horror punk
what it is
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes punk rock and 1950s-influenced doo-wop and rockabilly sounds with morbid and violent imagery and lyrics which are often influenced by horror films and science fiction B-movies. The genre was pioneered by the Misfits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Subsequent bands formed in the Misfits' wake like Mourning Noise, the Undead and Samhain, solidifying horror punk's first wave.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make horror punk a playlist
turn these 24 artists into something you can press play on.
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questions
What is horror punk?
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes punk rock and 1950s-influenced doo-wop and rockabilly sounds with morbid and violent imagery and lyrics which are often influenced by horror films and science fiction B-movies. The genre was pioneered by the Misfits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Subsequent bands formed in the Misfits' wake like Mourning Noise, the Undead and Samhain, solidifying horror punk's first wave.
What are good horror punk albums to start with?
Try American Psycho by Misfits, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls by Murderdolls, All Hallows EP by AFI, and Nightmare Anatomy by Aiden.
Who are some women making horror punk?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/horror-punk/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making horror punk, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20