5 Underrated Rock Songs That Are Perfect for a Refined Halloween Playlist

Need some Halloween rock songs to welcome in the spookiest holiday of them all? These five underrated rock songs are perfect for any Halloween playlist. Even though most of these tracks come from famous bands, you may have never heard them before!

1. “Fresh Blood” by Eels

Mark Oliver Everett knows how to put together a haunting chorus. For “Fresh Blood”, you won’t hear any iconic lyrics in the song’s chorus. Rather, Everett simply “woos” and howls, and the whole song has a very grim, dark, and grungey werewolf vibe to it. You’ve probably heard this song a few times on television; it’s a popular one for soundtracks.

2. “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps

This classic punk rock song is a Halloween banger, but it’s only one of many incredible tracks from the famed psychobilly outfit. “Goo Goo Muck” is an anthem of sorts for the weird, the creepy, and the oddball types. You probably heard this song play in the recent Netflix series Wednesday.

3. “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones

Out of all the Halloween rock songs on our list, this classic from The Ramones takes direct inspiration from horror icon Stephen King’s novel of the same name. In fact, this horror punk classic was written for King’s 1989 film adaptation of the novel. Despite being soundtrack fodder, “Pet Sematary” became a radio hit for the band.

4. “Boris The Spider” by The Who

This one’s a bit of a deep cut, but hardcore The Who fans have likely heard it before. “Boris The Spider” is a spooky song, but we have to hand it to Roger Daltrey for contributing some pretty impressive acrobatic vocals to this tune. It’s playfully creepy and perfect for most Halloween playlists.

5. “Halloween” by The Misfits

Another excellent horror punk addition to our list, “Halloween” by The Misfits is a popular track from the iconic punk rock band. Obviously, what we define as “scary” has changed quite a bit in the decades since this song came out. But back in the day, The Misfits were considered pretty scary to the more conservative listeners of the 1980s. “Candy apples and razor blades! / Little dead are soon in graves!” was a particularly controversial and scary lyric from “Halloween” at the time.

Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

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