[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling atmosphere!

I am the wind.Karumen Maki & OZ

Carmen Maki & OZ - I Am the Wind

It’s a track that sends chills down your spine with Maki Carmen’s voice—like a witch’s monologue, or a cry from the soul.

The structure unfolds from a quiet narration into a storm-like roar, powerfully shaking the listener’s emotions.

This dark, fantastical atmosphere seems perfect for setting the mood on a mysterious Halloween night.

The piece is included on the classic album “Carmen Maki & OZ,” released in January 1975.

If you use it as BGM for a night when you want to forget the everyday and set yourself free, it might awaken the true self sleeping deep within your heart.

A Closed TownKarumen Maki & OZ

Carmen Maki - Closed Town

The sound of the organ echoing through the city at dusk alone draws you into a world of melancholy tales.

Released in June 1976, this song—the title track from the album “Closed Town”—pairs a grand, LA-recorded sound with Carmen Maki’s richly expressive vocals to vividly portray the scenery of a stifling town.

Images of birds that have forgotten how to fly and a town drained of color evoke a ghost town, perfectly matching Halloween’s unsettling atmosphere.

It’s an ideal companion for a contemplative Halloween night, different from a lively party.

What should I do?murahachibu

Hmm, what should I do? / Murahachibu “Bust It Up!”

This work epitomizes Murahachibu, the band that exuded an especially dangerous aura during the dawn of Japanese rock.

Its lyrics, where nihilism mingles with an urge ready to burst, stir up a restless feeling deep inside, leaving you unsettled.

The clash between the vocalist’s throwaway delivery and the raw, distorted guitar sound is sure to sweep you off your feet.

You can hear this track on the live album “Murahachibu Live,” released in June 1973, and it’s also known for being covered as the theme song for the 2009 film “Shikisoku Generation.” It’s a perfect pick for anyone looking to spend a decadent Halloween.

Adam’s appleSeikima II

Seikima-II “Adam’s Apple (Petition for Retrial in Hell - LIVE BLACK MASS Budokan -)” Short Ver.

This number, with a decadent worldview themed around the forbidden fruit, is perfect for Halloween’s mysterious night.

The lyrics depict the human psyche that can’t resist the devil’s temptation and surrenders to pleasure, sending chills down the listener’s spine.

From an intro that evokes an homage to Led Zeppelin to its dramatically unfolding structure, it’s truly superb.

Coupled with a technically masterful guitar solo, it distills Seikima-II’s unique blend of formal beauty and entertainment.

Released in November 1986, this work is one you’ll want to hear when you want to immerse yourself in a dark, celebratory mood.

Night, night of the assassinHadaka no Rarīzu

Night, night of the assassin

Les Rallizes Dénudés, emblematic of Japan’s underground scene.

What this work depicts is an endlessly disquieting landscape, like a night where an assassin slips into the darkness.

The lyrical worldview—said to be inspired by French poetry—seems to mirror the anguish of one who punishes himself.

Hollow vocals intertwine with eardrum-rattling feedback noise, gradually stoking the listener’s anxiety.

This is a track you should savor on Halloween night precisely if you’re tired of run-of-the-mill horror.

Turn off the lights and lend your ears to this piece, and you may experience a singular kind of fear.

Grab the gun.zunou keisatsu

Brains Police / Take Up the Gun Live

This is a track pierced by a sharp energy that overturns society’s common sense from the ground up.

It’s a work by Zunou Keisatsu, pioneers of radical Japanese rock, included on their album Zunou Keisatsu Second, released in May 1972.

You can almost hear the protagonist’s cry to shatter an oppressive everyday life.

That pure, violent impulse stirs emotions akin to eeriness and fear.

The fact that it emerged after their notorious first album—so extreme it was pulled from release—also speaks to the desperate atmosphere this song radiates.

How about giving it a listen on a night when you want to feel a raw terror born not of cliché horror, but of the suffocating mood of the times?

I’ll eat you up!Gachapin

I'll eat you up!

Released in 1975, this song is scary but somehow a bit addictive.

With lyrics like “I’ll eat naughty kids,” it might have made children feel frightened enough to cry.

But thanks to those lyrics, it might have also turned them into good kids who listen to Mom and Dad! Unfortunately, it was even banned from broadcast at one point, but it’s still talked about today—through memories shared at the DVD release event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Ponkikkies and features on TV programs.

Perfect for those who want to enjoy a spooky vibe on Halloween night.

Once you listen, you just might lose the courage to play any tricks.