier this year that I managed to find a decent chunk of their discography at local flea markets and discovered how incredible this band is. Their blend of Horror themed lyrics and Psychobilly music is perfect October driving music.
Dead Man’s Bones – My Body’s a Zombie For You
Usually when an actor has a band, that actor becomes the man focus of the group and all that people market. This may have been the case for Dead Man’s Bones, but when I discovered them I had no clue that Ryan Gosling was in the band. I was more focused on the Danny Elfmanisk sounds of the Children’s Choir to even pay attention to the lead vocals. They may very well maybe the best band with a celebrity singer.
Deadlines – Go Go To the Graveyard
The second (and last) christian horror punk band on the list. I discovered them on a Tooth & Nail comp back when I was in high school. It was my first exposure to a band that sang specifically about horror movies and I Loved every second of it. I was always entertained to find out that shortly after the album was released the label was forced to put a card in the album explaining the group wasn’t satanic and simply enjoyed horror movies.
Groovie Ghoulies – Running With Bigfoot
Much like the Cramps I’ve just recently started to appreciate the Groovie Ghoulies even though I’ve known of them since I bought Short Music for Short People back in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. What’s shocking about this group to me is that despite their name at least half their songs have no horror element at all. Instead the focus on love songs and 50’s rock covers. Regardless their 3 decade long career has been full of lots of great monster inspired melodies.
Harley Poe – Corpse Grinding Man
Harley Poe is undeniably one of my all time favorite bands. Formed around the time that Joe Whiteford’s old band Calibretto was starting to break up he stepped away from Surf-Punk into more Folk-Punk. Each song has a nice blend of Comedy, Depravity and Catchiness. For more info on Harley Poe check out my interview with him on the newest episode of the Saint Mort Show.
Ichabod Crane – Nudes For Satan
It’s possible you’ve never heard of Ichabod Crane. I wouldn’t know them if I didn’t host a podcast with their lead singer (Reddit Horror Club Podcast, Please subscribe). However despite my general distaste towards Death Metal/Trash and all of their early albums I was floored when Scott sent me the demo of their new song Nudes for Satan. It starts off sounding like a Mystik Spiral song (and I should know as I just rewatched all 5 seasons) but ends up turning it a fantastic throw back to the 80’s hair metal songs you’d hear in your favorite horror sequels (Looking at you Dokken’s Dream Warriors)
Insane Clown Posse – Fonz Pond
I have been open of my love of ICP. I wrote a Guilty Pleasure article about them, I had the director of American Juggalos on my podcast and I own a large portion of their discography. Are they amazing rappers? Not really. But they’re entertaining and their beats in particular have always caught my ear. Their album Bang! Boom! Pow! received some of their best reviews in their career (including a handful of 3 star reviews). The above song is one of my favorites off the album.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Stagger Lee
Now Nick Cave isn’t exactly a Horror themed band in general, however their song Red Right Hand is hard to hear and not immediately think of the Scream franchise. Plus they have the brilliant album Murder Ballads (My favorite of their albums personally) which writes various songs from the perspective of a serial killer. It’s not Halloween if I don’t sit and listen to that album at least once.
Sykotik Sinfoney – Manic Depresso
I will never forget the day I discovered Sykotik Sinfoney. I was a huge fan of Full Moon Pictures and had seen the trailer to Bad Channels. Being that it was a horror movie about rock music I knew I had to see it, that’s when I discovered the most bizarre band who has ever existed. For years I knew of their one song in the movie and nothing else, however thanks to the internet I was able to purchase a copy of their unreleased album and watch tons of videos of them live in the 90’s. Guitarist Brian Young now performs with David Lee Roth and the band’s sound has called ahead of it’s time.