Monster mash-up

Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (1979)
Technically a song, the goth-rock masterpiece might as well be an occult symphony.

The Birthday Party, Prayers on Fire (1981)
Minor-key guitar twang, creepy organ and…well, what could be more frightening than Nick Cave’s voice?

Current 93, Dogs Blood Rising (1984)
An ambient classic of horror and sacrilege, complete with Gregorian chant and tape hiss.

Portishead, Dummy (1994)
Want dark, sexed-up weirdness you can dance to? Go trip-hop.

Marilyn Manson, Smells Like Children (1995)
Dude practically invented fright.

Neurosis, Through Silver in Blood (1996)
If your goal is to see your guests run screaming, blast this doomy epic at your Halloween party.

Fantômas, The Director’s Cut (2001)
Mike Patton and his deranged art-metal cronies romp through classic horror soundtracks.

Slipknot, Iowa (2001)
If their masks don’t scare you, their music will.

Sunn O))), Black One (2005)
These grim reapers drone out some of the scariest sounds you’ll ever hear.

The Horrors, Strange House (2007)
It’s a gaggle of skinny, black-clad Brits shrieking and wailing…yikes!

Kayo Dot, Blue Lambency Downward (2008)Easily the eeriest disc of the year, this chamber-rock opus sets a new benchmark for tonal surrealism.