Image: Ice Nine Kills - "IT Is The End" Video
Horror movies and heavy music go together ridiculously well. From iconic slashers and bloody classics to supernatural scares, countless bands draw inspiration from the stories, characters, and dark worlds of horror cinema. Some dedicate entire albums to well-known films, while others write a song about a particular killer or incorporate original movie dialogue into their music.
Ice Nine Kills have made a name for themselves with this concept in particular. But there are plenty of tracks worth checking out beyond the metalcore band, too. With Halloween just around the corner, we've put together ten songs where music and horror movies collide.
Ice Nine Kills – “IT Is the End”
Inspired by: IT
With “IT Is the End,” Ice Nine Kills dedicate a track to arguably the most iconic horror clown in cinema history. The inspiration comes from Stephen King's IT, in which Pennywise terrorizes the children of the town of Derry. The song appears on the album The Silver Scream and combines the sinister story with the band's signature blend of aggressive metalcore passages, catchy choruses, and plenty of theatrical horror elements. Even the title is a play on the monster's name. If you're into horror movies featuring creepy clowns, dark small towns, and supernatural terror, this is definitely a track you won't want to miss.
Ice Nine Kills – “The American Nightmare”
Inspired by: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger is one of the most recognizable horror characters of all time. With his burned face, razor-fingered glove, and ability to stalk people in their dreams, he has become firmly embedded in pop culture. So it's no surprise that Ice Nine Kills turned to the nightmare classic A Nightmare on Elm Street for one of their songs.
“The American Nightmare” comes from the band's 2018 album The Silver Scream, which features musical takes on various well-known horror movies. The track combines hard-hitting metalcore with a chorus that really sticks with you. Lyrically, it draws on the film's nightmarish world, resulting in a song that feels tailor-made for Freddy Krueger fans, both musically and thematically.
Stormtroopers of Death – “Freddy Krueger”
Inspired by: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger again, but this time in a much shorter and more direct form. Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., dedicated a song to the nightmare killer on their debut album, Speak English or Die.
“Freddy Krueger” is a compact trip into the world of crossover thrash and hardcore. The track draws on specific elements from the movie and turns the terrifying killer into the inspiration for an aggressive, deliberately over-the-top song. If you don't need an epic metalcore narrative and would rather get hit in the face with a short, sharp burst of music, give this one a listen.
Ice Nine Kills – “Thank God It’s Friday”
Inspired by: Friday the 13th
When it comes to horror movie killers, Jason Voorhees obviously deserves a mention. The Friday the 13th franchise is known for its Camp Crystal Lake setting, slasher atmosphere, and a killer whose hockey mask has long since achieved cult status.
Ice Nine Kills bring this world to life in “Thank God It’s Friday.” The song tells the story of the deadly danger lurking in the woods around the camp, translating classic slasher suspense into fast riffs, aggressive vocals, and a catchy chorus. If masked killers and sinister woodland settings are your thing, this is the perfect soundtrack.
Chat Pile – “Pamela”
Inspired by: Friday the 13th
Chat Pile prove that horror-inspired music doesn't always need a polished production or huge choruses. The US band operates somewhere between sludge metal, noise rock, and a deliberately uncomfortable, oppressive sonic world. That's precisely why their take on this horror story fits their sound so well.
“Pamela,” from the album God’s Country, takes the perspective of Pamela Voorhees, Jason's mother in the first Friday the 13th movie. Rather than simply focusing on the masked killer, the song turns its attention to a character whose story is closely tied to the events of the film. The result isn't a conventional horror anthem, but a disturbing track that stands out for its perspective and raw atmosphere.
Ice Nine Kills – “Stabbing in the Dark”
Inspired by: Halloween
Michael Myers is the embodiment of the unstoppable killer. Ever since John Carpenter's Halloween, released in 1978, the white mask has been one of those images horror fans instantly recognize. What's particularly unsettling is how Myers often appears almost motionless, yet can strike at any moment.
