DAWN OF ASHES’ Kristof Bathory Names Top 10 Horror Movies Featuring Rock Stars
Los Angeles, CA-based Dawn of Ashes (whose very name brings to mind “the beginning of the end”) has broken ground across multiple genres, from aggrotech/terror EBM to industrial black metal, producing a unique hybrid of dark electro and industrial-metal styles since 2001. This fusion of terrifying soundscapes with brutal, relentless rhythms forms the foundation for the lyrical themes of founder/frontman Kristof Bathory – exploring concepts of horror and perversion while standing in bold opposition to the dogma of Abrahamic-based religions.
Last year, Dread Central was thrilled to exclusively host a live-stream of their album The Crypt Injection II. Now, Dawn of Ashes is set to release their latest: The Antinomian that comes out July 10th on Artoffact Records.
To mark the occasion, we’re excited to feature an apropos Top 10 list penned by Kristof himself. The subject: Horror movies featuring rock stars! Enjoy!
Prince of Darkness
Synopsis:
Poking around in a church cellar, a priest (Donald Pleasence) finds an otherworldly vial filled with slime. Frightened, he brings his discovery to a circle of top scholars and scientists, who eventually learn that the strange liquid is the essence of Satan. The slime then begins to seep out, turning some of the academics into zombified killers. As the possessed battle the survivors, student Kelly (Susan Blanchard) is infected by a large quantity of the liquid and becomes Satan personified.
“John Carpenter has always been on the top for being the best Horror director in my opinion and this film is perfect in so many ways. The soundtrack, the creepy vibe of the film, and of course Alice Cooper as a scary demonic, zombie homeless man. He says absolutely nothing in the film but doesn’t need to because his performance is just creepy.”
Hardware
Synopsis:
In an America ravaged by atomic warfare, nomads spend their days scavenging for scrap in a blasted landscape. That’s how ex-soldier Moses Baxter (Dylan McDermott) comes into possession of some spare android parts. He buys them as a present for his artist girlfriend, Jill (Stacey Travis), who plans to put them in a sculpture. What they don’t know is that the pieces come from a new kind of android that is capable of reassembling itself — and is programmed to kill.
“This is the iconic Industrial post-apocalyptic extravaganza. This film inspired so many films and video games, it’s so Uber Industrial to the max. Featuring not only Ministry and Iggy Pop, but also Lemmy from Motörhead.”
Videodrome
Synopsis:
As the president of a trashy TV channel, Max Renn (James Woods) is desperate for new programming to attract viewers. When he happens upon “Videodrome,” a TV show dedicated to gratuitous torture and punishment, Max sees a potential hit and broadcasts the show on his channel. However, after his girlfriend (Deborah Harry) auditions for the show and never returns, Max investigates the truth behind Videodrome and discovers that the graphic violence may not be as fake as he thought.
“David Cronenberg’s sci-fi horror masterpiece, this film is such a head fuck of a movie and is so relevant to what’s going on with how the media is now. Debbie Harry is such a babe in this movie.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Synopsis:
The first of three dark tales involves resentful student Bellingham (Steve Buscemi) looking to an Egyptian mummy for help in settling some scores. Then, hit man Halston (David Johansen) is contracted to kill a cat that has terrorized and even killed members of an extremely wealthy family. Lastly, struggling artist Preston (James Remar) witnesses a demon commit a bizarre murder on a city street, but agrees to keep it a secret when the devilish being promises wealth in return for his silence.
“One of the greatest anthology horror movies that has some of the greatest special effects. Again, Debbie Harry… [Drool].”
Vamp
Synopsis:
Ordered to fetch a stripper, fraternity pledges (Chris Makepeace, Robert Rusler) try the After Dark Club and meet a tall vampire (Grace Jones).
“Grace Jones is so fucking scary in this amazing vampire film. I definitely feel that From Dusk Till Dawn was paying homage to this movie.”
The Lost Boys
Synopsis:
Teenage brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) move with their mother (Dianne Wiest) to a small town in northern California. While the younger Sam meets a pair of kindred spirits in geeky comic-book nerds Edward (Corey Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander), the angst-ridden Michael soon falls for Star (Jami Gertz) — who turns out to be in thrall to David (Kiefer Sutherland), leader of a local gang of vampires. Sam and his new friends must save Michael and Star from the undead.
“Tim Cappello. Mr sexy sax man himself. One of the most ridiculous scenes in all Horror history but it’s so amazing. The Lost Boys is by far one of the greatest vampire films of all time.”
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Synopsis:
Count Dracula, a 15th-century prince, is condemned to live off the blood of the living for eternity. Young lawyer Jonathan Harker is sent to Dracula’s castle to finalise a land deal, but when the Count sees a photo of Harker’s fiancée, Mina, the spitting image of his dead wife, he imprisons him and sets off for London to track her down.
“I can not express how much this film is perfect in every way. There is too much to write but Tom Waits performance is absolutely mind-blowing. I feel like I’m not alone on this one. This film is a masterpiece.”
Night of the Demons
Synopsis:
Wild teenage girls (Mimi Kinkade, Linnea Quigley) hold a Halloween seance in an old funeral parlor to scare their friends.
“They didn’t exactly appear in the movie but they had an amazing song in this great campy demon movie. I actually got into Bauhaus because of this movie.”
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Synopsis:
This tribute to the beloved supernatural TV show has four episodes. In the first, racist Bill Connor (Vic Morrow) is transformed into a Jew in World War II. Next, Mr. Bloom (Scatman Crothers) comes to a retirement home to teach the residents that they are only as young as they feel. In the third, teacher Helen Foley (Kathleen Quinlan) meets Antony (Jeremy Licht), a boy who is not what he seems. Finally, panicky plane passenger John Valentine (John Lithgow) sees gremlins attacking his flight.
“This has to be my favorite anthology horror movie besides Creepshow. Cherie Currie’s brief scene is just creepy and part of one of the best stories for this film.”
The Hunger
Synopsis:
John (David Bowie) is the lover of the gorgeous immortal vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve), and he’s been led to believe that he’ll live forever, too. Unfortunately, he quickly deteriorates into a horrible living death, and Miriam seeks a new companion. She soon sets her sights on Sarah (Susan Sarandon), a lovely young scientist, who quickly falls under Miriam’s spell. However, Sarah doesn’t warm up to the concept of vampirism easily, leading to conflict with Miriam.
“David Bowie as a vampire. Enough said.”
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