My Favorite Type-O Negative Songs Per Album

Welcome to the end fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

Today marks the end of my tribute to Type-O Negative & it’s leader, Pete Steele. I’ve talked about how I found the band, and last week I showed you how I would rank their discography. Today, I figured I’d talk about what my favorite songs are off of each record. I confess that things haven’t changed much in the 5 years since I last talked about them (Or changed at all, to be fully honest), but there have been some slight shifts in opinion. With that said, here are my favorite Type-O Negative songs.....from each album. Let’s begin!

Slow, Deep, and Hard: Xero Tolerance (Link)
- One of the few times in the band’s career that you’d hear Pete’s past with Carnivore, Type-O’s first outing is a Thrash Punk barrage! There is a track or two that has a slower pace, but for the most part the group is playing fast & furious. Chief among this mentality would be the ode to a cheating girlfriend, Xero Tolerance. A bloody & brutal affair, it’s kind of chilling when you hear what Pete would do when he caught her and her secret lover, and you wonder if he would actually do it. Even the instrumentation harkens back to Carnivore, as it evokes the dirty feel of Pete’s 80s past. If you’re going though a tough time with your Ex, or you’re just not interested in a relationship at your current point in time, then Xero Tolerance is what you’re looking for.

The Origin Of The Feces: Paranoid (Link)
- If there’s any complaint to be had about this song, it would be that it was never on the original release, although if it was it would have disrupted the illusion that the album was trying to be. That being said, one can’t deny that Type-O Negative’s interpretation of one of Black Sabbath’s most iconic tracks is nothing short of incredible. The band took a quick track, and slowed it down until it became one of the doom-est things ever made by them. Not only that, but due to the slow speed the absolute feeling of dread from paranoia becomes fulfilled, and even the brief Iron Man references add to the experience. Definitely a good reason to pick the album up!

Bloody Kisses: Summer Breeze (Link)
- If there’s one thing that Type-O Negative can do, it would be that they can’t get you to laugh at the most surprising of times. Case in point is their take on the classic Seals & Croft track, Summer Breeze. The original version is pure & innocent, but when the Drab Four got a hold of it, it was changes completely. It was slower paced, more gothic in tone & feel, and the sensuality the band was known for is front & center. The band had gotten in trouble for making a darker version (See here), so they decided to cover the original instead. Seals & Croft still got mad, but this time around they couldn’t really do anything. Gotta laugh at that!

October Rust: My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend (Link)
- To this day, I hold this song in high regard. Not only was it the track that brought me into the fold, but it’s one I direct people to if they want a surprise. On the surface, the story of a threesome may seem silly to some, but a shocking amount of depth is added to it thanks to the band going in a Doors-like direction with the instrumentation & pacing. Pete’s vocal work is kept nice and low throughout the whole thing, adding to the sensuality even more. I can’t really say anything more, other than for you to listen to it yourself.

World Coming Down: Creepy Green Light (Link)
- A sliver of light within a sea of darkness, Creepy Green Light is the lone happy track on World Coming Down. Using that word might be misleading, as this song still is heavy with emotion, but it’s not the kind that’ll leave you on the ground crying. Telling the story from the third-person perspective of a lover brought back to life on Halloween Night, there’s this bittersweet quality throughout the whole playthrough. On the one hand going to your lover’s grave is just morbid, but you are bringing them back to this Earth. This is reflected not just in Pete’s voice, but the instrumentation and atmosphere as well. Definitely a unique track!

The Least Worst Of: It’s Never Enough (Link)/12 Black Rainbows (Link)/Stay Out Of My Dreams (Link)
- Picking between one of these was tough, as they all are awesome songs. Like I said when I reviewed The Least Worst Of, the inclusion of this trio of tunes gives the compilation sort of a miniature World Coming Down feel, and that makes sense considering they were meant for that record but didn’t get put on because of space (If I’m remembering correctly). Even so, it’s nice that they were put on here, as they all provide something to the listener. It’s Never Enough has a hint of Carnivore in the instrumentation, 12 Black Rainbows is a dark ballad of sensuality, and Stay Out Of My Dreams can be considered a companion piece of Who Will Save The Sane. I bet if you listened to WCD and then these 3 tunes, you’d probably be emotionally drained for a day or two. Do so......if you dare!

Life Is Killing Me: How Could She (Link)
- On an album with a bipolar identity comes a song that perfectly represents this. How Could She has two mindsets: one side is a tribute to fictional female characters that Pete Steele loved, and the other side is personal commentary on how said characters never judge or leave whoever likes them. Even the instrumentation is bipolar, as 50% of the time is has a slow gothic pace, and the other 50% is more faster & upbeat. How Could She may not have a solid identity, but you can’t deny that the overall quality is 100%. Listen to this track if you ever want something weird.

