Halloween Bands keeping spooky season alive year-round - a look at modern Halloween bands
The local goths, punks and emos never feel more alive than during Halloween as the spookiness and thrills become socially acceptable. This doesn’t stop Halloween lovers from being bound to the 31st October. These individuals are able to express their spooky loving identities through fashion and music. There are so many artists and bands that take inspiration from horror and Halloween for singular projects, offering a spot on the seasonal playlist. These songs simulate haunted houses, monsters, midnight rituals and the uneasy thrill of the unknown. However, there are some bands that embody the spirit of Halloween all year round where shadowy riffs, haunting melodies and macabre imagery are simply part of the atmosphere. Whether they put on a spookily theatrical show or continue to attract a horror audience, an eerie element lingers in their being. Here are 10 modern Halloween bands ensuring that being spooky is a way of life.
ACID WITCH
Surrounding their entire discography around spooky and morbid themes, ACID WITCH are still able to capture the silly atmosphere of the holiday as they believe that everyday is Halloween. With cheesy props, fun costumes and crowd interaction, the audience is bound to be entertained. Their style of horror metal blends both 70s and 80s psychedelic rock with death metal vocals. Eerie organs and samples from ’80s horror films help bind the tracks together, creating a distinctly haunted atmosphere. Each song carries its own reference or subtle nudge towards the spooky season, making the whole thing feel like an ode to Halloween.
CREEPER
With horror aesthetics and elaborate lore behind every major album, CREEPER has perfected the art of a dark, theatrical performance. Whilst Sangivoure I was closed with a finale film featuring Will Gould’s eye being staked, Sangivoure II follows the beheading of Gould’s head to mark the bloodthirsty themes of the album. Evolving from their horror punk and pop punk roots, the Southampton six piece band blends gothic rock and glam to convey their spooky theatrics. Their current aesthetic features a distinctive vampire-inspired makeup look that fans have eagerly adopted as their own. How could you not trust a band with a growing fanbase called the creeper cult?
DARK DIVINE
Horror inspired story telling is a key feature of metalcore band DARK DIVINE. Their tracks feature thrilling riffs, orchestral layers and haunting dialogues that create a theatrical cinematic atmosphere. This dark sonic landscape creates an eerie, high-energy atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the suspense and drama of horror films. Through dark, stylized costuming and striking skeletal makeup, the band harnesses this energy to fuel a captivating live performance. Featuring fan favourite tracks Halloweentown, Drown and Hollowed, DARK DIVINE provides the perfect eerie soundtrack to elevate your day to day playlist.
GHOST
Delivering a theatrical blend of occult glamour, heavy metal and hard rock, GHOST is formed of the lead singer, Papa Emeritus and a group of masked band members, Nameless Ghouls. The Swedish band take pleasure in their intricate yet humorous lore through their Chapter series Using church-inspired props, artificial smoke and gloomy lighting, GHOST creates an eerie atmosphere for every live performance. At the centre of their visual identity is the distinctive face mask, which resembles an evil pope and has become an instantly recognisable symbol, one frequently copied by fans.
GREEN LUNG
The darkness of folk horror is a fascinating muse for London’s five doom metal band, GREEN LUNG. Their fourth album, Necropolitan, is packed with the eerie stories of London, Victorian cemeteries and occult history. These spooky tales have sparked fans’ curiosity, drawing them deeper into the local legends and folklore that surround the music. Their gigs are treated as theatrical pagan rituals displayed through atmospheric lighting and props such as large ceremonial Ooser heads. With soaring vocals, orchestral melodies and psychedelic synths, GREEN LUNG captures an audio experience that feels both ancient and cinematic.
IN THIS MOMENT
Showcasing masquerade-style performances with witchy and occult themes, IN THIS MOMENT embrace the essence of Halloween. The alternative metal band dives into themes of inner darkness, personal empowerment and defiance, often drawing on historical symbolism to deepen its aesthetic. Their elaborate stage designs have become a defining part of the live experience, continuing to attract new fans with a set that resembles a gothic church. The immersive show is characterised by the presence of the Blood Dancers who switch between props such as ceremonial knives and flowing ribbons. IN THIS MOMENT embrace a ritualistic performance where music, imagery and theatre become inseparable.
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
With a horror themed aesthetic, spooky season lovers are drawn towards the metalcore band MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. The five-piece showcase their distinct personas through striking corpse paint, blood splatters and coordinated leather ensembles. There’s a playful theatricality to the live rendition of Werewolf, with the band and touring dancers frequently donning werewolf masks during the performance. Drawing on horror-film samples, aggressive guitar riffs and eerie synths, the band’s discography embraces a darker side, creating a suitably spooky atmosphere that feels mischievous. Balancing out the fun and fright of the 31st October, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE are the perfect band to keep the spirits alive.
MOUTH ULCERS
With music videos taken in the gloomy churches, MOUTH ULCERS are compelling the vampires and witches to dance along to their post punk tracks. MOUTH ULCERS revive the sound and aesthetics of 1980 with their debut EP, Silent Pictures. The London based quartet submerge listeners into an eerie soundscape filled with gloomy bass, simmering guitar melodies and ominous vocals. The chimes of church bells and glimmering synths help close the seven piece EP in The Perfect End, creating a unified piece to be enjoyed all year round. MOUTH ULCER’s distinctive sound is a bold statement of why both underground music and modern goth deserve to be embraced.
THE HOWLING
Feeding into a gothic and theatrical performance, THE HOWLING merges both alternative rock and gothic rock with a dramatic flair. The band style themselves in dark alternative outfits, embracing a minimal yet unified look. The foundation of their sound is capsuled through distorted basslines, ominous synthesizers and hard-driving drums. The lead vocals shift effortlessly through eerie melodies and blood curdling screams, all whilst maintaining a creepy and haunting tone. With the release of their debut EP Salvo, fans are eager to hear more projects from THE HOWLING.
VENUS GRRRLS
Born from riot grrrl origins, VENUS GRRRLS are an electrifying punk rock quartet with a
witchy aesthetic. The Leeds and Newcastle based group take inspiration from fictional Scooby Doo band THE HEX GIRLS as their outfits resemble both a rockstar and a witch. The band’s stage presence and unapologetic attitude is mesmerising with the bands chemistry being undeniable. Their sound is built on distorted guitars, moody synths and clean vocals that compel listeners to step into a cobwebbed room. Utilising occult inspired coven as inspiration, moody lighting helps transform their staging, VENUS GRRRLS know how to put on a show.
Words: Theviya R Karunaharan
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