Forget about new releases for a moment. In this week’s instalment of What’s Going On, we’re leaning into the site’s 31 Days of Horror. We’ve got songs about vampires. Whether metaphorically or literally about famous vampires from horror history, there’s no shortage of classic tracks about those fanged demons. I’ve rounded up a few standouts. Feel free to throw these on during your Halloween parties later this month. As always, if you dig what you hear, follow and stream these artists.
Bauhaus – In a celebration of songs about vampires, certain tracks are non-negotiable. One of those would be “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus. The British post-punk legends unleashed their debut single in 1979, delivering a nearly ten-minute, dub-influenced goth anthem that helped soundtrack an entire subculture. Named for the horror icon whose portrayal of Dracula in the 1931 film set the tone for vampire movies to come. The ultimate vampire anthem? No argument here!
Listen to Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” below.
Concrete Blonde – Hollywood’s Concrete Blonde served up vampire glamour with “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song),” the 1990 goth rock classic that’s equal parts eerie and steamy. A churning seductive groove meets slashing horror-movie guitars as frontwoman Johnette Napolitano sings about New Orleans vampires. Oozing sex appeal, it’s the perfect soundtrack for a little neck-biting.
Listen to Concrete Blonde’s “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” below.
Slayer -Thrash metal icons Slayer ventured into vampire territory with “At Dawn They Sleep.” Taken from their 1985 album Hell Awaits, the track is a morbid, relentlessly heavy nightmare packed with sinister atmosphere and pulverizing riffs. Forget delicate sparkling immortals and wistful dramatic romance. Slayer deliver the undead in their most ferocious, absolutely terrifying form. Big, loud, and very Slayer.
Listen to Slayer’s “At Dawn They Sleep” below.
Blue Öyster Cult – Blue Öyster Cult are no strangers to tapping into the occult. Their 1977 track “Nosferatu” finds the hard-rock legends paying tribute to Dracula’s most sinister incarnation. Is it a gothic horror story or a vampire love song? Honestly, kinda both! This creepy ditty leans into the titular vampire’s twisted fascination with the lovely Lucy Harker, with the band’s frontman Eric Bloom hinting that love might be the only thing capable of breaking the vampire’s spell.
Listen to Blue Öyster Cult’s “Nosferatu” below.
Olivia Rodrigo – A more recent addition to the canon, comes from Olivia Rodrigo! The pop-rock superstar dropped “vampire” in 2023. It’s an ode to a manipulative person who feeds on someone else’s trust and affection, using vampires as a metaphor. Fans have speculated about who the song was addressing, including Taylor Swift and other industry power players, but Rodrigo has never confirmed a definitive identity. Uh oh. Got beef?
Listen to Olivia Rodrigo’s “vampire” below.
