Global Goth: 10 Tunes To Keep It Creepy This Halloween
Is goth the new black? It’s seem like everyone from J-pop princess Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to the US’s Jhene Aiko is adding a touch of creepy to their videos. Maybe it’s because we’re getting closer to that time of year when many cultures believe the dead return to visit the living, but darkness is definitely trending.
Every day it seems some new band or solo artist pops up with the apparent aim of turning our hair white and making our blood run cold. These young chain rattlers are working in genres from hip-hop to cumbia, proving you no longer have to choose between witch house or black metal to give people the willies. If you celebrated Halloween as a kid, then you know this is a beautiful thing. Isn’t everything better when you add some fake blood and plastic vampire fangs?
We’re all for the trend here at Iggy, at least for the rest of the month, so to goose bump your earbuds and supplement your Halloween or Dia de los Muertos playlist, here are ten of our favorite ghoulish indie grooves, presented on a scale of 10 to sheer mortal terror.
10. Xray Eyeballs-Déjà vu
Xray Eyeballs! Zombies! Go!
9. O.Children – Ruins
The scariest thing about this UK band is the way singer Tobi O’Kandi channels Ian Curtis. This track is great to goth-out to though. Just shuffle around half-rhythmically and kind of let your upper body go limp. See the above video for examples.
8. Akabane Vulgars – Wetboy Elegy
Japanese blues rock power trio Akabane Vulgars has the heavy eyeliner and doomy sound down, but the real chills come courtesy of frighteningly talented frontwoman Yumi Ichizono. In a live setting, her banshee vocals and wailing guitar solos can make your hair stand on end.
7. Unison – Brothers and Sisters
French electronic duo Unison puts the eerie in your ear.
6. La MiniTK del Miedo – La Muerte
We don’t have any video evidence of La MiniTK del Miedo, but this macabre hunk of witch-cumbia from the shadowy Colombian group is shivery enough on its own.
5. Castratii – Kingdom
Australia’s dark dreampop group Castratii doesn’t need corpse paint or shock tactics to give you nightmares. With them it just seems to come naturally.
4. Selma Oxor – Dotes de Cocina
Somewhere between Vampira and the archetypal crazy ex-girlfriend you will find Mexican goth dance newcomer Selma Oxor. Fall in love.
3. O’Death – Black Dress
Banjos are creepy to begin with but you can count on O’Death to kick it up few notches because these American Americana lovers are jerks like that. Scary, scary jerks.
2. Haleek Maul – The Dummy
Sure, Odd Future, Death Grips and Flatbush Zombies all get pretty freaky. But Haleek Maul is for real trying to give you a panic attack.
1. Mirel Wagner – No Death
If you go into the bathroom, turn the lights off and say her name three times while spinning around Mirel Wagner will appear in the mirror and sing this song.