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

• 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

• 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.

• 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)

• 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)