When it comes to metal music and horror films, two negatively stereotyped genres, fans often gravitate towards both forms of media. Directed by Mike Schiff, the 2021 documentary The History of Metal and Horror is a prime example.
Rob Zombie embodies the combination of metal music and horror movies. I’ve written a few columns about him and his films before, so if you’re interested, check them out!
Below, I’ve provided a list of songs that are related to specific horror films. Some may be unfamiliar to you.
“Hellraiser” – Motörhead/Ozzy Osbourne (1991/1992)
This song wasn’t specifically written with the movie Hellraiser in mind. However, it later made an appearance in the Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) soundtrack, and Lemmy Kilmister included Pinhead in his music video.
“Evil Dead” – Death (1987)
It’s evident from the title of this song that it’s a tribute to the 1981 film The Evil Dead. There are lyrics such as, “trapped inside a life which is not yours” that references the horrors that the characters face throughout the movie.
“Freddy Krueger” – S.O.D. (1985)
S.O.D. was known to take a comedic/satirical approach to social commentary, and Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) was deemed a “politically incorrect” villain, making him a perfect fit for one of their songs.
“The Exorcist” – Possessed (1985)
The intro to this song incorporates a modified version of the main theme “Tubular Bells” (written by Mike Oldfield) from the 1973 film The Exorcist. The use of this iconic audio sample conveys a sense of eeriness and foreboding.
“Rabid” – Mortician (1999)
Mortician is known for including dialogue in their songs from horror films. “Rabid” is their most popular song and includes a sample from the 1971 film I Drink Your Blood. The band members do this to tribute the genre that heavily influences their discography. Personally, listening to their music has helped me find some cool horror movies.
I know that there are plenty of good songs that I didn’t include, so leave a comment if you’re interested in a second part to this column and have specific songs you would like to see mentioned.
