Listening Trends for October 2022
October 2022⌗
Halloween is the Grumpy Household’s favourite time of the year, so October is normally fairly spooktacular1 musically. This year was no different, as evidenced by the most played album of the month…
Danny Elfman - The Nightmare Before Christmas⌗
“No animal or man can SCREEEEEEAAMMMMM like I can” has been shouted loudly throughout Grumpy Manor2 by all of us so many times that I’ve lost count. This gets played year-round, but during October, it gets a few extra spins for good measure. A timeless piece of music, gothic and spooky, and yet still so much fun. I don’t think we’ll ever stop playing this.
Gutvoid - Durance of Lightless Horizons⌗
Apparently, I’m becoming a bit of a Gutvoid fanboy. Was waiting for this to drop, and have enjoyed it a lot. Probably not quite as much as the EP, but still a good dose of Lovecraftian death metal. Definitely worth a few spins.
Alice in Chains - Dirt⌗
A random walk past the local vinyl shop saw me walk out with a yellow vinyl copy of Dirt. It was amazing when it came out, and hasn’t lost any of its power. Very uncomfortable in places, Layne’s voice glides hauntingly over the music, leading to a selection of tunes that are instantly recognisable by pretty much anyone with an interest in heavy music. Unmissable.
Saor - Origins⌗
We spun this up in the car when driving through the Scottish highlands during school break. The scenery was stunning, and with Andy Marshall’s music as a backdrop, the trip flew by in a blur of visual beauty and aural fury. The new album is a different beast than previous outings, but one we’ve found ourselves enjoying more with each listen. The growls are particularly ferocious, and some added melody in some songs leads to a slightly more upbeat listen.
Panopticon - Autumn Eternal⌗
Another companion on our trek across Scotland. We’re relatively late to the Panopticon party, but love the mixture of quiet, contemplative moments and the fury of the more aggressive parts. That, and Austin seems like such a genuinely nice guy in his communications. Overall, a band we’re happy to support and listen to, and an album that really added to the atmosphere of our trip cross-country.