If you’ve ever wondered what a modern Type O Negative might sound like—October Noir is your answer. And Fate, Wine, & Wisteria delivers a dark, dramatic ride through grief, obsession, and desire. It’s a slow burn wrapped in distortion and dripping in goth energy. For Witchy Wednesday, this one checks all the boxes and lights a few candles along the way.

---

🔊 First Impressions

The album opens with “Fate,” a haunting instrumental built on swelling keys and atmospheric piano. It sets the tone like an ancient church bell echoing in the fog.

Then “Windows” kicks the doors open. Guitars cut clean and tight, and Tom Noir’s vocals strike a balance between deep gothic lows and a mid-high croon. The breakdown midway through this track was unexpected and incredibly satisfying—it slows everything just enough to pull you deeper in.

---

🖤 Highlights & Hauntings

• “Reverence (Make You Love)”
  This one feels like we’re eavesdropping on someone’s inner monologue—low, spooky vocals with a chorus that lingers: “I’ll make you love my soul…”
  The “baby” line sticks with you. It’s moody, slow, and almost ritualistic.
• “Effigy”
  Easily one of my favorites. It’s like Jason Voorhees went goth and took a detour through Halloween. The groove is undeniable, and the restrained whisper vocals create tension that never fully resolves.
• “Persephone”
  Gothic myth in sonic form. Chunky guitars, high-note sustain, and keys that move like smoke through a graveyard.
• “Serendipity”
  The distorted bass is chef’s kiss. It’s faster, funkier, and brings the energy up right when the album needs a jolt.
• “Wanderlust”
  Opens with a jet plane sound that immediately brings Type O’s Die With Me to mind. This track is a love letter to old-school goth metal and wears its influence proudly.
• “Sistinas”
  Absolute highlight. Sludgy, chunky guitar riffs, bell tolls, and haunting vocals. If Gothic Doom had a national anthem, this would be it.

---

🔍 Final Thoughts

Let’s be real—this album leans heavily on the Type O Negative formula. The vocal tone, lyrical themes, and even pacing all feel like a tribute. But that’s not a bad thing if you’ve got a Type O–shaped hole in your heart.

That said, I know October Noir grows beyond this. I’ve heard their newer material (Check out Tourniquet here) and they’ve started carving out their own shadowy corner of the goth/doom scene. But Fate, Wine, & Wisteria is still a strong, brooding album that scratches that dark, atmospheric itch.

And I’m not even done with these guys, there will be more!

---

🎧 For Fans Of:

• Type O Negative
• Drab Majesty
• Paradise Lost
• People who think a bell toll is a perfectly reasonable musical instrument (Guilty)

---

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Got a favorite goth/doom album I should review next? Drop it in the comments or reach out via my Contact Page.

And if you like what I’m doing, you can support the blog through my Tip Jar.
Every little bit helps.