Spooky Season
As you prepare for trick-or-treating or a cozy horror movie night, we present you with five albums to welcome Halloween.
It has been a couple of weeks of watching the tree leaves fall, the wind blowing harder, and a chilly atmosphere building around us. While these are clear signs of the long-awaited fall season making its way to the city, another exciting event has us wanting to celebrate the town turning orange: Halloween.
Fall is the season of coziness, bulky blankets, and pumpkin-infused everything. The particular sentiment this weather evokes is a nostalgia for listening to melancholic songs by the bonfire. Don’t get me wrong: The Neighbourhood and Girl in Red are excellent choices for this sweater weather-type climate. However, Halloween is a once-a-year event where we can revive our childhood and have fun. Even though most of these are not Halloween-inspired albums, this selection will make you want to embrace the spooky season at its best.
Cover photo for Kiss’ Creatures of the Night Album in 1982. Image by Bernard Vidal. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Creatures of the Night by Kiss (1982)
Kicking it off with a classic, Creatures of the Night by Kiss perfectly embodies the edge-of-your-seat feeling you get when watching a retro 80s horror movie scene. This album is the tenth release from the world-renowned band, which brought fans grit, edginess, and, of course, rock and roll. Infusing their signature heavy metal sound with morbid verses, it stands as one of their darkest albums to date. Kiss’s timeless hits such as “I Was Made For Lovin' You” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” are still considered anthems of rock. However, this Halloween might be your opportunity to remember an underrated masterpiece in Kiss's catalog.
Turn off the light by Kim Petras (2020)
Kim Petras has delivered some fun jams in the last couple of years, such as "Unholy" with Sam Smith and an electronic-influenced remake of Supertramp's 1979 classic "The Logical Song" alongside David Guetta. However, in 2020, the German-born singer released a Halloween-themed album titled TURN OFF THE LIGHT, which offers a mix of hot, spooky, and thrilling tracks. The album mainly comprises solid instrumentals and contemporary pop beats, accompanied by Petras’s strong vocals, often distorted to enhance that eerie vibe.
When we all fall asleep, Where do go? by Billie Eilish(2020)
At just 17 years old, Billie Eilish, now a nine-time Grammy winner, crafted an experimental album alongside her brother Finneas, propelling her into worldwide stardom. The album is rightfully described as a masterpiece by fans, reviewers, and Eilish’s biggest fan: me. It is a beautiful compilation of melodies and lyrics that showcase the artist’s darkest places she visits during her sleep. While the album includes several heartfelt songs that feel as comforting as lullabies, other macabre pieces, such as "Bury a Friend" and "All the Good Girls Go to Hell," should dominate your Halloween playlist.
Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982)
An oldie but a goodie! It would have been impossible to assemble this list without naming one of the most iconic albums ever. The late King of Pop ensured that Halloween would be iconic for life with one of its most beloved songs—the anthem of Halloween, "Thriller." I don’t have much more to say than to grab your headphones and reminisce about this masterpiece of an album this season.
Little Dark Age by MGMT (2018)
Although the duo has experienced some ups and downs since the release of their first album, Little Dark Age is their magnum opus. They found a perfect harmony between pop and gothic indie rock reminiscent of the 80s. Featuring eerie lyrics in most tracks, these are balanced out by the duo’s vocals and instrumental notes led by keyboard melodies, electronic beats, and hints of saxophone. It’s a 44-minute album of vintage-inspired, gritty music to enjoy this Halloween.
