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Arlington, VA's October 31 has risen from the grave after an eight-year of sleep of the dead with album #4, Bury the Hatchet. For those familiar with singer King Fowley and his works with both October 31 and Deceased, and going by the album title, it should come as no surprise that "horror" metal is once again an apropos description for a Fowley-led release. Musically, October 31 stays the thrashy Traditional Metal route of past albums and if you mixed a little Venom, a little Metallica and a little Rob Zombie in to one hellish drink you'd have the flavor of Bury the Hatchet. The lyrics deal with well-known horror themes like getting killed while making out ("Down at Lover's Lane"), getting killed in an evil house ("The House Where Evil Dwells") and getting killed by poisoning ("Arsenic on the Rock"). Lest you think October 31 is all about getting killed, there are some paeans to Heavy Metal, as well, like "Tear Ya Down," but that stuff is in the minority. The guitars have a great tone and the riffs are solid but I found Fowley's vocals not that great, though they may be an acquired taste, sort of like Venom's Cronos. Some of the songs are more than a little cliché, both lyrics and riffs, but never once did I get the feeling that October 31 weren't trying to kick my ass and, for that, I give them high marks.

If thrashy Traditional Metal with an 80s vibe and lyrics that will have you thinking of the first time you watched Friday the 13th or Halloween sounds good to you, and it should, October 31's Bury the Hatchet should fit the bill.