With “Stabbing in the Dark,” Ice Nine Kills pay tribute to the movie, capturing the ominous atmosphere of the original. The title itself evokes Halloween's dark world, while the heavy riffs and dramatic shifts in the music steadily build the tension. It's a fitting track for anyone who prefers creeping dread to supernatural monsters.
Motionless in White – “We Only Come Out at Night”
Associated with: Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Motionless in White have long combined metalcore with gothic aesthetics, horror references, and plenty of dark theatricality. So it's no surprise that the band also draws musical inspiration from classic horror movies. One example is “We Only Come Out at Night,” from their 2010 album Creatures.
With its dark sound and horror movie samples, the track evokes the atmosphere of classic vampire stories. The connection to Bram Stoker’s Dracula fits the band's gothic aesthetic particularly well: dark romance meets an eerie atmosphere and heavy guitars. This makes the song a great recommendation for anyone whose idea of horror goes beyond slashers and bloody masks to include vampires, gothic imagery, and supernatural terror.
Ice Nine Kills – “The Shower Scene”
Inspired by: Psycho
Some horror scenes are so legendary that even people who have never seen the movie know them. The shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is a perfect example. Released in 1960, the film left a lasting mark on thriller and horror cinema and turned Norman Bates into one of the genre's most recognizable characters.
On their album The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, Ice Nine Kills revisit this cinematic classic with “The Shower Scene.” The song combines the band's theatrical storytelling with a dark, threatening atmosphere. Rather than focusing solely on shock moments, it also captures the psychological tension that makes Psycho so effective to this day.
The Ramones – “Pet Sematary”
Written for: Pet Sematary
Punk rock also has a long-standing connection to horror cinema. A great example is The Ramones' “Pet Sematary,” written for the 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. The story revolves around a cemetery where buried living beings can return to life, though not necessarily in the way anyone would hope.
Unlike many other songs on this list, “Pet Sematary” doesn't rely on extreme heaviness. Instead, it features a melodic, melancholic punk rock sound. That contrast is precisely what makes it work: the catchy melody meets a story whose dark consequences continue to resonate. The song shows how horror movies can inspire music beyond metal and hardcore.
Orange Goblin – “The Fog”
Inspired by: The Fog
Not every horror movie song needs to go full throttle. With “The Fog,” Orange Goblin turn to John Carpenter's 1980 supernatural horror film of the same name. In the movie, a mysterious fog rolls over a coastal town, bringing a deadly threat with it. Rather than focusing on a single killer, the story builds around a steadily growing supernatural menace.
Musically, the concept fits the British band's stoner metal sound perfectly. The song comes from the album A Eulogy for the Damned and combines heavy grooves with a dark, slow-burning atmosphere. “The Fog” proves that horror-inspired music doesn't necessarily have to end in deathcore breakdowns or blistering guitar work. Sometimes, all it takes is an ominous groove to set the mood.
Deicide – “Dead by Dawn”
Inspired by: The Evil Dead
A remote cabin in the woods, an ancient book, and demonic forces that should never have been awakened: Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead has achieved cult status thanks to its blend of supernatural horror and bloody effects. Naturally, its story of demonic forces also lends itself to more extreme musical interpretations.
Deicide draw on the movie with “Dead by Dawn,” featured on their self-titled debut album, Deicide. The track translates the film's dark, demonic atmosphere into uncompromising death metal. Rather than spending too much time building subtle suspense, the band delivers aggressive vocals, blistering drums, and an appropriately sinister mood. For fans of extreme metal and classic horror, it's a particularly compelling combination.
From Slashers to Demons: Horror and Heavy Music Belong Together
Whether it's Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, or demonic forces lurking in the woods, horror movies have provided inspiration for songs across metal, punk, and hardcore for decades. While Ice Nine Kills build entire albums around well-known films, bands like Chat Pile, Orange Goblin, and Deicide show just how many different ways these dark stories can be translated into music.
And, of course, this list is far from complete. Horror punk, death metal, and industrial metal alone offer plenty more songs inspired by cult movies, monsters, and terrifying tales. So if you're planning to soundtrack your next horror movie night with the perfect playlist, this list gives you a pretty solid place to start.
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