A month away from our campiest — but admittedly, most endearing — holiday, I found myself in need of a column topic. I searched far and wide for a relevant album to review this week, but nothing seemed quite right. I went so far as to ask my brother for column ideas, to which he suggested I write a piece on prescribed language in dialects and its effect on prejudice in music.
I admit, I loved the idea, but it seemed like a topic for a 30-page academic paper, not a 600- word column.

Left in a difficult spot, I decided to refer to the struggling columnist’s ultimate copout/ bread and butter: the list.

So here I present to you my top albums to listen to in October (in no particular order).

Iron Maiden: “The Number of the Beast”

Discussing everything from cyborgs to Edgar Allen Poe, Iron Maiden has more dark imagery and literary references in it’s catalogue than most bands could hope to mimic. “The Number of the Beast” is it’s flagship album.

Tech N9ne: “K.O.D.”

Being a Kansas City boy through and through, I had to throw a bone to our hometown hero. “K.O.D.” is a fantastically dark record, hip- hop at its most macabre. Tracks like “Demon” and “Killing You” draw the listener into a terrifying world of slasher-flick aesthetics.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” Soundtrack

Go learn “The Time Warp.” Now. It’s just a step to the left, then a jump to the right…

Rob Zombie: “Hellbilly Deluxe”

It’s hard to not include a guy whose last name is Zombie on this list. This bastion of ‘90s goth culture is most famous for its single, “Dragula,” a chugging industrial metal anthem. With tracks like “Superbeast” and “Spookshow Baby,” it’s tailor-made for October.

Tyler, the Creator: “Goblin”

The debut album from the leader of Odd Future is many things. Subtle is not one of them. “Goblin” goes right for the jugular. It’s ambient; it’s angry; and at times, it’s disturbing. Play it on your porch to scare trick-or-treaters away.

“Halloween” Soundtrack

This one pretty much speaks for itself.

Children of Bodom: “Hatebreeder”

It was really hard for me to not throw some death metal into this list, but this one begged. I mean, there’s a grim reaper on the cover. Front man and lead guitarist Alexi Laiho screams through 11 tracks of dark, dizzying, Scandinavian death metal.

Michael Jackson: “Thriller”

Need I say more?

Black Sabbath: “Black Sabbath”

Black Sabbath’s debut album is the sound of the end. When the world falls to cataclysm, it will be to the tritone riffing of Toni Iommi and the desperate wailing of a young Ozzy Osbourne.

Listen to these albums all month, and you should be sufficiently sinister by the time Halloween rolls around.