10 Horror Movie Soundtrack Songs You Can Listen To Year Round

Every year around Halloween the soundtracks of our favorite horror and Halloween themed movies make their way onto party playlists and become the background music for the month of October.  But over the years there have been plenty of songs featured in horror that can be enjoyed year-round.  In no particular order, here are some of my favorites from over the years that I can listen to at Halloween or any other time of year.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Dramarama – Anything, Anything
While it’s not on the official soundtrack, Dramarama’s “Anything, Anything” is one of the most blatant uses of a song I think I’ve ever heard in a movie.  Playing almost in it’s entirety during Rick’s martial arts montage and again later as Alice uses nunchucks this song has always made me think of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4.  The song still plays on the radio from time to time and when it does it’s one I’m guaranteed to turn up.  I might also have a bit of a soft spot for this song because my former band used to perform covers of it when we played live.

Scream: Gus – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
I’m a long time fan of this Blue Oyster Cult classic, but Gus’s stripped down cover of “Don’t Fear The Reaper” from the Scream soundtrack may be just as good, if not better than the original.  This song is almost lost in the background of the movie as Sidney and Billy discuss their relationship, but it’s a strong contribution to the film’s soundtrack. If you’re looking for a song to relax to, listen to around a campfire, or hell, make out to, this would be a strong choice in my book anytime of the year.

The Craft: Love Spit Love How Soon Is Now?
Another contender for a song that is almost as good, if not better, than the original is Love Spit Love’s cover of The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” from the 1996 film The Craft.  The song was also used as the original theme song to the TV series Charmed, but was later changed for the Netflix streams and late season DVD releases because licensing for the song had expired.  Though the lyrics to the song are actually “I am the son, and the heir,” I always felt this song was leveraged for The Craft because the lyrics could be interpreted as “I am the sun and the air,” alluding to the elements.

I Know What You Did Last Summer: Type O Negative – Summer Breeze
My inner-goth swoons as this plays during the opening credits of I Know What You Did Last Summer.  Who would have thought a band could take Seals and Crofts 70’s acoustic hit and make it this dark?   Another great track for a late night drive or when you are in the need for some good gothic metal.

Saw III: Avenged Sevenfold – Burn It Down
With amazing guitar licks and heavy guitar, you can never go wrong with Avenged Sevenfold, and their contribution to the 2006 soundtrack to Saw III is no different.  The upbeat, heavy hitting track Burn It Down is a great track to get you pumped up for just about anything.

The Faculty: Stabbing Westward – Haunting Me
While much of The Faculty soundtrack was made up of exclusive cover songs from bands like Creed, Soul Asylum, and the alt-rock supergroup Class of ’99, Stabbing Westward’s contribution to the soundtrack, “Haunting Me,” was actually a previously released single from the band’s album Darkest Days.  Nearly 20 years later I feel the song still holds up and is the perfect song for a night drive.

Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare: Goo Goo Dolls – I’m Awake Now
Before everyone knew their “Name,” the Goo Goo Dolls contributed their second single to the soundtrack for Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.  While the song definitely sounds dated in 2017, this is still a decent song that a lot of people have probably forgotten about.  The single also received its own music video featuring everyone’s favorite razor-fingered fiend.

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight: Machine Head – My Misery (Demon Knight)
The heavy metal filled soundtrack to Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight is a solid soundtrack from beginning to end, but I’m particularly fond of the Machine Head contribution to the soundtrack, “My Misery (Demon Knight)”

Freddy vs. Jason: From Autumn To Ashes – The After Dinner Payback

Another soundtrack full of solid hard rock from beginning to end, the Freddy vs Jason soundtrack got heavy rotation in my car CD player back in ’03 and ’04.  From Autumn To Ashes’ “The After Dinner Payback” is one of my favorites from the soundtrack as I was heavily into the post-hardcore/screamo scene in the early 2000’s.  The song holds up all these years later and is definitely worth the listen.

Underworld: David Bowie – Bring Me The Disco King
From beginning to end, the Underworld soundtrack paints a dark and ambient soundscape.  As such, I knew I wanted to pick something off it to include in this list, but with so many amazing tracks to choose from it was hard.  In the end, I settled on Danny Lohner’s mix of Bowie’s “Bring Me The Disco King.”  Lohner completely re-imagined the song with the added talents of Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and John Frusciante and it is perhaps one of my favorite songs from the late David Bowie.  The slow building track with orchestral elements is perfect for almost any occasion and if you’re not familiar with this mix, you’re sure to love it, especially if you’re a fan of Bowie.

What’s your favorite non-Halloweenie horror soundtrack song? Let me know in the comments!