Tunes From the Crypt #5 – Soundtrack Edition
Alright friends! So here we are back to our regularly scheduled feature. Last Tunes was a special Canada Day feature.
So to pick up with where we were in Episode Three, I’d begun to really relate my love of movies with my love of music. I was able to rent movies from Marilyn Scott’s place just two houses away, from the Burton General Store as well my family had purchased a satellite dish which gave us some movie channels. Now I found myself able to watch a wide variety of movies. When I was younger I wasn’t as picky and would usually watch a movie based on the VHS cover. I’m really picky now and find that movie-length plays a big part of it as well.
Back then, though, I was still drawn towards science fiction and horror with some action thrown in.
At the same time, movie soundtracks were starting to become a bigger focus and movie studios realized they could sell a lot of CD’s.
I used to hang out at my buddy Simon’s place a bunch. He lived in this fantastic wood house near the lake. We’d stay up all night Friday and Saturday watching movies and cartoons or playing Nintendo 64. We knew his older brother had some old porn VHS’s stashed somewhere so when everyone was gone during the day we’d sneak into his room and try to find them. We never did find them but one movie we discovered while searching was outstanding and to this day is one of my top 10.
Heavy Metal was a different kind of movie from what I’d seen before. Featuring interconnected animated stories the music in the movie was the best of the best from that time period.
Nazareth – Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)
Cheap Trick – Reach Out
I listen to the Heavy Metal soundtrack at least once a month, if not more. I keep the CD in our car and when I’m not listening to satellite radio or through my phone, then it’s this soundtrack.
Another soundtrack I had in heavy rotation was the Wayne’s World soundtrack. This was another soundtrack that focused on the heavier music. I loved the inclusion of Time Machine from Black Sabbath and Dream Weaver from Gary Wright. The movie is of course known for its inclusion of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, but my two favourite tracks off of the album are Feed My Frankenstein by Alice Cooper and Rock Candy by The Bullet Boys.
Alice Cooper – Feed My Frankenstein
Bullet Boys – Rock Candy
Another movie that I adore and frequently still watch is Airheads. The Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler comedy about a band trying to make it big but then takes a radio station hostage still stands up well and it’s one of the few roles I enjoy Sandler in. The soundtrack for this movie is outstanding.
Stuttering John – I’ll Talk My Way out of It
White Zombie – Feed the Gods
It felt like at that time, all movies would lead into others. Whether it was from previews at the start that we wouldn’t fast forward through, or simply the boxes were beside each other on the shelf, I would usually rent two or three movies at one time. A frequent rental for me was the movie Brain Scan.
Stuttering John – Riverboat
Tad – Grease Box
While I was growing up there came a point in the musical landscape where rap and metal fused together. This was most apparent on the Judgement Night soundtrack. Many folks will list this album as the best soundtrack ever and I’d argue it’s definitely up there. The movie was outstanding but this soundtrack crushed.
Helmet & House of Pain – Just Another Victim
Onyx feat. Biohazard – Judgement Night
Another soundtrack that I always played that was from a movie I loved is Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight. This featured a who’s who of heavy music at the time.
Machine Head – My Misery
Megadeth – Diadems
In 1998 there was a large buzz about Dee Snider’s movie coming out called Strangeland. It was outstanding. A different degree of slasher/horror and ever since it was released we’ve been teased with a possible sequel. Of course, Dee ensured the soundtrack was killer.
Sevendust – Breathe
Anthrax – Piss N Vinegar
Back in the mid 90’s as I was introduced to new channels and shows thanks to satellite TV and visiting my aunt and uncle on the weekends, I discovered Beavis and Butt-head. Obviously, I loved it – immature humour and awesome music. This show was pretty much written just for me. When it was relaunched a few years ago I loved it. Of course, both the show and the movie had amazing soundtracks.
The first album from them was called The Beavis and Butt-head Experience and had some really heavy, killer tunes.
