Ex: Friday the 13th, Halloween
When I listen to Mr. Bungle, I have always pictured it as being perfect music for a traditional slasher film. Fun yet scary, violent yet thoroughly enjoyable, this group always knew how to make me jump by lulling me into a false sense of security before slamming into something horrifying.
Check out “Quote Unquote“
Ex: Dead Alive, Hatchet
Pure bloody fun! Yeah, it’s gross and wild and insane but godDAMN are you gonna have a good time during it! There’s honestly not a single band that is more fitting for this genre than the scumdogs of the universe, the almighty GWAR! They don’t give a flying f*ck about anything they bring to the table because there is literally nothing sacred to them and that’s why we love ’em!
Check out “Bring Back The Bomb“
Ex: The Others, The Devil’s Backbone, The Shining
The supernatural horror genre needs to be able to lull the viewer into a sense of security before entering into something uneasy and then fully embracing the terror and madness. Opeth bears all these characteristics and more. Their music can be hauntingly beautiful, like some ghostlike dirge, before roaring into a terrifying malevolent madness.
Check out “The Moor“
Ex: Saw II-7, Hostel, The Collector
Okay, so we horror fans may hate this sub genre title but it’s worked its way so far into today’s popular lexicon that it’s impossible to ignore it.
So, for torture porn we need something that’s brutal, methodical, unpredictable, and yet offers brief respites, some small glimmer of hope in all the vicious darkness. What better band for this type of genre than the almighty Meshuggah? Their music is a perfect example of what torture porn has to offer. While too abrasive for some, those who get it love it.
Check out “Bleed“
Ex: Night Of The Living Dead, 28 Days Later
The thing about a good zombie movie is that it actually is quite terrifying. It’s not only about how humans are fighting for their survival against hordes of undead, it’s also about what humans will do to each other in order to live just that little while longer. It’s about fear of disease and the inability to control one’s own actions. There are so many themes running through a good zombie film that it’s requires a lot of thought and introspection, which is why I landed on Nine Inch Nails. They captured that vicious, primal survival instinct while still presenting a bleak, terrifying soundscape that mimics the emptiness and horror of a world overrun by the undead.
Check out “The Perfect Drug“
Alright readers, that’s my list. Think you can do better? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!