Looking to find some good, dark, horror surf bands. I’m familiar with messer chups, satans pilgrims, moontrekkers etc. but I’m looking for something less “gimmicky” for a lack of better words. I LOVE ALL OF THE BANDS LISTED I’m a huge fan of all forms of surf especially over the top monster music but if anyone knows of some dark, catchy, drippy bands or songs your input would be greatly appreciated!!

Californian Hunger by The Darkthrones is a good example

May we humbly suggest ourselves?
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5JR3IKHOvLWmIZuB9QBJHc?si=23KWk60fTGORko1hAwY_Ng

https://linktr.ee/thecreaturepreachers

Thank you so much! Yep, we’re on all the streaming platforms!

Goldenbirdies wrote:

Well, it's not "non-gimmicky" but there's "It's Monster Surfing Time" by the Deadly Ones which is pretty great. The whole album's cool and it can probably lay claim on being the first horror/surf album out there.

Deadly Ones are great, if you guys haven’t heard the song jazzhound by the buttertones let me know what you think of it if you care to give it a listen. Not really surf besides the bright guitar but I enjoy the muddy-reverb covered vocals. It checks enough boxes for me to consider it surf-ish I guess… definitely dark though

We did one last year for Halloween. It's a heavy pace, but I don't think it's campy. Who knows?
Ghost of Tom Returns

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

AndrewTesta wrote:

if anyone knows of some dark, catchy, drippy bands or songs your input would be greatly appreciated!!

https://youtu.be/M3P1M9u5D1Y

I generally have darker sounds and music than most other bands, although I wouldn't call my music "horror surf" - it's a mixture of European instro and surf. I use chrome flat wounds and generally like to use the lower strings because I love dark sounds. You should've heard this on just about every radio station out there except Fiberglass and that other LA playlist.

Albums:
_Introducing; Impala '59; An Evening with; Herr Magnatech Bittet Zum Tanz; Europa

Changing label.

https://magnatech.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/magnatechmusic
https://www.magnatech-music.com

Last edited: Jun 16, 2023 06:08:09

I guess my new EP features some pretty dark stuff)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

AndrewTesta wrote:

Well I just found my new favorite band HOW do you get that tone?

Thanks a million! Very much appreciated.

Drums and bass are basically however you want it; bass just follows the chord line and I use Addictive Drums for the drums, which lets me pick out of ~12 separate drumkits to mix and match. I use 3 guitar parts: 1. first rhythm part which is just a plain, clean guitar without any effect, so no reverb, that plays the chords of the tune; 2. the second rhythm guitar that is heavily reverbed (position 7-8 for dwell, mix and volume)that plays the same chords as the "dry" rhythm guitar but as power chords hacking along with the chord melody; 3. lead guitar with less reverb than the second rhythm (position 4-6, just have to figure out what feels best to you: for Christopher Lee I put it on 6, usually I have it lower than that).

Finally, I do 5 recording runs to get the guitar parts right over the Stereo Maker that I use: rhythm parts twice, one for the left and one for the right channel to get a sort of carpet of sound and the lead is stereo.

This way, I found out, will give you that "splash" sound that comes closest to what Dick Dale meant when he said that he wanted to recreate the feeling when on a surf board. That "splash" feeling comes from the rhythm guitar in this case. Just like it does with the Astronauts, don't let anybody tell you differently. I was looking for a way to emulate the Astronauts without being exactly like them. The dry chords serve to maintain the melody and keep it a song.

Lots of bands think the splash comes from the lead, which then leads them to put too much reverb on the lead, but this doesn't really have the desired effect. Reverb quite easily becomes overwhelming, killing the melody.

Over time I developed this way of playing for myself and you will hear it more often as I went along recording albums and whatnot. Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be happy to help!

Cheers from Dublin!

J.

Albums:
_Introducing; Impala '59; An Evening with; Herr Magnatech Bittet Zum Tanz; Europa

Changing label.

https://magnatech.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/magnatechmusic
https://www.magnatech-music.com

Jojobaplant wrote:

AndrewTesta wrote:

Well I just found my new favorite band HOW do you get that tone?

Thanks a million! Very much appreciated.

Drums and bass are basically however you want it; bass just follows the chord line and I use Addictive Drums for the drums, which lets me pick out of ~12 separate drumkits to mix and match. I use 3 guitar parts: 1. first rhythm part which is just a plain, clean guitar without any effect, so no reverb, that plays the chords of the tune; 2. the second rhythm guitar that is heavily reverbed (position 7-8 for dwell, mix and volume)that plays the same chords as the "dry" rhythm guitar but as power chords hacking along with the chord melody; 3. lead guitar with less reverb than the second rhythm (position 4-6, just have to figure out what feels best to you: for Christopher Lee I put it on 6, usually I have it lower than that).

Finally, I do 5 recording runs to get the guitar parts right over the Stereo Maker that I use: rhythm parts twice, one for the left and one for the right channel to get a sort of carpet of sound and the lead is stereo.

This way, I found out, will give you that "splash" sound that comes closest to what Dick Dale meant when he said that he wanted to recreate the feeling when on a surf board. That "splash" feeling comes from the rhythm guitar in this case. Just like it does with the Astronauts, don't let anybody tell you differently. I was looking for a way to emulate the Astronauts without being exactly like them. The dry chords serve to maintain the melody and keep it a song.

Lots of bands think the splash comes from the lead, which then leads them to put too much reverb on the lead, but this doesn't really have the desired effect. Reverb quite easily becomes overwhelming, killing the melody.

Over time I developed this way of playing for myself and you will hear it more often as I went along recording albums and whatnot. Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be happy to help!

Cheers from Dublin!

J.

I sent you a private message, hope to hear back from you soon!

stratdancer wrote:

Interesting request. Here's some heavy Vintage/Modern surf with a concerning theme.

https://themetabolites.bandcamp.com/track/climate-of-catastrophe

I’m 45 minutes from Akron I’m surprised I never heard them. Sounds awesome!!!!