Here we go! Part FOUR of my Favorite Albums Series!

I’m just gonna start diving into each album from here on out!

This time – I’m sharing three more of my fav albums!

Sworn Enemy – The Beginning of the End – 2006

I can vividly remember the first time I heard Sworn Enemy, as it was also the first time I ever saw Sworn Enemy. My wife, my buddy Pat and I went to see Hatebreed at Richards on Richards in Vancouver. Richards was a typical dive bar/show hall, on the main floor, though it also had an upper level which was a narrow deck/balcony that surrounded the entirety of the stage. It made for some memorable moments, such as when we saw The Haunted there and their singer, Dolving, looked up, pointed at me and gave me the horns. Same with when I saw Gojira there. Maybe 50 people in attendance and they killed it.

But at the Hatebreed show, it was one of the few times we went to a show without really paying attention to who the openers were. I still can’t remember who the first band was, nor what they sounded like, but after they finished, a dude with long hair and camo shorts came onstage and did a quick sound check. He went into the intro of ‘Scared of the Unknown’ and the ENTIRE show hall went silent, everyone shutting up and turning to look at what they fuck they’d just heard. Not ten seconds later, Sal, the singer grabbed the mic, said ‘We’re Sworn Enemy from New York fucking City and we’re here to fuck you up!’ They cut into the actual ‘Scared of the Unknown’ song and we all had our brains collectively melted. I bought a copy of the CD after, chatted with them for a second and have been a fan ever since. Their previous album ‘As Real As It Gets’ is fantastic, as are their other releases, but ‘The Beginning of the End’ is their high-water mark – a crossover classic. Every track slams and, as always with Sal’s lyrics, feature a lot of real life commentary.

Stand Out Tracks – ‘Scared of the Unknown,’ ‘Save Your Breath,’ & ‘Here Today.’

Live – Yup! Twice actually. The second time we saw them was in a VERY small bar in Vancouver, where they opened for the mighty Pro Pain. It was an awkward set up, where instead of being straight on, they were on one side, and the bar was on the other side, and the total width of the bar was maybe twenty feet. Fucking awesome to be there with only 20 other people but still made for an odd set up.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals – Come Find Yourself – 1996

When I was younger I didn’t mind rap and hip hop. I even went through a period where I dug Dr. Dre and 2pac and Eminem etc. etc. But I moved on from rap/hip hop many years ago. The music just doesn’t grab my attention like other stuff. Not to say there are not the occasional tracks that I really enjoy, but for the most part, I don’t seek out new rap/hip hop music. My dislike of most rap was so much that when I loved Nu Metal, I tended to stay away from bands that rapped a lot.

One band that utilizes hip hop a bunch that I still dig, however, is Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

I first heard them in a friend’s car when we were on a quick trip between Burton and Fauquier. Fifteen-minute drive from Point A to Point B, to grab a mutual pal. When we got in, the car started and the first track, ‘The Fun Lovin’ Criminal’ kicked in and I was sold. There’re so many great tunes on the album and though many people are most familiar with ‘Scooby Snacks,’ I’d suggest that’s the only song on the album I tend to skip. Over the course of the album, they sing/rap about different life moments and it all feels real and gritty, much like the iconic album cover displays.

Since that album, they’ve put out six more albums – though I haven’t heard any of their latest, a 2025 album which is their first to not feature original member and original singer, Huey – and of those five I’ve heard they continue to put out great albums with fantastic tunes that span numerous genres.

Stand Out Tracks: ‘Passive/Aggressive,’ ‘Smoke ‘em,’ ‘Come Find Yourself,’ & ‘Methadonia.’

Live – sadly no, and unless I can get over the UK for a summer festival, I doubt I ever will, as they tend to not tour nor come to North America for shows.

Type O Negative – October Rust – 1996

An album that saved my life several times.

When I got this album – I bought it without having heard a single note, after seeing the cover art in Columbia House – I had no idea how much it would play a significant role in my life.

I’d previously heard a bunch of ‘Bloody Kisses’ and really liked it, but it wasn’t until ‘October Rust’ came along that ToN became one of my fav bands of all time. When ‘October Rust’ arrived, I was in the throes of a deep depression, and I often contemplated different ways to leave this world. After everyone in the house would go to sleep, I’d sneak out and go for long walks in the woods, listening to my disc man. The number of times I’d walk listening to this album is incalculable. But it kept me going. Kept me focused on the songs and the layers of each tune enough to get me back home again and allowed me to wake up one more time.

It’s not a stretch for me to estimate I listen to this album about a hundred times a year. If not more. In fact, there’s only one album that I’ve listened to more than this one, which will arrive in a later post. ‘October Rust’ is constantly on, constantly playing in my head if it’s not in my headphones or car stereo speakers. And as the year’s have gone by, their name and logo have come to signify family for me as both my wife and son have type O negative blood type.

I could go on and on about this album, and though I dearly love all the ToN albums, ‘October Rust’ stands head and shoulders above the others for me, an album that I’ll always cherish for keeping me alive.

Stand Out Tracks – ‘Love You To Death,’ ‘Green Man,’ ‘Burnt Flowers Fallen,’ ‘In Praise of Bacchus,’ ‘Wolf Moon,’ & ‘Haunted.’

Live – sadly, no. I did however get to meet the guitar player, Kenny, when he was touring with Kingdom of Sorrow and shook his hand and told him how much his music meant to me. It was a surreal moment and I’m glad I was able to do that at least.