Horror punk
Horror punk (also known as horror rock) is a music genre that mixes proto-gothic and punk rock sounds with morbid and violent imagery and lyrics which are often influenced by horror films and science fiction B-movies. The genre is similar to and sometimes overlaps with death rock, although death rock leans more towards an atmospheric gothic rock sound while horror punk leans towards a 1950s-influenced doo-wop and rockabilly sound. Horror punk music is typically more aggressive and melodic than death rock. Many acts employ a tongue-in-cheek, humorous or satirical approach to the genre.[1][2]
Horror punk | |
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![]() American horror punk band The Misfits performing live in 1998 | |
Stylistic origins | Punk rock, horror films |
Cultural origins | Late 1970s, New Jersey, U.S. |
Other topics | |
The Misfits and their first lead vocalist Glenn Danzig are recognized as the progenitors of horror punk.[3] Bands like the Undead (founded by ex-Misfits guitarist Bobby Steele), Screaming Dead, the Damned, the Cramps, T.S.O.L., 45 Grave and Rosemary's Babies are also considered classic horror punk bands. More recent acts include Murder City Devils, Blitzkid, The Rosedales, Mister Monster and some releases from AFI and The Alkaline Trio.[4]
Horror punk is generally apolitical in comparison to other punk rock subgenres, although some songs do refer to political events (e.g. the Misfits' "Bullet" which discusses the assassination of John F. Kennedy) and some artists like Jack Grisham (on the left) and Michale Graves (on the right) have espoused their own political views.
See also
- Death rock
- Gothic punk (in German)
- Gothic rock
- Hardcore punk
- Psychobilly
- Shock rock
References
- Brightman, Emily (October 31, 2013). "For Scary Kids Only: A Brief History of Horror Punk". University of Massachusetts – Daily Collegian. Amherst, MA. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- Coplan, Chris (October 30, 2019). "The Value of Horror Punk". The Phoenix New Times. Phoenix, AZ. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- "13 Awesome Horror-Punk Songs (Not by the Misfits) Picked by Bloody Hammers". Retrieved January 26, 2021 – via Loudwire.
- Coplan, Chris (October 30, 2019). "The Value of Horror Punk". The Phoenix New Times. Phoenix, AZ. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
External links
Media related to Horror punk at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related to Horror punk at Wikiquote