Robyn Writes

Halloween Mixtape by ninthandash and Ripper

In tribute to our favourite holiday, we’ve stuck 13 songs in our cauldron and mixed them up for your delight. Stick this on when Halloween comes calling and you won’t be disappointed.

Links to the songs can be found at the bottom of the page.

The Misfits — ‘Halloween.’

Ripper: We’ve decided to open our Halloween mixtape with the most iconic horrorpunk track of all time. It’s true that the Misfits weren’t the same when Danzig left, and this is just one reason why he is the definitive Misfits frontman. From lyrics about hanging cats on poles to the eerie calls of ‘Halloween!’ by Danzig himself, this is just one creepy song.

ninthandash: This has got to be the first song that comes to mind when someone asks me to make a Halloween mix. The atmosphere the song creates is fantastic, and the lyrics work really well even though they’re quite simple. Halloween is a must at any Halloween party; easy to dance to and still with that edge of horror punk that the Misfits are known for.

A.F.I. — ‘The Nephilim.’

Ripper: Where would a Halloween list be without AFI? Professed lovers of all things dark and eerie, AFI usually have at least one song on their albums with something to do with the night. The Nephilim is the story of a man who compares himself to a fallen angel. References to Lucifer (the devil, if you were wondering), anyone? The opening bass riff sends shivers down my spine too.

ninthandash: The Art of Drowning featured a darker horror punk sound than A.F.I.’s earlier releases, and The Nephilim embodies that. The song always seems much shorter than it actually is, due to the fast pace and heavy drums, but altogether it adds up to over two minutes of Havok’s powerful singing. “Like an angel with broken wings, reach to the sky again,” is the strongest message here, and Halloween for me would not be the same without The Nephilim blasting from the stereo.

Resurex — ‘Dia de los Muertos.’

Ripper: Even the title is spooky. There’s just something about Spanish and Halloween that seems to click. Add some slow psychobilly with a pretty apparent echo effect and then a dirty riff kicking in after about a minute and you’ve got yourself an instant wrecking pit. Even Daniel DeLeon’s blood is running cold.

ninthandash: I think Dia de los Muertos has one of the most amazing intros. Laid back while heavy and atmospheric, the build up is tense and a perfect lead up into the more fast paced and energetic verses. The low-toned vocals fit the song perfectly, and don’t detract from the effect at all, rather adding to it. The abrupt change in tempo from slow to fast catches the attention of the listener quickly, and the unique sound means that I’m always captive from beginning to end.

Tiger Army — ‘Power of Moonlite.’
ninthandash: The guitars in this song are definitely a key part. They take the listener on a rollercoaster ride through the song, with Nick 13’s frenzied vocals adding another level to an already strong song. Psychobilly isn’t one of my favourite genres, but Tiger Army always do it so well that I can’t help enjoying this almost haunting song.

Ripper: Psychobilly is certainly my music of choice for Halloween, so we’ve chosen a track from one of the most well known psychobilly acts of our time. Tiger Army often offer up relatively spooky tracks, but the title track from their second album is one of the creepiest. Is Nick 13 a secret werewolf? We’ll never know.

Madness — ‘House of Fun.’
Ripper: Okay, so this is a bit of an odd one, I’ll admit. The chorus key change certainly sounds a bit horrific though. A classic tale of how coming of age isn’t usually all it’s cracked up to be, combined with some pretty awesome trumpets.

ninthandash: I love this song. When I was younger, I used to hear this song and something about it always struck a chord with me. It scared me even then, the upbeat melody having a tinge of horror hidden beneath it — reminding me always of funfairs, with the brightly coloured rides and clowns seeming to hide something darker. Even though it at first seems like nothing more than a fun, catchy song, this song is definitely one of the creepiest for me.

I Am Ghost — ‘Dark Carnival of the Immaculate.’
Ripper: Another song with allusions to the funfair, this opens with a really haunting carnival theme. Pure and simple, this song is about vampires, the classic Halloween bad guys. Juliano’s screams and wails create the perfect atmosphere and Kerith Telestai’s violins set it off just right.

ninthandash: Like Ripper said, the funfair theme is very strong in this, and something about the carnival theme always sends a chill down my spine. The song opens up a new world, one that not many people would be happy to inhabit, and I find the imagery very strong in this. It always definitely gets me thinking about Halloween night, and all the chaos that comes along with it.

