Flippin' 'eck! It's
October already? That can only mean one thing... 'October Rust' by
Type O Negative. Yep, my all-time favourite album ever. I'm going to
play it to death like I do every year. And why not?
As a journalist you're
constantly exposed to new albums by new bands, and sometimes its hard
to find time to go back and listen to old favourites (let alone be
able to say you have a definitive favourite album that forsakes all
others), but for me 'October Rust' is one album I can always make
time for.
I bought the album back
in the autumn of 2000 from Record Village in Scunthorpe. I was about fourteen I
think, and I'd not long heard the song 'My Girlfriend's Girlfriend'
on a compilation album. It's cheesy 60s pop vibe and heavy guitars
were definitely up my street, and with it being the pre-broadband days of the internet streaming it or watching the videos wasn't an option. I had to have it. But when I got home I was unprepared
for what I heard. As I hit play I heard a noise that caused me to
pause it immediately and check the speakers on my hi-fi... they were
fine. So I hit play again and the noise continued. My heart dropped
as I thought to myself that the disc was somehow corrupted. But
before I could hit the button to skip to track two the thick
Brooklynite accents of the band laughed through the speakers and
explained it was a joke. I was momentarily confused but soon found
myself laughing at the joke that I’d fallen for hook,
line and sinker.
Then the opening
strains of 'Love You To Death' sauntered into my ears, and I was
instantly addicted. The Type O Negative sound was totally unique.
Like something between The Beatles and Black Sabbath. Sumptuous
gothic keyboards, heavy distorted guitars, and Peter Steele's unique
baritone vocals sounded like pure gold to me... and still does. Next
was the deep bass groove of 'Be My Druidess' followed by the up-tempo
'Green Man' and the mournful 'Red Water (Christmas Mourning)' and
that's before I'd even got to the song that I wanted the album for.
The album continues down a path of sheer sonic perfection with the
melancholic pop of 'Die With Me', the simple but heavy 'Burnt Flowers
Fallen', the remorseful 'In Praise Of Bacchus' and the brilliantly
executed Neil Young cover 'Cinnamon Girl'. The album then takes a
sudden sharp turn towards darker waters with the martial instrumental
'The Glorious Liberation Of The People's Technocratic Republic Of
Vinnland By The Combined Forces Of The United Territories Of Europa'.
The album is rounded of with the doom-laden masterpieces that are
'Wolf Moon (Including Zoanthropic Paranoia)' and 'Haunted'.
There's one final
message from Peter Steele at the end to add the full-stop to the
album, in which he simply says:
“Well, that's it,
that's all we have. I hope it wasn't too disappointing. We will see
you on tour. Until then, take it easy.”
'October Rust' set the
mark for me musically, and it's one that has been seldom equalled,
and never passed. Its balance between humour and despair that runs
through the album. Self-deprecating and brutally honest lyrics set
within the confines some fantastically crafted music. A weary journey through seasons and emotions that is perfect for dark, introspective nights and is made all the more poignant since its writer's untimely death back in 2010. I
whole-heartedly encourage everyone to give this album a listen at
least once. I don't think you'll be too disappointed.
In other news, we're
sponsoring the Dystopia club night's “Monster Apocalypse” in
Birmingham on the 11th October. So if you're in that part
of the world make sure you drop in. And if you're still not in the mood for Halloween, make sure you keep an eye out for our scary book selections for this year's All Hallow's Read.
Finally, if you are
interested in writing for IVM please direct your attention to the tab
at the top of the site marked 'Writing For IVM'. Especially if you
are a film buff.
Once again, make sure
you have these links in your favourites: