Pumpkin Spice Playlist 2018

Welcome back to Halloweentown. Last year the fall/halloween playlist was the first playlist I did and it was such a hit, I made playlists a thing for the blog. Here are some additional installments to add to last year's. this time I'll throw the spotify link here including stuff from the previous playlist and more, since Pete ask me to do this. Enjoy!

AFI - The Art of Drowning
Genre: Hardcore Punk/"Horror Punk" FFO: Misfits, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio


'Last year we started with AFI so of course We're doing it again. This was the last album AFI released before going emo. This one wins best artwork in my opinion and features the classic aggressive Misfits style with attitude. We all love AFI.

The Autumn Offering - Revelations of the Unsung
Genre: Metalcore FFO: Unearth, Darkest Hour, Caliban


If there's no metalcore, it ain't my playlist. The Autumn Offering is more than appropriate for the fall in more ways than just the name. These guys got riffs that are like sun rays thru the trees in a state forest. At least that some images that come to my mind. Welcome to 2004 bitch.

Joey Bada$$ - B4 DA $$
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap FFO: MF Doom, Nas, Mobb Deep


I love this album for many reasons: Nostalgic even though its newer, emotional, passionate, relatable, the list goes on. I couldn't feel more at peace walking around Boston just before dark in the cool windy weather with a hoodie and earbuds jamming this album. The sight of graffitti and tall buildings surrounding me was ideal. Joey is the hero today's rap needs.

Devil Sold His Soul - A Fragile Hope
Genre: Metalcore/Post-Metal/Zachcore FFO: The Ocean, Rinoa, Poison the Well


Holy fuck this album is incredible. I was listening to this recently in a light rain while watching leaves blow in the wind and it fit the music perfectly. Easily one of the most underrated bands and albums ever. Imagine if The Devil Wears Prada decided to collaborate with The Ocean and they wrote everything while drowning.

Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain
Genre: Post-Punk/Death Rock FFO: Bauhaus, Alien Sex Fiend, Joy Division


The legendary and highly influencial release from the great Christian Death. Ironically these guys are playing a Halloween show this year, felt appropriate to include them on here. Most darkwave artists consider this a monument to their sound, and it shows. Take some time out of your day and understand the meaning of goth.

Melvins - Stag & Stoner Witch
Genre: Experimental Sludge/Stoner/Grunge/Punk FFO: Boris, Nirvana, Weedeater, Mr. Bungle


The Melvins have a massive discography that most don't finish in their lifetime and I guarantee there's more halloween/fall related ones. On top of that, they have probably the most unique styke I have ever heard considering it changes with almost every song. I have been on a huge Melvins binge recently and so far these two caught my eye for the season best. A fantastic combination of heavy  fuzz, grungey grooves, weedy moods, and silly tunes. When you jam the Melvins, you get a perfect doseage of talent and humor.

Denzel Curry - TABOO|TA13OO
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap/ "Horror Rap" FFO: Danny Brown, Vince Staples, Lil Uzi Vert


A while back I got a text from Billy Mourned saying "Dude I know you're not really into him, but I think you'll dig Denzel Curry's new album" and surely enough, Billy doesn't steer me wrong. I love this album just from one listen. If the artwork doesn't hype it enough for you, just know it gets darker and angrier as it goes on. This is one album I've been listening to a lot this year and it definitely screams Halloween more than most. Hopefully gonna catch Denzel at the Paradise soon.

Isabella Amarga - Confinement
Genre: "Dark Pop"/Indie FFO: Lana Del Rey, Zola Jesus


My friend/super talented artist Casey Valentine introduced me to her friend Bella and her music as well and all I can say is her style is unique and fantastic. Bella has a soothing and beautiful voice and its matched with a dark electronic background almost as if you're listening to a siren's song in the middle of the woods. Its as beautiful as it is eerie, I got the opportunity to experience her music live and it was just as incredible as it is on record.

November's Doom - The Pale Haunt Departure
Genre: Death/Doom Metal FFO: Opeth, October Tide, Evoken


I feel November's Doom is a band many know the name of but not the music and those who know the music don't think of a certain album. Personally I don't think they have a bad release. I'm sure you could tell by the cover, this is a fall album. November's Doom are all about sorrow and The Pale Haunt Departure personify it in the most melancholic way possible. This album will cause spirits to haunt you forever and you'll be to far into despair to even notice.

Lingua Ignota - All Bitches Die
Genre: Noise/Black Metal/Avant-Garde/Ambient FFO: The Body, Full of Hell, Revenge


This is an absolute horrific masterpiece in the most beautiul form of art. This album instantly begins with chaos, and softens up with operatic parts. basically the whole album goes from chaos to ballad and its done very well, Looking forward to seeing her live.

vein - errorzone.
Genre: Experimental Metalcore/Mathcore/Alt metal FFO: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Thumbscrew, Deftones


vein are taking over the world. The release of Errorzone earlier this year gave them mass appeal from basically every crowd of aggressive music fans. This album keeps the dissonant and chaotic horror movie hardcore sound in check and better than ever. Some have been comparing them to nu metal, but I gotta say I disagree.

The Black Dahlia Murder - Nocturnal
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Behemoth


The gothic artwork says it all. My second favorite Black Dahlia album after the great Unhallowed. This album will cause everything to go black. Nocturnal was an album with a stronger black metal influence than the others but still with the classic Black Dahlia style that only they can really pull off.

Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone out
Genre: Post-Punk/Goth Rock FFO: Siouxsie & the Banshees, Joy Division, The Sisters of Mercy


Bauhaus redefined goth and gave it a darker meaning with the release of the song "Bela Legosi's dead" which is unfortunately not featured on this album. The Sky's Gone Out still has the nihilistic and depressing vibes that remove all color from your surroundings. The album even can get flamboyent at times.

Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal FFO: ISIS (the band), Neurosis, The Ocean


This is a personal one for me. If you need more city fall vibes, throw this on driving down mass pike, and when you get to the city you just feel the wind blow in your face and you enter a new world from the monolith of a song, "Dark City Dead Man". I've experienced this already and plan on it again soon.

Himsa - Courting Tragedy and Disaster
Genre: Metalcore FFO: Darkest Hour, God Forbid, Light This City


Himsa were an old school metalcore band to start but eventually became more At The Gates-esque with their sound. This album is no exception. One thing I notice that Himsa do is the manage to make the signature metalcore riff sound even more evil as well as add in some blackened tremolo picked riffs. Throw Himsa on in your car and you'll feel like you're driving a hearse.

The Body - I Have Fought Against it, But I Can't Any Longer
Genre: Avant Garde, Noise, Sludge, Experimental


Nobody is more terrifying than The Body. The duo really out did themselves with this one with many many guest features of all talents to create a dark musical masterpiece. This one I would call their best release yet and is a good escape from reality with the experimentation even from the original sound the Body is known for.

Ampere - Like Shadows
Genre: Screamo/Emo Violence FFO: Pageninetynine, Orchid, Jeromes Dream


For me, fall ain't fall without screamo. In high school this was a routine. Ampere features members from Orchid, Kindling, and probably more bands and the sound is destructive as it is emotional. If you wish Orchid could come back, Ampere is a perfect substitute.

3TEETH - <shutdown.exe>
Genre: Industrial Metal FFO: Sister Machine Gun, Youth Code, Chemlab


This one may be new, but its an instant classic. You don't hear about industrial music enough. 3TEETH are a band that brings heaviness to the gothic world of industrial music. Most probably know them from the final H.I.M. tour but I discovered them through the collab they did with HO99O9. The band is very eerie sounding and will put you into the setting of an abandoned warehouse only to be ambushed by robots.

Neurosis - Given To The Rising
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal FFO: Cult of Luna, ISIS (the band), Amenra


I feel this Neurosis album gets overlooked but I'm telling you its a goodie. Much like A Sun that Never Sets, this one features a folk influence to add to the dark atmosphere that Neurosis bring with each album. If you really need an adventure, read along to it.

Ritual Howls - Into the Water
Genre: Darkwave/Post-Punk/Gothic FFO: Drab Majesty, Cold Cave, Night Sins


For the past year and a half, I dove deeper into darkwave and what a journey it is. Ritual Howls is a good gateway for people that don't know it well. I recall many falling in love with Drab Majesty's latest release, I recommend checking this one for a darker mood and diving into the darkwave void for more.

Will Haven - S/T
Genre: Metalcore FFO: Snapcase, The Banner, Vision of Disorder


Will Haven's self titled release is a dark venture into old school New York style metalcore. The lyrics are much darker, and the riffs have the structure of Snapcase with some evil attitude right in your face.

Witchfinder General - Death Penalty
Genre: Doom Metal FFO: Black Sabbath, Cathedral, The Obsessed


If you couldn't tell from the past couple of reviews and instagram posts, Bill's Rock 'n' Roll Weekend worships doom just as much as metalcore. Witchfinder General are one of the original Sabbath worship bands along side Vitus, The Obsessed, and maybe even Pentagram. If your into raw evil riffs with a good blues influence a.k.a. Sabbath style, Witchfinder General is for you. Usually if theres boobs on a metal album cover, its at least a 7/10.

Raein - Il n'y a Pas De Orchestre
Genre: Screamo FFO: Loma Prieta, Suis La Lune, Joshua Fit For Battle


Legendary skramz nerds from France constantly remind me how worthless I was in high school. I would listen to Raein on rainy days when I would be walking 2 miles to get to school. This band has some depressing lyrics that actually are in english, whether you understand or relate is up to you. The album translates to "There is no band" if you didn't know.

Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Cannibal Corpse, Pestilence, Obituary
 

Classic death metal. Morbid Angel have a select number of albums I enjoy but I have the generic favorite of this one. No gimmick just straight up evil ass death metal.

October Tide - Rain Without End
Genre: Death Doom Metal FFO: Novembers Doom, Saturnus, Swallow the Sun


October Tide are from the same era as Novembers Doom and have a very similar sound. I find it humourous because of their names. October Tide is rather melancholy but slightly more melodic than Novembers Doom. Consider this caption basically the same as Novembers Doom's.

Ash Code - Perspektive
Genre: Industrial/Darkwave/Gothic FFO: The Agnes Circle, Youth Code, Ritual Howls


Euro goth powerhouse Ash Code released this masterpiece earlier this year and I've had it on repeat ever since. These guys manage to make darkwave slightly more heavy but keeping the gothic darkwave background. Warning:: This album will spawn sunglasses onto your face while its dark out.

Suis La Lune - Quiet, Pull the Strings!
Genre: Screamo FFO: Raein, Orchid, Touche Amore


The best screamo bands don't come from the states. Suis La Lune are Swedish skramz underdogs who kept the game going with a emo as fuck album like this one. I wish this style was still relevant but there's a good chance it never will.

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace
Genre: Post-Punk FFO: Suicide, Magazine, Siouxsie & the Banshees


Why not end it hear, a playlist about the fall season, ending it with The Fall. This band has a vintage punk rock feel as one of the original post-punk bands to form in the 70s. Mostly a political vibe but the tunes are good for cool weather under any setting. The Fall is best listened to during the fall.



Happy Halloween Bitch.