Sufjan Stevens — ‘John Wayne Gacy Jr.’

ninthandash: For me, this is one of those songs that I enjoy, but wouldn’t want to think about too much. The lyrics aren’t explicit and perhaps even all the more effective for being so; Stevens hints at the real truth of it while hiding it well enough that on first listen, the song comes across like any other quiet instrumental melody.

Ripper: It’s a song about a serial killer who dressed up like a clown. Enough said.

Alkaline Trio — ‘Back To Hell.’
Ripper: They’re members of the Church of Satan, they write songs about murder and they’re some of our favourite little hellraisers. That’s right, it’s the Trio. They’ve tasted heaven and don’t want any more in Back To Hell, a fast and furious tribute to the devil.

ninthandash: Strong, loud and yet melodic in that distinctive way that only the Trio seem able to constantly do, and do well. Fast build ups make way for slower verses in a way that keeps you guessing as to what exactly is going to come next, reflecting the nature of Halloween perfectly. The chorus is catchy and fun and Trio songs very rarely manage to disappoint — this among them. Always worth a listen.

Protest The Hero — ‘Bloodmeat.’
Ripper: Everything about this song is scary. The dissonant opening riff, the shrieking vocals and those lyrics about cold hearted slaughter… and rape. Don’t forget those raped virgins.

ninthandash: I absolutely adore Protest The Hero and this song has got to be one of my favourite by them. They never fail to blow my mind, and showcase their skills to the max. Different and innovative, the song creates an amazing presence and the band always manage to deliver. Bloodmeat is a Halloween song like no other; cold, brutal and so fucking hardcore.

Social Distortion — ‘Mommy’s Little Monster.’
Ripper: This song is every parent’s worst nightmare, showing us the pitfalls of the rebellious teenager. It’s not scary in a Halloween sense of the word, and the typical Californian punk melodies set you at ease. Maybe that’s what’s really scary.

ninthandash: Just like a punk song should be; fast, epic and loud!

The Fall of Troy — ‘The Dark Trail.’
ninthandash: Sometimes Fall of Troy can be a little ridiculous, trying too hard to be something new, but with The Dark Trail they manage to stay on the right side of the line between enjoyable and too much. The only negative side of this is that perhaps at over four minutes, it overstays its welcome at parts. However, it’s still a dark, creepy song and one that is definitely not out of place on Halloween night.

Ripper: The Fall Of Troy always produce relatively unsettling songs. Whether it’s the unnerving falsetto, the cookie monster screams or the dischord of the guitars, something’s not right about The Fall Of Troy. The Dark Trail is no exception. Teenage rebellion gone to the extreme, with more than a hint of recreational drug use meets mind blowing riffs and terrifying vocals in this one.

Rancid — ‘Maxwell Murder.’
Ripper: Maxwell might not be Jack The Ripper, but he’s certainly a bad lad, and Rancid know it. It’s simply beautiful punk rock, with more than a casual sneer attached. Not to mention, Matt Freeman’s bass solo is just fantastic.

ninthandash: Telling the story of Maxwell, Rancid do it fast and do it well. No time to get bored, the song just carries you away, spitting lyrics and abuse at you in equal measure. Fast, heavy and like a punch to the gut, Maxwell Murder leaves no doubt about the felon himself and just what he’s capable of.

Send More Paramedics — ‘Blood Fever.’
Ripper: And to end our Halloween mix, we’ve got some ZOMBIEXCORE! Every horror movie fan’s favourite, SMP’s song about turning into a zombie just set us off. It’s hardcore at its most bone crushingly awesome, and is guaranteed to get every ghoul throwing down on the dance floor. Plus, this features some of the best gang vocals I’ve ever heard.

ninthandash: I wish Send More Paramedics were still around because this song shows just how refreshing and different they were, while still retaining the elements of hardcore and, at that, zombiecore that they were so well known for. One of my favourite songs on this mix, and definitely a good one to end it with.

Honourable mention goes to…
Those Panic At The Disco boys with their charming ode to the dark night, It’s Almost Halloween. This video is so adorable it just plain fails to scare. Enjoy!



