The Top 22 Heavy Metal Halloween Songs of All Time

The best heavy metal Halloween songs are a celebration of this holiday and what it represents to a lot of people. Heavy metal is a genre that fits extremely well with Halloween: it’s dark, it’s gruesome, and has some fantastic backstories. This is why so many bands have written songs to celebrate this holiday.

Plus, it’s also worth pointing out that the best heavy metal Halloween songs are not only based on the lyrics. There are Metal songs about horror stories and other lyrics that connect very well with Halloween. That’s something used here.

There are lots of amazing songs that could be the best heavy metal Halloween songs. You can also say them spooky metal songs. So, if there is a song that is missing from this list, please don’t take it personally. This list is entirely subjective and made from the writer’s perspective.

22 Metal Songs That Should Be On Every Halloween Playlist

These songs are selected based on their quality, their legacy, and the artist who did it. Let’s be honest, there are artists who can have a much bigger impact than others. Be that as it may, as mentioned earlier, this list is entirely subjective.

There are probably some tunes that should be on this list of the best heavy metal Halloween songs. If there are some songs missing, please don’t forget to mention them in the comments and feel free to engage.

Which are the best heavy metal Halloween songs of all time?

Helloween – Halloween
Iced Earth – Dracula
King Diamond – Halloween
Alice Cooper – Welcome to my Nightmare
Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
Mercyful Fate – Evil
Morbid Angel – God of Emptiness
Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark
Rob Zombie – Dragula
Metallica – The Thing That Should Not Be
Ministry – Every Day is Halloween
Moonspell – Everything Invaded
Death – Zombie Ritual
Fastway – Trick or Treat
Motörhead – Hellraiser
Judas Priest – A Touch of Evil
Dokken – Dream Warriors
Megadeth – She-Wolf
Type O Negative – All Hallows’ Eve
The Misfits – Halloween
Devin Townsend – Vampira

Helloween – Halloween

There is no better way to start this list than with Helloween, the band named after the holiday. Their 1987 album, Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1, has the song “Halloween,” which was their longest and most ambitious until that point. It showed they were far more than a gritty, raw Speed Metal act.

It is one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs, not only because the lyrics are about the myths surrounding the holiday but also because of its quality. The song has great melodies, many rhythm changes, and Michael Kiske‘s legendary vocals. Michael Weikath and Kai Hansen also do some amazing riffs and dual leads as guitarists.

This is a great song to get into Helloween and Power Metal as a whole. It’s also the perfect Halloween song to listen to.

Iced Earth – Dracula

The best heavy metal Halloween songs can’t be all about the holiday itself. There are great songs that deal with horror topics that connect well with Halloween. Iced Earth‘s “Dracula” song is a very good example of that notion.

Every Iced Earth album tried to maintain that mix of Thrash, Power, and classic Heavy Metal but always giving a special twist. 2001’s Horror Show album focused on more Power Metal-centric compositions with lyrics about horror stories. This one is self-explanatory due to the title: it’s about the legendary vampire, Dracula.

The song starts slow, and then singer Matt Barlow shows some of his impressive range as the track becomes a Speed Metal fest. The chorus is extremely catchy and the entire song serves as a snapshot of what Iced Earth were all about. The lyrics are also more focused on Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 movie rather than the original Bram Stoker Dracula from the book.

King Diamond – Halloween

King Diamond as a character, is built for Halloween: his look, his behavior, and his brutal vocals. Once he left Mercyful Fate, his King Diamond solo band moved away from satanic lyrics to more horror-based ones. In that regard, “Halloween,” from the debut album, Fatal Portrait, is a perfect song.

It’s one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs because of the strong main riff, the upbeat pace of the tune, and Diamond‘s shrieky yet melodic vocals. Future King Diamond albums would be a bit more refined and complex but songs like this have their own charm. It is a gem from the King’s earlier period in the 80s.

Phenomenal song. Phenomenal musician.

Alice Cooper – Welcome to My Nightmare

Alice Cooper has had a ton of different eras, but he is the definitive showman in Rock music. And while this song might not qualify as Metal by today’s standards, it perfectly suits Halloween. Plus, Alice has practically built the theatrical Metal scene by his presence alone.

Be that as it may, the song has a slow build-up and shows Alice‘s lower register, which is always welcome. The track has a great atmosphere and flows with ease, sticking in people’s minds with just one listen. It’s not one of Alice‘s greatest-ever songs by mere coincidence.

Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon

A legendary song made by a legendary musician. Ozzy Osbourne had to deal with the tragic loss of guitarist Randy Rhoads and returned in 1983 with the highly underrated Bark at the Moon record. And the title track, centered around werewolves, is one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs of all time.

The song not only captures the zeiny elements of horror and Halloween but it also captures 80s Metal. From guitarist Jake E. Lee‘s riffs, the song’s structure, and how it flows, “Bark at the Moon” is 80s Metal at its finest. This is also one of those albums where Ozzy’s vocals are quite underrated as he delivers some great performances.

Ozzy shocked everybody with a definite comeback in 1983, and this song (and album) deserves all the love in the world.

Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath

The song that, to many, invented Heavy Metal. It is so fitting that the band that inspired entire generations in this genre has a name based on a horror film. Sometimes, things are way too perfect.

Be that as it may, Black Sabbath shocked the world in 1970 with their self-titled debut. The heavy riffs, dark atmosphere, Ozzy‘s peculiar vocals, and disturbing lyrics changed Rock music forever. And this opening title track, with lyrics about mysterious figures haunting people, is one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs.

This doomy and dark feel, coupled with Ozzy‘s borderline tortured vocals and Tony Iommi‘s riffs, is the stuff of legends. Very few songs have the cultural impact that “Black Sabbath” has had in an entire music genre.

Mercyful Fate – Evil

There are lots of Mercyful Fate songs that could be on this list but “Evil” is their bonafide classic. A song that describes everything about the band and fits perfectly with the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs.

It’s amazing to think that this Melissa album came out in 1983 and it makes sense why it has influenced so many groups, Metallica included. “Evil” captures what the band is all about: great guitar work, King Diamond‘s iconic vocals, and a lot of musical ambition.

Morbid Angel – God of Emptiness

Sure, Morbid Angel have a lot of extreme and dark songs that could be here but there’s something unique about “God of Emptiness“. There is this darkness and disturbing feel with the song, along with the lyrics about the corruption of the soul, that fit with Halloween so well.

The 1993 album, Covenant, was also the band’s commercial peak and has a lot of great Death Metal tracks but this one stands out. Perhaps is because of its doomy nature and how different it is from the rest of their catalog.

Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark

The most popular Iron Maiden song in recent years and one of the best when performed live. It has become a whole event for the Maiden faithful in their concerts. And is also one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs of all time.

Lyrically speaking, a song about a person feeling fear for the unknown in the dark is pure Halloween. Bassist Steve Harris wrote a very primal fear that anyone can feel: the darkness of not knowing what is hiding in that corner.

From a musical perspective, after a slow start, it explodes in pure Maiden insanity. It has a lot of intensity and a chorus that sticks in people’s minds. The guitar work and galloping are pure top Maiden as well.

Rob Zombie – Dragula

Rob Zombie is a horror fanatic and it has been shown in his work. So it is no surprise that some of his tracks can rank on this list. “Dragula“, a play on words with Dracula, is one of Rob’s biggest songs and deserves a place here.

Compared to the rest of the songs thus far, this one moves away from classic Heavy Metal. It is Industrial Metal, with some catchy rhythms and a strong emphasis on riffs. Rob‘s vocals are also quite charismatic, especially with the added distortion.

Metallica – The Thing That Should Not Be

Not Metallica‘s finest hour but one that fits lyrically with this list. The slow, doomy feel also helps with the whole atmosphere. It has some great riffs by James Hetfield too.

The lyrics talk about H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow over Innsmouth story and the riffs were down-tooned to fit with a Black Sabbath-esque feel.

Ministry – Every Day is Halloween

Ministry is one of those groups that really pushed the envelope of what heavy metal could be in the 90s. They had some clear electronic and industrial elements to their sound, which definitely made them stand out.

In that regard, having “Every Day is Halloween” is self-explanatory. It is a catchy, simple, and straightforward song with some Pop and Gothic elements. An easy way to get into Ministry and then give other songs of a chance.

Moonspell – Everything Invaded

Moonspell could be one of the most underrated heavy metal bands of all time. Hailing from Portugal, a country unknown for this music, they have achieved quite a lot. And “Everything Invaded” fits quite well with the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs.

