For fans of the fearful, Halloween is their favorite time of year. It’s a holiday that’s not as resolutely family-centric, and it allows people to masquerade in personas and disguises they normally wouldn’t express throughout the year. Horror fanatics love that there’s so much programming on streaming television, and there are those consumers who simply must visit Spirit Halloween stores (which SNL hilariously lampooned on a recent episode).
Videos by American Songwriter
Naturally, people want to throw fantastic spooky bashes to celebrate the season. Here are six music videos to consider playing in the background of a party, whether or not the sound is actually on. The imagery itself is perfectly suited to this time of year, although be advised that a couple of them are for mature eyes only because they’re gory.
“Bleeders” by Black Veil Brides
It’s no secret that Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack loves all things Gothic and dark—his favorite superhero is Batman, after all. This video recreates the scenic design and vibe of the Tim Burton version of Sweeney Todd from 2007. Biersack emulates the butcherous barber who slits the throats of people who have done terrible things to others. The twist here is he gets his comeuppance from someone you don’t expect. “Bleeders” is the bloodiest entry on the list, so parental discretion is completely advised.
“Call Me (Halloween Special)” by Broken Peach
Spain’s Broken Peach have been doing very animated cover-song performances over the last 15 years, frequently donning ghoulish or skeleton-like bodysuits and make-up. Most of the songs they’re covering don’t need to have a Halloween-type performance attached to them, but that just makes them more fun. It is again in their latest annual Halloween offering, with the seven-piece group bathed in golden light on a crypt set, accompanied by bursts of pyro, doing a metallic take on Blondie’s “Call Me” and peppering in a little “I Was Made for Loving You” by KISS. Their videos are usually single-shot, one-take deals because Broken Peach, with their vibrant vocal harmonies and spirited choreography, are mesmerizing to watch. If you like this video, check out their YouTube channel because there are plenty more like it. They completely redefine the idea of a cover band, and they’ve started releasing their own original material.
“Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter
Taking inspiration from the Meryl Streep-Goldie Hawn horror comedy Death Becomes Her, singer Sabrina Carpenter and actor Jenna Ortega square off in a bloody showdown where they repeatedly eviscerate and murder each other after Ortega has taken up with Carpenter’s ex. The diabolical duo vamp it up deadpan style as they pay homage to movies including Ginger Snaps, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Psycho, Addams Family Values, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This one’s not for the kiddies, but bloody-minded horror fans will get a kick out of it.
“Lithonia” by Childish Gambino
This is a short and sweet entry from Gambino in which he and his band play to a small crowd in someone’s house. Over the course of just two minutes, the singer and his bandmates start to look increasingly agitated and are sweating profusely, leading up to a jump scare we can say no more about lest we ruin the surprise. Many fans have been freaked out by it, in a good way. It’s a rare example of a music video with a genuine “gotcha” quality.
“Supernatural Radio” by Jonny Polonsky
This animated video is more low-key compared to others on this list, but it’s still fun. It features Polonsky and his bandmates performing on a train while little ghosties swirl around them and goblins and skeletons march across an increasingly darkening landscape. As the song progresses, it’s clear the bandmates are becoming more possessed. There’s a haunting quality to this song—like Polonsky’s subdued delivery of lines like I hear the screams of death and dying / The sound is roaring in my ears—that befits the video imagery.
“Monolith” by Twin Tribes
A young lady sees a comet land on a nearby hillside and goes to investigate. She finds an unusual monolith and naively touches it. A black goop slowly starts to stream from her hand, and when she gets home it gradually begins to envelop her body as she spastically struggles to escape it. In her delirium, she hallucinates being in a more heavenly setting. Inspired by the monolith and the final, white-walled set from 2001: A Space Odyssey, “Monolith” is another quality creep fest from the darkwave duo of Twin Tribes. They have other videos perfect for Halloween as well.
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Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images
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