HardLore Podcast: Ranking Every MISFITS Song From Best to Worst (Halloween Special)
Podcast: HardLore
Hosts: Colin Young (A) & Bo Lueders (B)
Release Date: October 30, 2025
Episode Theme: In this special Halloween episode, Colin and Bo (in full drag as "Reagan" and "Gwen Danzig," respectively) take on the monumental task of ranking every Glenn Danzig-era Misfits song—from best to worst. Using a strict tier system and their combined (and deeply nerdy) love for punk, the two hosts debate, reminisce, and nerd out over one of horror punk’s most beloved discographies.
Episode Overview
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Main Purpose:
Celebrate Halloween and the legacy of the Misfits by tier-ranking every Misfits song written by Glenn Danzig, with a mix of personal stories, technical musical discussions, and plenty of irreverent banter. -
Unique Structure:
Both hosts dress up in drag for Halloween (Bo as "Gwen Danzig") and maintain a humorous, candid tone throughout. They limit the number of songs per tier, forcing difficult decisions and passionate debate.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Tier List Rules & Halloween Spirit
- The episode begins with both hosts in costume ("Reagan" and "Gwen Danzig"), underscoring the Halloween theme.
- Bo introduces the ranking system:
- S Tier: 10 songs
- A Tier: 11 songs
- B Tier: 11 songs
- C Tier: 12 songs
- D Tier: 13 songs
- Songs are ranked by the hosts’ favorite version, avoiding duplicate arguments over various mixes.
- “Some of the best songs ever written…are going to end up low—just because of the system.” (B – 04:13)
- Anticipation is built for heated debate and the pain of demoting beloved tracks.
2. Opening Songs & Setting the Bar
- Static Age (B Tier, 05:34):
- Considered a great song but “not Top Upper Echelon Misfits.”
- “Totally great song. Good song. Now, upper Echelon dancing? Nah.” (A – 05:34)
- Skulls (S Tier, 06:36):
- Praised as a perfect, iconic Misfits song.
- “The chorus is an instant brainworm. You can hear this one song and know it.” (A – 06:41)
- “Easy S and like possible top five. It's like a perfect song.” (B – 06:36)
- Angel Fuck (A/S Tier debate, 07:38):
- Celebrated for its impact in under two minutes.
- “They did the most with the least. And something like Angel Fuck, what that accomplishes in…97 seconds…” (A – 08:31)
3. Banter & Drag Persona Highlights
- The hosts, decked out in full drag, riff on Misfits lore and punk culture.
- “You would clean up, dude. We gotta get you on Drag Race.” (A – 01:32)
- “I got the Sabrina Carpenter wig on that is hotter than hell right now.” (B – 01:46)
- Their over-the-top costumes set a humorous, irreverent tone throughout.
4. Ranking and Musical Analysis
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Deep dives into songwriting, musicianship, and the essence of what makes certain tracks quintessentially Misfits.
- “Skulls is easy S…The melodies are…pleasant. The chorus is an instant brainworm.” (A – 06:41)
- Musical Insight: Songs praised for combining pop structure with punk ferocity, especially “Skulls,” “Some Kind of Hate,” and “Hybrid Moments.”
- Technical Analysis: Discussions on structure (e.g., “Martian” starting with the chorus), economy of songwriting, and the band’s place in punk history.
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Subjectivity & Nostalgia: Personal anecdotes drive many placements.
- “When I saw the OG misfits open with 20 eyes, I immediately began crying…It was the coolest thing.” (B – 29:52)
- “This is my Dark Horse favorite Misfits song…” [“Children in Heat”] (B – 21:25)
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Fan Culture: Classic debates over the meaning of “We Are 138.”
