Heavy Metal Monster Music

My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a 12-song playlist around some theme. This week, Jonathan Barkan assembles 12 headbangers for the huge beasts in his metal mixtape.

I’m a horror fan and I’m also a metal fan. These two genres are kindred spirits, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Yes, not every horror fan likes metal and vice versa, but there is an undeniable overlap and I happen to be right in the middle of that specific Venn diagram. And I know I’m not alone here as the number of people wearing horror shirts at metal concerts (and metal shirts at horror conventions) is beyond count. I love being a part of these two tribes, especially when they overlap. What’s cooler than listening to a metal album and thinking, “This sounds like the music of a horror film?” Or what about when watching a movie like THE DEVIL’S REJECTS or MANDY and thinking, “Holy shit, this is a metal album brought to life.” It’s just the best.

When it comes to horror films, the Kaiju subgenre is all about extremes. Chaos reigns as buildings are torn asunder. Gargantuan monstrosities lay waste to cities while masses desperately attempt to flee their inevitable demise. Subtlety flies out the window before smashing into a high-rise, raining glass upon the streets. If that doesn’t scream “heavy metal”, I don’t know what does.

To celebrate Neon Splatter’s #KaiJuly2021, I wanted to bring you a soundtrack of destruction (Megadeth pun 100% intended) that captures the mood, energy, and chaos of a giant monster film. So, buckle up, grab your headphones, crank the volume to 11, and get ready to look like the Maxwell blown away guy because this Mixtape is about to get heavy!

 1. “Burial” - Russian Circles

Let’s start off with a track from Russian Circles’ 2013 masterpiece Memorial. Known for their instrumental post-rock/metal work, the Chicago trio decided to create an album that exudes icy, desolate landscapes, rife with jagged glacier spikes piercing the sky, black mountains in the distance, all overlain by a hazy mist. Yes, there is stunning beauty to be found but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Something looms just beyond eyesight, waiting and plotting. This is the landscape - and soundscape - that heralds the beginning of destruction.

2. “I Am Colossus” - Meshuggah

If “Burial” was the hint of what’s to come, “I Am Colossus” is the earth-shattering arrival. Furious growls set against percussive, syncopated guitars, the song plodding and stomping with nary a care as to what’s in its way. This is what you listen to when you’re ready to unleash pure devastation.

3. “The Call of Ktulu” - Metallica

This song always felt like it belonged more towards the end of a Kaiju film. When the opening notes ring out, I envisioned the 3rd act commencing. Humanity, beaten and battered, are ready to square off once and for all. Who will win? It doesn’t matter, because Metallica is the last thing either side hears. And that’s pretty awesome.

4. “The Baying of the Hounds” - Opeth

Listen, if there’s any song that feels like it’s describing some kind of monstrous, titanic horror, it’s this one. Lyrics like “His words are flies/Swarming towards the true insects” and “His eyes spew forth a darkness/That cut through and paralyse” paint the picture of something truly demonic that emerged from some Hellish underground.

It’s also a magnificent song, one that twists and weaves through black metal and folk. It’s signature Opeth, at least in their earlier years.

5. “Waste of Air” - Leprous

What we have here is the chaotic frenzy that comes in the midst of destruction. Buildings are collapsing, explosions galore, missiles flying towards that unimaginable monster, screams echoing, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

Leprous is one of my favorite bands and this track is them at their dizzying, chaotic prog-metal finest.

6. “O Father O Satan O Sun!” - Behemoth

As we’ve seen throughout Kaiju film history, while the majority of humanity wants these behemoths (see what I did there?) gone, there is definitely a subset that is ready to fall upon their knees and worship the bringer of destruction, as though that will save them. Enter Behemoth and this song, which feels like an unholy choir pleading and beseeching for mercy, not willing to accept that their time has come and death is one foot stomp away. Honestly, they had it coming.

7. “Flying Whales” - Gojira

Listen, if you know then you know. Anyone who’s been to a Gojira show knows that the moment this song starts playing, you have two choices: get out of the pit or get ready to mosh for your goddamn life.

Building slowly and deliberately, “Flying Whales” lulls its listeners into a sense of false security. Then, a couple of minutes in, those distorted guitars come in with that odd 6 vs 8 beat riff followed by Mario Duplantier’s absolutely monstrous drumming. This song is pure metal majesty and if it doesn’t inspire you to go a little nuts, I don’t know what will.

8. “Juular” - The Devin Townsend Project

Good ol’ Hevy Devy. He may not have a skullet anymore but he’s still capable of writing music that sounds like it’s ushering in the demise of humanity. The best way to describe this song (and actually a lot of Townsend’s music) is that it’s Danny Elfman-meets-metal. Sometimes it’s bombastic, sometimes it’s mysterious, but it’s always magnificent.

9. “Leader” - InAeona

While chaos and destruction are undoubtedly horrifying, very often we have to recognize that some Kaiju films can be breathtakingly beautiful. Just look at all the oohs and aahs that were on social media when the first trailer for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS came out. Just because there’s distortion and screaming doesn’t mean that there can’t be melody and beauty.

10. “10,000 Against One” - Unleash the Archers

Sometimes in Kaiju films, it takes an army to make an impact. Think of all the people who worked on the Jaeger’s in Pacific Rim. Or what about the military complex and scientists responsible for Godzilla’s destruction at the end of Gojira? If it takes an army to move a mountain, it takes a lot of people to stand tall and face off against a threat to humanity. And if you’re one of those standing tall, ready to lay down your life so that tomorrow’s sunrise shines light on a Kaiju-free world, you’re gonna need a kickass song to hype you up. Thankfully, Canada’s Unleash the Archers is here to deliver.

11. “Moronic Colossus” - The Haunted

While The Dead Eye is one of my favorite albums of all time, I’ve got to admit that “Moronic Colossus” is easily the best song from this band’s discography for this list. Why’s that, you might ask? Because every Kaiju movie has that one idiot that’s just fucking it up for everyone else and they deserve to be called out without subtlety, consideration, or care. Fuck them. They are getting people killed and they are screwing everything up. “​​Imbecillicus Rex” is a far kinder nickname than I can think of but it’ll do the job just fine.

12. “Progenies of The Great Apocalypse” - Dimmu Borgir

Many of you probably saw this coming a mile away. This track was used in the trailer’s for del Toro’s HELLBOY and for damn good reason. That grand, epic symphonic opening, the raspy vocals, the driving intensity… Fuck, it’s just so cool! And if the name alone doesn’t conjure up images of horrors on the horizon, I don’t know what will. Bring on the Eldritch terrors!