So. If you've been looking for that special CD out there to gear yourself up for Halloween, as well as blast it right through and past the ultimate holiday, then look no further kiddies.

Van Helsing's Curse has released a debut album that will certainly get your spooky groove on.

Conceived by fellow horror fan Dee Snider (if I have to tell you who Dee Snider is, get yer butt back to skool and stop snoozing during class), 'Oculus Infernum' is a concept album that you should not write off as some shitty heavy metal spoken word-cum-horror-wannabe offering. This isn't the "Spooky Sounds" CD you buy for $3.99 at the Walgreen's checkout counter alright?

Spinning a tale of an ancient evil that has preyed upon man for hundreds of years, always victorious and always insatiable, 'Oculus Infernum' dives right into a bloody onslaught that destroys the adults of a small unsuspecting town before moving on down its path of destruction, leaving only helpless children remaining.

Much to the chagrin of the big bad however, there is a child left among the orphans who takes it upon himself to defeat the evil and bring peace back to his ruptured life. Along the way, serving up guidance and strength is none other than a member of the lauded and historic Van Helsing family. Together they work to vanquish the evil once and for all, or do they?

Van Helsing's Curse is a heavy plate of goodies that'll have you begging for seconds. Each piece is preceded by a narration of the story, performed by Snider in ultra creep mode. There are no vocals, save the ominous chanting of the black choir.

'Tubular Hell', the first musical track on the disc will make or break "Oculus Infernum' for you. And believe me when I say that if the pounding rendition ( "fuckin-A yeah!" I believe was the reaction I had…) of 'Tubular Bells' followed by an electrified romp through 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' doesn't have you grinning from ear to ear, there's quite possibly something wrong with your storage supply of gray matter.

Using themes from 'The Omen' to Black Sabbath to the always effective 'Carmina Burana', Van Helsing's Curse plows through the classics, both recognizable and unfamiliar (the use of 'Dies Irae' in Tubular Hell is phenomenal), and creates what they've been shouting about, a soundtrack for Halloween. And God bless those who use Holst's 'Mars, Bringer of War' (pick up 'The Planets' it's a good listen) a song that I used to listen to over and over long before Hans Zimmer plastered it all over Russell Crowe's five o'clock shadow.

Boasting the talents of the aforementioned Dee Snider and the black choir, you've gotta love hearing tunes this demonic coming off an 18 piece orchestra.

Check out the official website for more information and news. I hear there are plans to go on the road to provide you ghouls with some live theatrical stylings, I'd love to sit my butt down in front of that show.

And there you have it. 'Oculus Infernum' will most certainly be the soundtrack for MY Halloween as the Butane household gears up for our first annual Halloween shindig. We'll be spinning this disc all night alongside the ever popular Re-Animator soundtrack, Carpenter's Halloween score, and various shriekings from your friend and mine, Mikey Patton and Fantomas' The Director's Cut.

God I love October.

4 out of a possible 5 Dracs