Author: Taryn Walters
Once again, it’s October. Warm colors are beginning to flow through the veins of trees and through their leaves as they take a slow departure for winter, shriveling up on the ground to create the perfect crunch under your shoes as you stroll along the sidewalk. Candy is stocked on the shelves of grocery stores, pumpkins can be found by the doorsteps of your neighbors’ houses, and yes, the Starbucks fall menu is eating away at your life savings (or at least it is mine).
If you’re like me, you know there’s nothing better than getting into the holiday mood with a good playlist. As much as I love Halloween music, I think we can all agree that songs like “The Monster Mash” and “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” tend to get a little old. Personally, I love a song that gives Halloween vibes without being specifically made for that holiday — and as a metal fan, there’s an endless list of tracks that make you feel like you’re walking straight through the set of a scary movie.
Whether it’s on in the background as you bake a delicious fall treat, while you’re walking a trail freshly touched by autumn’s grace, or drinking hot apple cider at a wooden table outside a pumpkin patch, here are eight metal songs to get you ready for the spooky season (and I promise I won’t waste your time by mentioning Rob Zombie or Ice Nine Kills):
1 —
Song: “For My Demons”
Artist: Katatonia
Katatonia’s ability to capture such a tragically beautiful and vulnerable story within this track is unmatched. The mixture of melodic and gothic metal creates a haunting and melancholic listening experience — it feels almost as if you’re going back in time, running through a forest of dead trees as a murder of crows flies above your head. Released on January 1, 1999, from their fourth album Tonight’s Decision, this song is perfect for getting into those chilling October vibes.
2 —
Song: “Skeletal”
Artist: The Last Ten Seconds of Life
This deathcore song transports you into a haunted house filled with ghosts, each one symbolizing your worst fears and past mistakes. The slow, eerie guitar riff at 1:07 creates an atmospheric listening experience, and the switch-up at 1:52 is the cherry on top — a satisfying fry scream followed by a blast beat on drums.
3 —
Song: “Of Beasts and Worms”
Artist: Allegaeon
“Of Beasts and Worms” starts with a slow, soft, and cinematic intro, then quickly shifts — hitting you with chugging guitars and thrashing drums. With a good mixture of death growls and clean singing, as well as a grand guitar solo during the bridge, this technical melodic death metal song belongs in the soundtrack of a zombie apocalypse video game.
4 —
Song: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Artist: Cradle of Filth
Originally released by Iron Maiden (with writing credits to Steve Harris) in 1982, this spooky song explores the thoughts of a prisoner before execution — their fear of death, the unknown, and the afterlife. I believe Cradle of Filth did something few artists can do: take an incredible song and bring it to the next level. The faster pace, extreme vocals, and heavier instrumentals truly bring this song to life. By mixing their black metal style with symphonic and gothic components — and adding wind, a clock tower bell, and strings — they make it even more suitable for the Halloween season.
5 —
Song: “Reptilian Bloodsport”
Artist: Xoth
Xoth uses a unique blend of thrash and technical death metal, with their music jam-packed with intricate guitar riffs and solos. From their third album Exogalactic, released November 3, 2023, “Reptilian Bloodsport” sounds like you’ve got front-row seats to an epic alien battle in a sci-fi horror movie.
6 —
Song: “Like Falling Leaves”
Artist: Woods of Desolation
This black metal song, whose remastered release date was September 9, 2022, is the first track off their sophomore album As the Stars. The spine-chilling screams buried beneath beautifully entangled layers of instrumentals are sure to leave you with an unnerving feeling.
7 —
Song: “October”
Artist: Faetooth
As part of their latest project Labyrinthine, this doom metal song feels like lighting a candle on a warm autumn evening. With soft vocals and dreamy guitars, this track is a soothing break from the heavier songs on this list.
8 —
Song: “Black Sabbath”
Artist: Black Sabbath
I believe this lesser-known track off their self-titled album is the definition of a perfect Halloween song. Starting with the sounds of rain and thunder, backed by the ringing of a church bell, it paints a picture for the listener of a grim October evening. With slow, heavy guitars, cries for help, and lyrics filled with dark imagery, “Black Sabbath” is sure to raise the hairs on your arms and give your stomach a sense of dread.
Taryn Walters | KXSU Blog writer