Megadeth – 99 Ways to Die
White Zombie – I am Hell
When it was announced that they were going to have a full-length movie called “Beavis and Butt-head Do America” I knew I would need to see it. Surprising it played in the movie theatre in Nakusp. The day it aired a religious group had a performance at our school. I can’t recall what it was called something Rox or similar. I remember that they had a small bit in their speeches about the dangers of media and of heavy music corrupting our minds. They had a second show that evening at the school and we were all invited to come back. A big group of us skipped the second show and instead went and watched Beavis and Butt-head Do America. If there was a single paragraph I’ve ever written that kind of sums of my life and decisions, well I think you’ve just read it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Love Rollercoaster
White Zombie – Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls
To wrap this up, I have two last soundtracks to mention. I used to mow a few peoples lawns when I was younger. It was a way to make some extra money for hockey cards or CD’s from Columbia House. I used to mow one ladies lawn every week in the summer it seemed and she’d pay me $2 or $5 depending on what change she had kicking around. I didn’t have a disc man yet at this point, just a walkman. So every time I’d mow her lawn I’d listen to The Jerky Boys Soundtrack on cassette.
L7 – Hanging on the Telephone
Helmet – Symptom of the Universe (Black Sabbath Cover)
All right, so here we come to the last soundtrack I’ll feature and this is my all-time favourite soundtrack. It’s one that I’ve probably listened to more than any other soundtrack. The movie was and still is outstanding and a personal fav and of course it’s developed a significant cult following and lore.
The Crow was a dark, crazy movie when it came out and the fact that Brandon Lee died while filming it added another layer to the movie.
Machines of Loving Grace – Golgotha Tenement Blues
Nine Inch Nails – Dead Souls (Joy Division Cover)
Pantera – The Badge (Poison Idea Cover)
Jane Siberry – It Can’t Rain All the Time
Alright, there you have it! My trip down soundtrack memory lane. There are a few that I left out, just because I only enjoyed one song on it or I didn’t spend much time listening to the soundtrack on repeat.
Are there any soundtracks you listened to all the time that I missed?
Let me know!
Cheers and see you next time!
Steve Stred
Steve Stred is an up-and-coming Dark, Bleak Horror author.
Steve is the author of the novel Invisible, the novellas Wagon Buddy, Yuri and Jane: the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick, the dark poetry collection Dim the Sun and his most recent release was the coming-of-age, urban legend tale The Girl Who Hid in the Trees.
On June 1st, 2019 his second full-length novel, The Stranger will be welcomed to the world.
Steve is also a voracious reader, reviewing everything he reads and submitting the majority of his reviews to be featured on Kendall Reviews.
Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.
You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevestred
You can visit Steve’s Official website here
The Stranger
Ahhh… nothing like the annual summer family camping trip, right?
Malcolm, his wife Sam and their two kids have been staying at the same cabin, at the same campground for years now. Heck, Malcolm’s been coming to the campground since he was a kid.
Miles and miles of groomed trails, hiking, kayaking on the pristine lake. What’s not to like?
But this year… well this year’s different. You see, roof repairs have caused them to have to change their plans. Now they’re staying at the cabin at the end of season, in fact they’re the last campers before it closes for the winter.
While happy to be spending time with the family, Malcolm feels a shift.
The caretaker next door makes it known he hates him.
The trees… move and dance, as though calling him, beckoning him.
Then on a seemingly normal kayaking trip, the family makes a discovery.
YOU TAKE FROM ME
I TAKE FROM YOU
Something’s out there, just on the other side of the fence. Malcolm’s positive it’s just the caretaker trying to scare him, teach the family a lesson.
But what if it’s not…
What if there is something out there?
The Stranger is the second novel from Steve Stred and 9th release overall. The Stranger is another offering following in the footsteps of similar books Invisible, YURI and The Girl Who Hid in the Trees. As Steve describes his works; “dark, bleak horror.”
With this release, Steve has decided to look deeper into what makes humans tick. He confronts two key elements of mankind; bigotry and our environmental footprint.
Featuring stunning cover art by Chadwick St. John (www.inkshadows.com), The Stranger will be a story that will leave you feeling uneasy and have you looking at the trees differently.
Maybe it’s not the wind making the branches sway…
Maybe…
It’s…
The Stranger.
You can buy The Stranger from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Leave a Reply