We now return to our regularly scheduled holiday programming. Which shouldn't scare the reader away when it is revealed that it shall begin with familiar hallowed ground: Misfits.
    To classify as inevitable that Glenn, Jerry, and by now his little brother Doyle, would get around to an explicitly Halloween song would be an understatement. In fact, both versions of the seasonal classic were recorded at the young guitarist's first session with the band, Labor Day 1980. And as a testament to Danzig's regard for the last day of October as a raison d'etre for his first two bands, "Halloween" was updated by Samhain in Summer 1985, a slower, scarier edition for the postpunk, more expressly gothic transitional project before succumbing to heavy metal with the band that bore his name in 1987. Both of which included bassist Eerie Von as the new Jerry Only. But having covered Misfits last year and this year here, Samhain will be featured in the future. Meanwhile, here's some more full moon tunes all about All Hallow's Eve.

Siouxsie And The Banshees - "Halloween" (1981)
    After cofounding post punk  in late 1977 alongside Joy Division and Magazine, Sioux and bassist Steve Severin (named, naturally, from the "Venus In Furs" lyric) founded the entire goth genre along with Bauhaus, who debuted in 1979 with "Bela Lugosi's Dead"/Dark Entries". Of course, a remarkably parallel career trajectory was shared by The Cure, whose Robert Smith would subsequently be a Banshee for an album and tour. This particular tribute to tricks or treats is from the fourth album and second with Magazine guitarist John McGeoch, Juju.

Ministry - "Everyday Is Halloween" (1984)
    Post debut album single sees Al Jourgensen exorcising the last of his Anglophile new wave synth pop infancy before teaming with industrial dub pioneer Adrian Sherwood for the transitional Twitch album the following year. Halloween as a metaphor (and anthem) for the disaffected teen goth ("why are you dressed like it's Halloween/you look so absurd you look so obscene").

Jimmy Buffett - "Desperation Samba Halloween In Tijuana" (1985)
    OK, who let Bubba in here?

King Diamond - "Halloween" (1985)
    That's more like it. Speaking of being dressed for the occasion. From Copenhagen's creepiest first solo album following disbanding groundbreaking black metal legend Mercyful Fate (taking guitarist Michael Denner with him). The King would scare black cats everywhere with his satanic falsetto until the formula started to seem stepped on in the early nineties, when Fate intervened.

Helloween - "Halloween" (1987)
    "Warning: everyone who will be spelling the song 'Halloween' from Helloween with an ‘e’ and the group with an ‘a’ will immediately be turned into a big ugly half price selling pumpkin!" - from liner notes to attendant album (number three, incidentally) Keeper Of The Seven Keys.

Type O Negative - "Halloween In Heaven" (007)
    The only other institution (aside Misfits) worthy of its own October column ("RocktobeRust", October 10 2014; click view all archives), Brooklyn's best is the reason to celebrate the season. Peter Steele lived - and died - for it, and I resurrect my own words: Halloween In Heaven is no less than what the big Green Man deserves eternally. His music will last as long. Lord knows Type O - was consistent, to this sixth and final album Dead Again ("I can't believe I died last night/I'm f#@g Dead Again). R.I.P.