Top 5 Albums That Are Perfect For October

Happy first of October, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

So here we are. Halloween season. The smell of pumpkin spice & fallen leaves waft in the air, candy gets bought in droves & gets put back on in equal measure, cosplay becomes normal (In the minds of non-cosplay people), and many metalheads get the itch to break out albums that just seems to work for this month. Given my own collection, I’ve had some time to think about which releases would be great for this month.......and that’s exactly what I’ve done! So sit in a comfy chair, turn down the lights, say a prayer incase you think a spirit is behind you, and take a look at what I consider to be the top 5 best albums for October. Things are about to get spooky!

(Note: With the exception of one record from last year, pretty much every album on this list has come from the 90s. Weird huh?)

5) Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark (Sample)

We begin this list with an album that, while maybe not spooky or in tune with the month, none the less is quite atmospheric. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I swear that Bruce & the boys were watching a lot of cowboy movies, as Fear Of The Dark is filled with spaghetti-western vibes & imagery. I imagine riding on the open plains with a few amigos, heading into town, and rouging up the bad guys, then going out into the sunset when we’re done. I really can’t stress enough that Iron Maiden’s 1992 release is a good album, and it’s one that you all should try out if you can.

4) Rotting Christ - Rituals (Sample) & Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky (Sample)

When metalheads think of subgenres around this time of year, Black Metal is usually one of the first to come up, and with good reason. Evoking the dark side & pagan rites of old, Black Metal is a style that’s not necessarily for the meek. To represent the blackest of the black for this month, we’ve got two fantastic albums that I think represent the genre the best. Let’s start off with the newest offering from Greece’s masters of Black Metal, Rotting Christ.

Released in February of last year, Rituals is an example of Black Metal managing to adapt to modern times, while at the same time keeping a bit of that old-school sound the band created back in the 90s. In many ways, listening to this album is akin to reading a dusty old spellbook, found in a equally dusty old house. Each song feels like forbidden spell, or ritual as it were. From the middle finger to the grim reaper in Tou Thanatou, to the ode to Shiva that was Devadevam, nothing on Rituals sounds the same when compared to one another, and that adds to it’s mystic appeal. Definitely recommended!

Another great recommendation would be Darkthrone’s first real foray into the realm of Black Metal. Released on the 26th of February in 1992, A Blaze In The Northern Sky is Black Metal at it’s most primal & fierce. Released at a time when music technology was not at the standards as it is now, the low-fi production & raw sound add immensely to the atmosphere of the album. Though A Blaze In The Northern Sky only has 6 songs on it (Though strangely has a running time of 42 minutes and 2 seconds), it was obvious from the beginning of this record that Darkthrone were a force to be reckoned with, and this beast of an album is definitely essential for October listening. Give it a go, and enjoy!

3) Nocturnus - The Key (Sample)

Now here’s what I consider to be the “Cosmic Horror” album of the list. Sure, a cyborg created in the pits of hell might not be considered “Cosmic” in the eyes of some horror fans, but considering it comes from a place that’s clearly beyond our realm of existence, it counts in my mind. Despite that one point, Nocturnus’s inaugural out is a really great starting album. At first the idea of combining Death Metal & Prog seems like an odd direction to go, and the addition of keyboards & science fiction ascetics is just downright bizarre, somehow it all comes together to create a really intriguing release. The Prog & keyboards don’t make the Death Metal weird, and the Death Metal doesn’t overwhelm the Prog & keyboards. The sci-fi flavoring combines all sides together, and the end result is nothing short of brilliant. If you want a different take on Death Metal, then The Key is a good option.

2) Sodom - Tapping The Vein (Sample)

Sometimes, horror doesn’t come from the far reaches of the universe. Sometimes, horror isn’t the ghost that’s lurking in the old house. Sometimes, horror isn’t what goes bump in the night. Sometimes, horror from a place that’s all too real. Sometimes, it comes from seeing a loved one in pain. Seeing them in a hospital bed with an I.V. in their arm: that was horror for me back in December of 2015 when I saw my Mother in the hospital. For nearly a week she stayed there, and while she came back recovered from her condition (Diverticulitis), I cannot forget seeing her there. Nor could I forget the album I listened to everyday to keep myself from getting depressed. It’s dark, bleak, and absolutely nasty, and is one of a few times where the music I was listening to had to match the mood I was in. An absolutely brutal mix of Thrash & Death Metal, Tapping The Vein is perhaps the heaviest album German Thrash legends Sodom have ever made, and it’s one I definitely recommend.

1) Type-O Negative - October Rust (Sample)

Are any of you surprised by this?

Though there are plenty of albums that could have made it here, Type-O Negative’s mid-90s masterpiece is the one that gets it in my book. Taking a more melodic approach to their patented brand of Gothic Metal, Pete Steele and the gang really bring out the fall wind, the smell of crackling leaves, the spirits of All Hallows Eve past, and even some of the sensuality that sometimes shows up. Not too fast but not to slow, October Rust occupies that pacing middle ground that hits the sweet spot perfectly. Whether you’re with a loved one and want some spooky fun, or you just want the month of October to be a little more gothic, then give October Rust a listen to.

So these are what I think are the top 5 albums that are perfect for October. Hopefully, they all get you in the mood for the Fall season. Even if they don’t, they’re still great to listen to any other time of the year. Stay tuned for more October goodies later on this month, but I’ll see you tomorrow for a birthday & retrospective that will conjure childhood memories.