The Best Of Type-O Negative: Highway Star (Link)
- Once again, this song is the only reason to buy this abomination of a compilation. Taking the racing vibe of the original and adding some nitrous to the tank, is faster, wilder, and at times it almost goes off the rails. Incredibly, Pete & the boys keep some sense of control as they play, so the track never crashes into a wall and bursts into flames. Anymore said her would just be repeating myself, so listen to this when you can.

Dead Again: These Three Things (Link)
- And here we come to the last album of their career, and the longest song that Type-O Negative has ever done. At 14 minutes & 21 seconds, These Three Things is a behemoth of a track in terms of running time, and it’s a monster it terms of subject matter. The entirety of Dead Again is Pete coming to terms with his re-discovered faith, his sobriety, and the knowledge of knowing when to let go so one can move on. These Three Things covers all of this, although the religious elements are perhaps the most front & center. References to Dante’s Inferno, Zion, and a few others give the song a lot of spiritual weight. It may take a while to get through, but trust me when I say that it is worth your time listening to the song. You’ll thank me for it.

Honorable Mention:
Roadrunner United: Enemy Of The State (Link)
- Though Life Is Killing Me is the last album they did under Roadrunner, the last song done under the company would be this one. Released on the musical project Roadrunner United, I feel that it’s appropriate to give a little bit of time to this song. Conjuring images of urban warfare, the track feels like something that rebels would listen to as they fight against the system. Singing with his custom language (It comes across like a hybrid of Russian, Eastern European, Scottish, and Icelandic), Pete brings an oppressive yet triumphant atmosphere to the track as it plays. It’s weird to describe, so give it a listen for yourselves & see what you think of it.

And these were my favorite songs of Type-O Negative. I admit that most of the songs I like haven’t changed since I found the band, but it is still nice to talk about the one’s I enjoy. With this last post we come to the end of Type-O Negative month, and my tribute to Pete Steele. Hopefully the plague subsides a little in May, and thus I can get some more happy back into the blog. Until then, take care.

My Type-O Negative Album Ranking

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Last week I told you all my story about how I found the band, it’s time I talk about how I would rank their discography. Given that there’s only 9 to their name, this didn’t take long. Everybody has their own take on how to stack Type-O’s library of records, so I wanted to show you how I would, and with that here are how I would rank the albums of Type-O Negative. Let’s begin!

9) The Best Of Type-O Negative

- In the band’s defense, this compilation wasn’t their fault. By 2005/2006, Pete Steel and the gang were already halfway out the door with Roadrunner, and thus they really couldn’t do anything about this. That being said, The Best Of Type-O Negative is a massive pile of flaming garbage. Outside of the one lone good track & the ordering of the entire thing, this compilation is nothing more than a cheap cashgrab. Hell, they didn’t even say the specific versions of the tracks picked, as they’re basically ones you’ve heard before (Hint Hint). Roadrunner basically did this behind the band’s back, and if the stories are to be believed, then this is the straw that broke Type-O’s back. I would sad get this only if you’re a die-hard fan.

8) The Origin Of The Feces

- In comparison to the album above, The Origin Of The Feces has more heart put into it. Granted, it is a fake “Live” album (To which you could call it a lazy move), but the band really went all out with the illusion of their creation. Though it comes across as dated in the nearly 30 years since it’s release, it’s obvious that Type-O had a lot of fun making this album. I wouldn’t say it’s essential, but it is a fun little novelty if you’re curious.

7) The Least Worst Of

- Now we’re getting to the good stuff! Though the order of tracks is rather jumbled, The Least Worst Of is a fine compilation of Type-O Negative’s tracks. Managing to encompass pretty much their entire career at that point, the various remixes & edits make this album feel like something that an independent band would produce. Coupled with the 3 tracks meant for World Coming Down (Which in turn make this compilation feel like a miniature version of that release), and the fact that the band had total control over what was to be on the compilation (Despite the stories that Pete told), makes The Least Worst Of worth picking up.

6) Dead Again

- I was tempted to put this album a bit lower on the list. Not because it’s bad, cause it isn’t. The only reason I would have was because it ultimately became the last thing the band ever did, and it carries a grey cloud over it’s head, making it something of a hard listen to. Even with that fact, Dead Again does a hell of a good job at being awesome. With Pete Steele finally clean & sober, it had new life thanks to the green man’s then recent re-conversion to Catholicism. He was able to explore the topics of soul searching & god in addition to Type-O’s standard subject matter. It may be hard to get through due to emotional factors, but as a reluctant way to go out.....it’s damn good.

5) Life Is Killing Me

- I’ve said it twice, and I’m saying it a 3rd time: Life Is Killing Me is the most bipolar album I’ve ever listened to. Is it a lighthearted album that has serious spots, or is it a serious album that knows when to smile? I don’t know, and I don’t think even the record knows. What I do know is that this release is fantastic. Though Pete was still on drugs at the time, he had managed to get out of the pit of depression he was in for a few years, and the end result is an album that feels more invigorated & less depressing than the main album before it. Much of what made their earlier work great in terms of subject matter is back, as well as some heartfelt tributes to Pete’s parents. Though confusing, Life Is Killing Me is worth your time if you can get a hold of it.