That combination of darksome melodies and aggressive vocals is a winning formula with Moonspell. The Gothic elements might not be for everybody but, come on, Halloween is a very Gothic holiday.

Death – Zombie Ritual

Death was a very straightforward band lyrically in their early days: just talk about zombies, murders, and blood. It’s fairly charming stuff. And perfectly suited for Halloween nights.

Guitarist and songwriter Chuck Schuldiner was still learning with Death’s debut, Scream Bloody Gore, but the talent was there. “Zombie Ritual” fits perfectly as one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs but also deserves more attention.

Most people often focus on Death’s 90s output, which is their peak, but the early material has some exciting stuff. “Zombie Ritual” shows the band at their most brutal but even here there are some glimpses of the genius Chuck was.

Fastway – Trick or Treat

Fastway was the project from UFO’s Pete Way and Motörhead’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke’s wish to do something together, hence the name. However, Way couldn’t participate due to legal restrictions with his label and Clarke was left to fend for himself.

“Trick or Treat” was one of their most popular songs because it was part of the soundtrack of a movie with the same name. It is a very straightforward 80s Metal tune that celebrates Halloween as it should be.

Motörhead – Hellraiser

One of the best heavy metal Halloween songs simply because it is Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead. Now, being serious, this song was a significant milestone for the band and one of their biggest hits. It was part of the third Hellraiser movie soundtrack and showed some of Lemmy‘s musical variety.

The song is catchy as all hell (pun intended) and flows extremely well. The chorus is by far the best part of the tune and that alone gives it a place on this list.

Judas Priest – A Touch of Evil

It’s fair to say that these lyrics can be interpreted in many different ways but the most straightforward meaning fits with this list. It is also one of Judas Priest‘s best songs and one of their best albums.

This song has a crescendo of phenomenal riffs by K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, and Rob Halford is in top form as a vocalist. There is a reason why Judas Priest fans love this song so much.

Dokken – Dream Warriors

This song was part of the 1987 movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, so that alone gives it a place here. It’s also a chance to celebrate one of Dokken‘s best songs.

It is one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs because Don Dokken‘s vocals are on point and George Lynch‘s guitar work was at its peak here. The vocal harmonies of the chorus are legendary at this point. The production is crisp and everything is done with a purpose.

It is a track that is extremely catchy and combines some Pop elements with great 80s Metal.

Megadeth – She-Wolf

It’s true that 1997’s Cryptic Writings album wasn’t very well-received by Megadeth fans but still had some nice tunes. “She-Wolf” is, along with “Trust“, the biggest song on this record and the most Megadeth-like of the bunch.

While the she-wolf metaphors are fairly straightforward, it’s also a fast-paced tune with great guitar work. Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine were a generational guitar duo and songs like this prove it. The chorus is also one of Megadeth’s catchiest moments as well.

It is fairly commercial but has a bit of that bite the band was known for. Besides, the she-wolf elements add it to this list quite well.

Type O Negative – All Hallows’ Eve

Type O Negative were the very definition of Gothic Metal: dark and descriptive lyrics, deep vocals, and a slower, sludgier feel in the riffs. “All Hallows’ Eve” was also the band’s celebration of the holiday on this list. This is why is ranked as one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs of all time.

This song reeks of power. From the moment the riffs kick in, it is a doom fest with a lot of energy. The song grows and evolves until it becomes a musical behemoth. It deserves a lot more attention and recognition for what it accomplished.

The Misfits – Halloween

The Misfits were always a much more Punk-based band. Their influence on Metal cannot be understated. And considering how vocalist Glenn Danzig went on to have a comprehensive career in the genre, they deserve their place here.

Their celebration of Halloween with this song is clear, to the point, and filled with intensity. Danzig‘s vocals are always a treat and the track doesn’t overstay its welcome. It lasts for barely two minutes and is one of the best Heavy Metal Halloween songs of all time.

Devin Townsend – Vampira

Devin Townsend is not one to take himself too seriously, and “Vampira” is a perfect example of that. The music video is a dead giveaway of his attempts to celebrate old-school horror and Halloween. But, much like the entire 2006 album is coming from Synchestra, the song is brilliant.

It is a great entry point for people who want to get into Townsend‘s music: it is catchy, heavy, and has many rhythm changes. It is one of those songs that stick in people’s minds from the first listen and deserves a place on this list.

What are your favorite heavy metal-themed Halloween songs of all time? Let us know in the comment section!