Stephen King ain’t just the king of horror novels, mun — he’s the patron saint of spooky riffs, mosh-worthy mayhem, and bands that love a bit of blood-soaked storytelling. From demonic trucks to killer clowns, the Master of Horror’s influence has crept its way into the studio like a haunted reverb pedal.
So, pull up your denim battle vest, pour yourself a pint of red rum, and let’s explore the albums and bands that were 100% cursed (in the best way) by King himself.
👨🔧 AC/DC – Who Made Who (1986)
💀 Inspired by: Maximum Overdrive
King was off his rocker on cocaine and behind the director’s chair for Maximum Overdrive, his only feature film. So who did he call to soundtrack the madness of killer trucks and vending machines? AC/✭DC, obviously.
The band delivered “Who Made Who,” “D.T.,” and a whole comp album for the flick. The result? A soundtrack that slaps harder than a jukebox possessed by Satan.
🔊 “If you’re gonna have death by lawnmower, it needs to be set to ‘Hell’s Bells’, innit.” — everyone, probably
👿 The Misfits – Graves Era Cuts
💀 Inspired by: Pet Sematary vibes
While the Ramones did the original Pet Sematary anthem (banger), The Misfits in their Graves era channelled serious King energy. Songs like “Dust to Dust” and “Dead Kings Rise” could be alt scenes straight outta Derry.
Their entire catalogue drips with Creepshow, Salem’s Lot, and Children of the Corn dread.
✨ Bonus points if you blast it in the woods at night. With torches. And a shovel.
🚫 Pennywise – Self-Titled (1991)
💀 Inspired by: IT
That name isn’t just coincidental. The SoCal punks took their moniker straight from the sewer-dwelling shapeshifter himself, Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
The band doesn’t go full clowncore lyrically, but the aggressive sound and themes of fear, identity, and rebellion are peak IT energy.
🎈 “You’ll float too… into the pit!”
🎸 Metallica – Ride the Lightning (1984) & The Call of Ktulu
💀 Loosely inspired by: Cosmic horror (aka King’s multiverse neighbours)
Metallica aren’t directly quoting King, but they’re certainly dwelling in the same disturbing headspace. “Creeping Death,” “Fade to Black,” and “The Call of Ktulu” evoke the very dread that fuels King’s supernatural epics.
It’s not hard to imagine Roland from The Dark Tower blasting these while wandering the wastelands.
👨🦰 Rigor Mortis – Rigor Mortis (1988)
💀 Inspired by: Horror overload, Stephen-style
Texas thrash legends Rigor Mortis made horror their bread and butter. While not King-exclusive, tracks like “Wizard of Gore” and “Demons” conjure the blood-slicked atmosphere of The Stand or The Shining.
Proper nasty stuff. We love it.
💅 King Diamond – Them (1988)
💀 Inspired by: King’s storytelling flavour
No direct shoutouts to Stephen King, but King Diamond‘s gothic concept albums like Them and Conspiracy share the same DNA: haunted houses, creepy old ladies, and family trauma dialled to eleven.
Honestly, Them could be a spiritual sequel to The Shining. If you swapped Jack Nicholson for a corpse-painted Danish falsetto demon, like.
🌟 Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream (2018) & Welcome to Horrorwood (2021)
💀 Inspired by: IT, Carrie, and more
The modern kings of horrorcore metalcore. Ice Nine Kills write bangers based entirely on horror films, and yep — IT Is the End is their direct tribute to IT, complete with clown horns, circus chaos, and death growls from the sewers.
Other tracks tip the hat to Carrie, and the Welcome to Horrorwood sequel dives even deeper into blood-drenched cinema.
🎶 Honorable Mentions: Songs That Scream Stephen King
🌟 Ramones – “Pet Sematary”
Wrote it for the film at King’s request. Surprisingly heartfelt and spooky as hell.
🎶 Anthrax – “Among the Living”
Inspired by The Stand and Randall Flagg. Pure thrash fury.
🎶 Dream Theater – “The Shining” (unreleased)
Legend has it they jammed a version of this backstage and in soundchecks. We need it released. STAT.
💥 King’s Dark Tower Multiverse: Metal’s Playground
The Dark Tower connects everything in King’s world. It’s like the MCU, but way gnarlier. And you better believe the metal scene took notes:
- Blind Guardian referenced it in interviews and vibe
- Demons & Wizards crafted entire albums around similar fantasy-horror themes
- Mastodon‘s artwork and lyrical layers often echo the Tower’s madness
- Tool would 100% hang out in Mid-World if it had a studio
👽 Final Thoughts: Rockers Read King Too
From mosh pits to haunted paperbacks, Stephen King is essential metal canon. Whether it’s a literal soundtrack to a cursed film (AC/DC), lyrical tributes (Anthrax), or spiritual homages in darkness (King Diamond), his influence lives loud.
So next time you spin a riff-heavy horror banger, remember: there’s a good chance it was born in a Maine nightmare.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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