Richard Christy's Top Five Halloween Heavy Metal Songs

Posted October 28 by Shawn Macomber

Richard Christy has an enviable dark arts pedigree: He has drummed for Death, Control Denied, Incantation, and Iced Earth; starred in the “redneck horror” flick Albino Farm; and appeared as a character in Brian Keene’s clever/horrific satirical novel about reality television, Castaways. (How do you like them apples?!) Christ, even when touring the country as a stand-up comic Christy frequently does so under the auspices of the Killers of Comedy. The drumming legend and horror fanatic, currently putting the finishing touches on the Metal Blade debut of his band Charred Walls of the Damned (Christy, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Jason Suecof, and Steve Digiorgio!), graciously took a few moments out of his busy schedule as a featured player on the Howard Stern Show to give Decibel a Halloween Top Five list.

5. Iced Earth—“Dracula”

People might say that I'm biased because I played drums on this song, but it is pretty much my favorite Iced Earth song that I played drums on and one of my favorite horror themed songs. I think the chorus is so catchy and it was always a blast to play live. Steve Digiorgio does a beautiful bass solo at the beginning of the song too which I absolutely love. I was so psyched when I found out that the first Iced Earth album I was playing on was going to be horror themed!

4. Dokken—“Dream Warriors”

My favorite hair metal horror song—although Fastway's “After Midnight” from the 1987 Trick or Treat soundtrack is a close second. I saw Dokken at Rocklahoma in 1997 and Don Dokken's voice sounded great. When they played “Dream Warriors” the crowd went nuts, you could tell everybody was waiting for that song. The video is hilarious because George Lynch kills Freddy Krueger with a guitar solo! Death by Arpeggio!

3. Death—“Evil Dead”

I was so fortunate to have played this song with my late friend Chuck Schuldiner. Although I can't recall if we ever played it live—I think we did in Europe—it was a blast to play at rehearsal. Evil Dead is one of my all time favorite movies. I saw it when I was 10 at my Uncle Herbie's Halloween party in Kansas and it scarred me for life! Scream Bloody Gore has the best horror lyrics of any metal album. Chuck was a huge fan of horror movies, like me, and we watched tons of great horror movies when we were on tour. Chuck bought me Lucio Fulci's Zombie on VHS for Christmas one year and we wore the tape out on tour because we watched it so much.

2. Wrathchild America—“What's Your Pleasure”

The most criminally underrated thrash band ever! I LOVE Wrathchild America. When I first heard their debut album Climbing the Walls I was totally blown away and I've been a massive fan ever since. Their drummer Shannon Larkin is a drumming God and probably the biggest influence on my drumming style. I've recently become friends with Shannon and he is a hardcore horror nerd like me! We always try to be the first to see new obscure horror movies like Inside, Martyrs, and REC and then discuss them in depth. This song is based on one of my all time horror favorites Hellraiser!

1. King Diamond—“Halloween”

I've dressed as King Diamond for Halloween almost every year since 1996—it's one of my favorite Halloween traditions, to listen to the classic album Fatal Portrait and put on my King Diamond makeup! “Halloween” is the perfect song to listen to in October and anytime of the year to get into the Halloween spirit! I've probably listened to the song 50,000 times in my life! I can totally relate to the lyrics "Every night to me is Halloween"! When I'm out and about on Halloween dressed as King Diamond I feel a camaraderie with the fellow metal-heads who recognize my costume. I try to switch it up each year between the Conspiracy-era makeup and the Fatal Portrait-era upside down cross makeup. Every Halloween morning when I wake up this is the first song I listen to. 

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