By Chris Post

Bigger budget zombie films have been known to rock some cool soundtracks and a recurring trope in zombie films is a character with headphones who listen to some sort of playlist to get them through the apocalypse. The tactical impracticality of wearing headphones aside, here’s our list of the Top 5 songs for the zombie apocalypse.

5 – REM – It’s the End of the World (and I Feel Fine)

REM’s song about the end of the world doesn’t reference zombies specifically, but it paints a picture of a world turned upside down. It might seem a little up-tempo for the apocalypse, but anyone who is a fan of the zombie genre knows that one guy who is always talks about what he’d do in an apocalypse a little too enthusiastically.

4 – Disturbed – Down With the Sickness

This song was famously included in the soundtrack from the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead (along with the excellent People Who Died by Jim Carroll). It’s heavy, dark and brooding and with its repetitious invitation to “get down with the sickness” it’s a natural fit for any zombie apocalypse playlist.

3 –  Johnny Cash – God’s Gonna Cut You Down

Another Johnny Cash tune, When the Man Comes Around, was also included on aforementioned Dawn of the Dead soundtrack, and with good reason. Cash drew inspiration from both the Book of Revelations and the Book of Job for that one. But God’s Gonna Cut You Down is equally good as just as appropriate for our list. With themes of judgement and final justice, it could be the theme song to a montage of Rick Grimes meting out death to his enemies.

2 – Family Force 5 – Zombie

While not as famous as some of the other tracks on this list, it is undeniably suited for inclusion as it literally tells the story of a zombie apocalypse. For those unfamiliar with FF5, they are an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. This song in particular divided fans on the Christian rock genre as it is more secular in nature, but we like its rap-rock style and infectious groove.

1- Rob Zombie – Living Dead Girl

Rob Zombie’s fascination with the undead is well documented, but Living Dead Girl is his most straightforward homage to the genre from which he took his name. Telling the story of an irresistible creature who has an insatiable lust for the dead, it never fails to bring to mind Linnea Quigley as Trash in Return of the Living Dead.