Originally written by Jordan Campbell
When it comes to Halloween vibes, few bands could nail ’em like Type O Negative. Nearly every one of their albums offered a nod or three to October 31, whether intentional or not. Dead Again‘s best moment was the campy, boisterous “Halloween in Heaven.” Bloody Kisses boasted the pseudo-spooky theatrics of “Christian Woman” and “Blood and Fire.” October Rust, quite obviously, was an ode to the entire goddamn month, and offered diversity that ranged from the crunchy-leaf romp of “Burnt Flowers Fallen” to the brooding dirge of “Haunted.”
But the prevailing gloominess of “Haunted” would bleed into 1999’s World Coming Down, Type O’s true Halloween opus. (And possibly Type O’s greatest album period.) Two things power this album to festive depths of darkness: Josh Silver’s keys, which adopt a funereal oppressiveness heretofore unseen, and Kenny Hickey’s super-fat, fuzzed-the-fuck-out guitar tone. The combination conjures the thickest, greenest mists in the band’s history. From stone-serious morbidity (“Everyone I Love Is Dead”, “Everything Dies”), to zombie-crawl stoner anthems (“Pyretta Blaze”), World Coming Down is the most robust representation of the band’s nightcrawling aesthetic.
Oh, and yeah…there’s some fuckin’ blatant Halloween stuff on here, too. The lyrics definitely match the vibes.
...on muddy ground / I’m lying drunk on her grave / Where I must wait / Until she wakes…
Yes, “Creepy Green Light” is the jam. But real reason why WCD gets the hallowed nod is, quite obviously, “All Hallows Eve.” Kenny’s vocals never really got their proper credit when Type O were at their peak; Peter Steele’s iconic status cast a long-ass shadow, and thus, the guitarist’s vocal contributions were largely overlooked. But “All Hallows Eve” is the best tandem effort in the duo’s history, with his tortured verses providing a phenomenal counterpoint to Steele’s mournful seduction.
So, while one could be tempted to cobble together a Type O mixtape for their yearly apple-bobbing festivities (and if you want one, I’ll hook you up), WCD really is the complete package. Just make sure that the weird kid from down the street doesn’t try to drown himself during the Beatles medley.
