Slasher films don’t often come with killer soundtracks – budgetary concerns – but there are some really awesome scores around.

Here are my favourite choons I’ve found thanks to this lovely genre:

White Sister: April – from Killer Party (1986)

Typical 80s glam rock: Melody up front, big hair, lots of synth.

*

SoHo: Whisper to a Scream – from Scream (1996)

One of the few slasher films with its own soundtrack album. This awesome tune (a cover of a much less interesting 1983 original by The Icicle Works) plays over the end credits. Sure, it’s totally 90s, but that guitar solo and electro-beats are amazing.

*

Shinedown: Devour – from The Final Destination (2009)

What genre is this? Emo-rock? Who cares, love the growl of the singer’s voice and the relentless percussion. I like this one loud on road trips.

*

Vixtrola: Gunboat – from Darkness Falls (2003)

More heavy guitars and growly angst, and possibly the best aspect of the film from which it came!

*

Benjamin Bates: Two Flies – from Killer Movie (2008)

Another better-than-the-film track. Lyrically it’s a tad repetitive but I like the effects going on here.

*

Dokken: Dream Warriors – from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987)

A classic spandex rock classic from German band Dokken. The fact Freddy is defeated by the lead singer’s high-pitched wailings is just sensational.

*

Pseudo Echo: His Eyes – from Friday the 13th Part V (1985)

This is the song Violet is robot-dancing to before she’s done away with. I’m not normally a fan of this new-wave sound, but this song has become awesomely naff over 30 years of exposure.

*

Syreeta: Happy Birthday to Me – from Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

Creepy-voiced Syreeta chirps her way through this unsettling original, which benefits from its minimalism. That clarinet? -shudder-

*

Divinyls: Back to the Wall – from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 (1988)

The film’s evident MTV-leanings made for a good soundtrack, from which this was my favourite, with great opening lyrics: “We’re living in desperate times, these are desperate times my friend.” Divinyls were best known for their 1990 hit I Touch Myself. The lead singer sadly died a few years ago.

*

Alice Cooper: Teenage Frankenstein & He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask) – from Friday the 13th Part VI (1986)

The link between slasher films and (what was then deemed to be) heavy metal was put to good use in Jason Lives with Alice Cooper’s originals for the soundtrack. Lyrics about full moons, lovers lake etc just spell out everything that is Friday.