- “Nobody knows what it means. Nobody.” (B – 54:27)
- “Jerry said it’s about barcodes…Glenn said it’s about violence. But then there’s the THX 1138 movie theory…” (54:28–55:42)
5. Memorable Quotes & Lore
- On "Last Caress":
“I think it's an objectively S…like, objectively, I'm looking at this as a piece of music, not in terms of favoritism here.” (A – 27:18) “I've heard where Eagles Dare a thousand times...it's so good.” (B – 28:07) - On “Hybrid Moments”:
“This is, I think, probably the greatest song. This is the George Washington on Mount Rushmore.” (B – 41:26) - On the pain of ranking:
“We gave ourselves a tough. A tough task.” (A – 69:18) - On "Return of the Fly":
“If I'm driving my car…and I'm listening to Return of the Fly…somebody's gonna pull up and be like, this fucking rockabilly guy next to me.” (A – 48:08)
6. The Final S Tier (Best of the Misfits):
(Timestamps denote when final ranking decisions were discussed)
- Astro Zombies (70:27)
- London Dungeon (70:27)
- Skulls (70:27)
- I Turned Into a Martian (70:27)
- Some Kind of Hate
- Hybrid Moments
- Ghouls Night Out
- Halloween
- Bullet
- Where Eagles Dare
“Our top four Misfit songs that we have on this tier list: Astro Zombies, London Dungeon, Skulls, and I Turned Into a Martian. Pretty hard to argue with any of those.” (A – 70:41)
7. The ‘Painful’ D Tier (Lowest Ranked):
- Rat Fink (as expected, not written by the Misfits themselves)
- Several deep cuts and outliers debated and slotted with affection but honesty.
8. Personal Picks & Sacrifices
- Both hosts admit "Children in Heat" and "Horror Business" were close to S Tier (71:18).
- “All these songs are great at the end of the day…Besides Rat Fink.” (B – 71:16)
Notable Memorable Moments
- Opening Drag Banter:
“I got the Sabrina Carpenter wig…this is actual pea soup. It smells fucking horrific.” (A – 01:58) - Musical Hypotheses:
“I hypothesized that all vocals were written first and [the instruments] were written around them.” (A – 07:09) - Nostalgic Fan Service:
“The DNA of every Misfit song…that’s the chorus.” (B – 21:00) - On Repetition and Song Fatigue:
“I’m for sure over it. But, like…the difference is ‘Mother’ is a song I’ve heard a billion times. ‘Crazy Train’…never gets old.” (B – 27:58)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment / Song Debated | Start Time | |-----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Intro, Drag Banter, Episode Format | 00:00 | | Ranking Concept & Tier Explanation | 02:28 | | Opening Songs Discussion (Static Age, She, Skulls) | 05:00 | | On "Skulls" as S-Tier, Classic Misfits Melodicism | 06:31 | | The “Cover” Problem and "Rat Fink" | 09:20 | | Musical Process & Songwriting Talk | 07:09 | | “Where Eagles Dare” Discussion | 24:11 | | Personal Stories (OG Misfits, "20 Eyes") | 29:52 | | “Hybrid Moments” Crowned George Washington of Misfits| 41:22 | | The “We Are 138” Lore & Argument | 54:27 | | S Tier Finalization & Recap | 59:35–70:41| | Reflections, Regrets & Wrap-up | 71:00+ |
Tone & Atmosphere
The episode is as much a celebration of the Misfits as it is a nerdy argument over a tier list—full of inside jokes, technical deconstructions, goofy asides, and real fan passion.
- “This is the best thrift band ever. The best Halloween band ever.” (A – 71:39)
- “We hope you all are enjoying the last few days of the Halloween spirit…this is gonna be different depending on when you ask us.” (A – 71:55)
The duo’s camaraderie and knowledge anchor the episode, making it a lively and affectionate look at a Spooktacular legacy.
Final Takeaways
- The Misfits discography is celebrated for both its innovation and simplicity—"the most with the least."
- The tier system forced hard choices, sparking revealing debates about what makes a “top-tier” punk song.
- This episode is essential for both die-hard Misfits fans and punk nerds seeking a fun, in-depth ranking with plenty of Halloween flair and candid banter.
- At the end:
“All these songs are great at the end of the day…Besides Rat Fink.” (B – 71:16)