Find these songs here…

Misfits – Halloween
AFI – The Nephilim
Rezurex – Dia De Los Muertos
Tiger Army – Power Of Moonlite
Madness – House Of Fun
I Am Ghost – Dark Carnival Of The Immaculate
Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy Jr
Alkaline Trio – Back To Hell
Protest The Hero – Bloodmeat
Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster
The Fall Of Troy – The Dark Trail
Rancid – Maxwell Murder
Send More Paramedics – Blood Fever

Six Degrees Of Separation Mixtape by fightclubsandwich

Originally by fightclubsandwich, posted on 8/9/2009

The game “Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon”, since its conception in 1994, has risen to the level of ubiquity enjoyed by the likes of such games as “I Spy” or “Consequences”. This rise to prominence is a testament to the human race’s love of trivia, especially as a means to achieve victory at a competition that is as trivial as the knowledge required to play it. The sheer simplicity of the game’s basic format can also be applied to the mixtape, a glorious invention that also owes its success to the human love of trivia and tiny, insignificant little details. If you’d like to learn more about mixtapes, they feature heavily in the film High Fidelity, which stars Jack Black, who was in Tropic Thunder, which also starred Tom Cruise, who was also in A Few Good Men, with Kevin Bacon.

The World/Inferno Friendship Society – Thumb Cinema

Is there any better way to begin a mixtape than with a delicious slice of World/Inferno? I can’t think of one. Thumb Cinema is one of the band’s most insistently catchy numbers, as well as one that falls more or less on the punk side of their fun and unique cabaret-punk sound. Thumb Cinema can be found on the album Addicted To Bad Ideas, and due to the band’s constantly changing line-up, their drummer for the touring following this album was Brian Viglione, best known for his work with…

Dresden Dolls – Backstabber

Brian Viglione is such an excellent touchstone between bands of wildly different genres that if another Six Degrees article such as this one should appear on this website, you should probably expect Mr Viglione’s presence there. For example, this particular song we’ve chosen, Backstabber, was a released as a single with a video featuring members of Panic! At The Disco. So actually, via The World/Inferno Friendship Society’s revolving door drummer replacement method, we could link them back to Leftover Crack (hello there, Ara Babajian) thus blowing your mind with the observation that Leftover Crack and Panic! At The Disco are only about four steps apart. But instead, we decided to link Brian Viglione with another musician who seems to be everywhere at once…

Nine Inch Nails – Starfuckers Inc.

Of course! Viglione drummed on the most recent Nine Inch Nails album, Ghosts I-IV. Aside from Mr Reznor himself, of course, the line up for Nine Inch Nails is suitably fluid as to allow us to connect them with a huge number of other bands. Not to mention that the band’s numerous festival appearances mean that they’ve shared a stage with even more. However, we’re going to take the obvious path and point out that a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, (well, the 1990s) Reznor produced the album “Portrait Of An American Family” by…

Marilyn Manson – Personal Jesus

Okay, so there are more connections between Manson and Nine Inch Nails than just that, as anyone alive during the 1990s will know, and will be scoffing at me for. They’ve shared musicians, most famously guitarist Twiggy Ramirez, Manson appeared in the video for Starfuckers Inc. and you know what? The list goes on, but a list of reasons that two musical acts are connected is boring, we have to keep up the pace and move onto another, cover as many bases as possible. This particular Manson song is, of course, a cover of a Depeche Mode song. This song was also covered by…

Johnny Cash – Hurt

What is there to say about Johnny Cash that hasn’t already been said? After a career of commercial success as well as artistic merit, he went out with a bang in 2003 with a slew of Rick Rubin produced songs that saw him returning to (maintaining?) the glowing success that he’d seen in his prime. Personal Jesus of course, was one of these, as was Hurt, which seemed the appropriate choice of song for this mixtape, considering that it was penned by another member of this list. Also, it allows me to maintain the theme of cover versions, which is how we reach our next, err, degree? A tribute album to Cash came out last year, with the title On the All Aboard. This album saw the song Man In Black being covered by…

Bouncing Souls – Night Train

Of all of their own original work, Night Train is a song with a particular Johnny Cash feel to it. The song is melancholy and depressing as all get-out, but there’s still a glimmer of hope that comes from accepting the heavy responsibility of having made mistakes. It’s very emotional, but not gratuitously sentimental.

So anyway, now that we’ve established that they’re completely excellent, who are we connecting the ‘Souls to? Well, their first full-length (The Good, The Bad & The Argyle) came out on Chunksaah Records, (way back in ’94, hmm, coincidence?) which is also the record label currently putting out music by…

The World/Inferno Friendship Society!

And the circle is completed! (In six degrees, as God intended.)