Confession: I have a soft spot for Halloween music.

Note that when I say “Halloween music,” I don’t necessarily mean music made specifically for Halloween, like “Monster Mash” (though that is fun), but more music that’s commonly heard on Halloween playlists because it touches on monsters, magic, or other spooky subjects. For whatever reason, artists tend to let loose a little more or dive a little deeper when they explore those subjects, maybe because the inherent weirdness of them gives them permission to be weirder or try something different. No matter the case, the result is often songs that are crazy fun or that conjure strong atmospheres and vivid images which get my writer brain humming with ideas, hence my enthusiasm.

To help share my enjoyment, I’ve put together a list of Halloween-esque songs that (hopefully) won’t be the first ones that come to mind if you’re needing help getting into the mood for trick-or-treaters, or maybe if you’re just needing something different to fill the gaps between “I Want Candy” and “I Put a Spell on You” at your Halloween party. The first five are a little lighter takes, while the final half are the songs that are definitely aiming for a truly spooky vibe.

1. Wolf Bite by Owl City

2. Shadows of the Night by Pat Benatar

3. Grim Reaper by Dawson Hollow

4. Dead Man by Jars of Clay

5. Freaking Me Out by Ava Max

6. Haunted by Taylor Swift

7. Back from the Dead by Skillet

8. Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine

9. Monster by Skillet

10. Madness by Ruelle

Do you have any favorite Halloween songs? Or maybe you know some songs that would fit Halloween but just seem to get overlooked in favor of “Thriller” year after year? Drop your thoughts in the comments!