10 Most Disturbing Hard Rock Songs Ever Released
8. Riders on the Storm - The Doors
The Doors pretty much live off the more unsettling vibes they give off. Aside from the eclectic blend of jazz, rock, and blues, the aura of Jim Morrison looms so large over the band that it ends up turning every song into a hellish soundscape. There have been plenty of chaotic songs from the band, but it gets a little more unsettling once they tone it down a bit.
From an instrumental standpoint, "Riders on the Storm" is pretty much a cowboy song, with the chord progression lifted straight from "Ghost Riders in the Sky." On the other hand, Morrison's words tell a different story, as he makes illusions to those deranged characters of society, whether it be those stricken with love or a hitch hiking killer. These two people may seem like polar opposites, but when it comes to their twisted passions, they are both riders on the storm.
The words may be one thing, but Morrison's voice is what really transforms this song, with his sultry swagger shining through all the jazzy adornment. Every word is filled with dread, but the whisper vocals towards the end are absolutely bone-chilling, especially when you consider this was the last recording Morrison ever put to tape. All of these pieces should just make for a jazzy groove, but Morrison's bite brought the blues down to the underworld.