Why 13? because the number 13 itself is generally considered to be bad luck, plus if you switch it around it becomes 31 which is the day in October that Halloween falls on.  Clever huh?  Ok so maybe not really but anyway.  These may not be the *scariest* metal songs of all time, but they surely rank somewhere on the spook factor list, and are songs you probably listen to every day but just dont think of as being Halloween related.  But guess again they are.   So use this list for your own amusement to laugh at my pathetic selections, or maybe to make a holiday themed heavy metal playlist to scare off the trick or treaters this Halloween.  The more that's frightened by the chunky screamy guitar riffs and run for the high hills, the more candy you get to keep. 

Helloween - Halloween
(from "Keeper of the 7 Keys")
This one is pretty much self explanatory.  A band with a hellish take off of the word Helloween for their band name doing a song ABOUT Helloween.  How much more perfect could this possibly get?  Dark and dire speedy metal that is sure to please. 

Iced Earth - Something Wicked Trilogy
(from "Something Wicked This Way Comes")
One of the most used themes in modern metal today is the whole apocalyptic/anti Christ thing, and this three part epic saga thingie is no exception to the rule.  Its haunting, thrashy, and rocking all at the same time, and the lyrics are sharp and clever throughout.  One of the best multi part songs in the 90s. 

Crimson Glory - In Dark Places
(from "Transcendence")
Gripping and moving piece by one of the classic prog metal bands of our time.  Very dark and disturbing music, with an outstanding vocal performance to match.  The guitar riffs add more to the song than anything else could, managing to be so slinky but with sinister intentions hiding behind every note.  Its a song of paranoia and hiding into those dark places. 

Morgana Lefay - The Devil In Me
(from "Maleficium")
This will put that pit in the center of your stomach and open it wide.  Unique stealth sounding guitar riffs pounce up and down in a sneaky rhythm, like something following you and  letting you know its there just to terrify you even more.   The lyrics stick you right in the middle of a dark concept album and  gives a nod to the evil within and the evil inflicted. 

Rainbow - Tarot Woman
(from "Rising")
Surely you know this song.  This is a classic tune from the legendary "Rising" album.  With its organ blasting opening and enchanting vocal delivery by a young Ronnie James Dio, "Tarot Woman" remains to be one of the spookiest songs even over two decades after its release.  It caught the feel of the whole evil card reading woman thing and nailed it down to perfection. 

Yngwie Malmsteen - Daemon Dance (7,405,926)
(from "Alchemy")
If the thought of over seven million demons dancing isn't enough just imagine how scary it must be for Mark Boals to try and sing this every time he goes on stage (assuming they will use this strange gem on the road).  Unholy sacrifices, burning souls and of course the subject of the song, those dancing daemons are showcased in the lyrics.   Very Malmsteen like but with a spooky touch, makes it a brand new addition to the Halloween playlist.

Rage - Ghosts
(from "Ghosts")
A song about ghosts has to be scary.  This song is awesome, and so freaky.  The lyrics speak of dual worlds where the ghosts are surrounding us all around, watching us but we can't see them.  The gothic touches to this song make all the difference in the world with pipe organ sounds, building violins, the sound of the blowing whistling wind and slithering, winding guitar riffs, the rich vocals layer over the top delivers each verse carefully...a brand new song (for 1999). 

Stratovarius - Fright Night
(from "Fright Night")
This is scary simpy because its so bad.  Even Timo Tolkki urges people *not* to buy this cd but alas I did anyway and was surprised at how awful it was.  The whole "Fright Night" album has this cheesy B horror movie feel and this song is no exception.  Crystal balls and black evils and all the wonderous things a fright night would conjure up are packed into this terrible tune. 

Savatage - Hounds
(from "Gutter Ballet")
Maybe not their spookiest song but definitely one of Savatage's most unnerving tunes is "Hounds".  Sliding between dark and haunting, to classic thrashy pounding, and weird lyrics to match.  There's always been something strange about demon dogs on the chase with eyes aglow in the dark....

Queensryche - Roads to Madness
(from "The Warning")
There's been many interpretations for this song.  But whether its an epic dive into insanity complete with entrapment in an asylum or else a deal with the devil and being tortured by the demons in hell, it makes no difference, "Roads to Madness" is a chilling song.

Fates Warning - The Apparition
(from "The Spectre Within")
Although a fairly fast paced early progressive metal tune, "The Apparation" is haunting in more ways than one.  The lyrics are cryptic and spooky at the same time, the pierced shrieking vocals about the four mirrors of life with the last having no reflection is odd to say the least.  And something about those vocals seem to scare the living daylights out of people. 

Europe/Prime Time - Seven Doors Hotel
(from Europe - "Europe", Prime Time - "The Miracle")
Opening eyeballs and hotel doors that actually are gates to hell.  My goodness.   Just the eyeball thing is scary enough dont you think?  The piano opening should have gone down in history as a classic, its instantly recognizable and sets the whole mood for the song.  Fast paced and raw but with background gang vocals helping the feel by going "oooh" and what not...  very nice whether the original version by Europe or the 'remake' by Prime Time. 

Magnitude 9 - Y2K
(from "Chaos to Control")
So this is coming up and that's what makes this song terribly terrifying yet grounded in reality.  This is the light shed on something real with the effects of it uncertain and that is what makes it really scary.  "Will technology be cause the end of mankind?" Now wasn't that frightening.  Yes I thought so.  Combine this theme with darker progressive metal and it creates a very effective atmosphere. 

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