GRAVE ROCKING.

“They came back from the grave to rock ‘n rave and misbehave”

I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell spend a lot of time thinking about graveyard music videos. Nothing glues me to the tube harder than a group of rock warriors around a moonlit cemetery, drenched in fog. It’s basically my bible. My reason to go on.

There’s something so flawless and aesthetically *right* about a band rocking around all that death in the air. Even the low budget efforts or lazily put together ones with foam tombstones from Dollar Tree are completely fine. But my favorite burial ground ballads are the ones that blend seamlessly with the eerie atmosphere and cool guitar moves, while vocalists in power stances and drummers in a whirlwind of hair do their part. You mix this concoction with a bunch of rotting graves and creaky gates and it’s a recipe for success.

In honor of October, here are my current favorite grave rocking videos.

Candlemass – Bewitched! (1987)

Swedish doom at it’s finest. This is the one I feel most immediately comes to mind when you think of graveyard rocking. Candlemass singer Messiah Marcolin rises from his coffin and terrifies everyone with his Satanic-Diana Ross hair and the priceless facial expressions. The low-fi graininess of is so perfect for what this video accomplishes.

Ramones – Pet Sematary! (1989)

I don’t care how many times I’ve heard it, it’s one of those rare songs that I never tire of (“Don’t Fear the Reaper” is the other). Written upon request by author Stephen King for the 1989 film adaptation of Pet Sematary, it’s the perfect grave stomping anthem for driving around in the Autumn weather. This is one of those videos where you can watch it anytime of the year and feel the cold magic in the air. Perfect novel, perfect movie and perfect song.

King Diamond – Sleepless Nights! (1989)

The King’s tribute to Gothic horror movies is in full effect over the foggy gravestones in this video from the 1989 album Conspiracy. While King Diamond and Mercyful Fate have a number of videos featuring church settings and old castles, in my research “Sleepless Nights” is the only one with the band rocking in the cemetery. One of the immortal kings of Halloween!

Ghost – Lachryma! (2025)

People complain about music videos not being worth a damn these days which for the most part is probably true given the death of MTV a long time ago and record labels going on a downward spiral since streaming music took over. Ghost’s “Lachryma” is the only modern music video on this list because Ghost continue to exist on their own plane. They record music, make videos and operate like it’s 1984 where everything is thrown on the table. This video looks straight out of the Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors movie set with the band looking natural as ever playing behind misty iron gates.

Matthais Steele – Return With A Vengeance! (1991)

Time to get regional. Power metal warriors of Rhode Island MATTAIS STEELE shot a music video in a local graveyard in Connecticut complete with Zubaz pants and a microphone headset. This video was made possible by Richie’s camcorder, 4 scortching hot black coffees from Dunkin’s and a dozen clam cakes. The entire video is worth multiple viewings and just wait until you see the power-leg-stance on a tree. I seriously dig the song though. It’s very Queensryche. Thanks to my friend Dean (@negativecreeps) for sending this my direction!

Dokken – Heaven Sent! (1987)

Save the best for last. What can I say about this beauty that Uncle T hasn’t proclaimed and sung the praises about so many times? Dokken’s “Heaven Sent” video is 5 minutes of PURE moonlit metal bliss. From Don Dokken’s ‘gambler’ hat — to the perfect Goosebumps-worthy graveyard — to the silhouette of George Lynch blazing that guitar solo under the foggy moonlight. It’s absolute perfection and I have chills right now.

According to legend, the “Heaven Sent” shoot was supposed to take place in an actual cemetery but the town wouldn’t allow them to film on the grounds. Dokken were in the middle of a tour, so they decided to construct a fake cemetery directly outside of the actual one. The names on the cardboard tombstones are of the band and road crew!

What are your favorite graveyard rockers and what am I missing?