4) Slow, Deep, And Hard

- The album that started it all, Type-O Negative’s first release is also the one that sounds like them the least. If anything, it comes across more like Pete’s prior band, Carnivore. Granted there’s more polish behind the instrumentation, vocal work, and production, but it’s blood & gore all the same. Thrashy and punky with just a hint of goth, the record hits you hard and fast right from the first few notes. If you like your goth bands more on the “In your face” side of things, then you’ll probably like this release.

3) World Coming Down

- Now.....I almost had this album at my number 2. Almost. Being one of my absolute favorites (besides what’s at my number 1), the black sheep of Type-O Negative’s discography is perhaps the bleakest, darkest, and most serious thing they ever produced. It’s for that reason I distanced the band’s final album of the 90s, along with not wanting to put my favorite records side to side. With all of that aside, World Coming Down is a hell of a emotional rollercoaster. Depression, suicide, and drug addiction are just 3 of the subjects sung about on this release. Even the lone track with the sliver of positivity still comes across as dark in most aspects, which is unique on an album like this. If you can get through how emotionally heavy the record is, then World Coming Down is worth the time.

2) Bloody Kisses

- If Overkill from Motörhead was considered the birth of Thrash Metal by some, then Bloody Kisses is considered to be the birth of Gothic Metal. Slower paced, with themes of gothic sensuality, crisp cold air, and the feeling of a tall presence hanging over you are just some of the things that helped create this style. Slow, Deep, and Hard was a thrashier/punkier affair, & The Origin Of The Feces was effectively the same thing, but Type-O’s 3rd outing was a refinement of their beginning sound, and the end result is nothing short of classic. Despite putting it at number 2, Bloody Kisses is anything but, and it should be one of the first things you listen to from this band.

1) October Rust

- What to say about my 1st favorite Type-O Negative album. Take everything that made Bloody Kisses so good, and refine the instrumentation, vocal work, & topics. The end result is perhaps the most Gothic release the band ever put out. Just the 1st few notes of Love You To Death should be the indicator of where the band was going and was comfortable with. The Beatles & Black Sabbath influences were definitely all over October Rust, and that’s probably was gave this record the enduring appeal it still has today. After watching the music video for My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend so many years ago, I can see why fans of the band love this release so much....and you can count me among them. Easily recommended!

And this was my Type-O Negative album ranking list. I might be making some people twitch their eyebrows with this, but it’s what I sincerely believe is the right order of things. I got 1 more post towards the end of the month, when I’ll show you what my favorite songs from each record are......and they might not be the ones I’ve said before. See you then!

How I Found Type-O Negative (A Story)

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

With my birthday & Easter out of the way, the Type-O Negative tributes can properly begin. It’s dark that I begin things on the decade anniversary of the green man’s death, but I found it morbidly appropriate that I should start today. I may turn this into a series later on in the year, but for now I just want to get this first one out. With that said, let me tell you the tale of how I found out about these gothic legends, and how they impacted me. Let’s begin.

So our story begins in July of 2006 if I recall correctly. I was home alone, and I happened to be channel surfing. For some reason I landed on MTV, and this was at the time when they were still sort of playing music videos. When I landed on the station, I must have been into the first few seconds of My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend. Now, I had only been over a year onto my metallic journey, and discovering bands of all kinds was shocking to me, and Type-O Negative is no exception. What made this experience so unique was how it affected me: whereas the first couple bands I was getting into had loud & bombastic, this new band I found wasn’t. The lead singer was deep & powerful, yet he didn’t feel the need to scream. Not only that, but the eroticism I was feeling was complex without being oppressive, smart yet lighthearted at the same time. That day, the seed was planted.....and a year later it blossomed.

Sometime in 2007 (Around July also if I’m correct), my interest in the band reignited for some reason. The only problem was that I was a college student that year, and thus I didn’t have much money. So the only way I sated my hunger was to download each and every single album (Except their 2nd compilation), and said hunger was indeed fulfilled. The band became one of the first to become a permanent staple within my music library. Yet the good times weren’t to last.....weren’t to last for a few years.

April the 14th, 2010. At the age of 48, Pete Steele (Real name Peter Thomas Ratajczyk) passed away in the morning due to an aortic aneurysm (The cocaine and booze did not help in this matter). The man had been clean & sober for some time beforehand, and was excited to begin working on a new album. This obviously did not happen, and later on in 2010 Type-O Negative would ultimately dissolve. I was absolutely crushed by this. I had only been a fan for nearly 3 years by this point, and to hear about this broke my heart. Pete’s death dissuaded me from buying their discography for sometime until 2013, when having a Christmas hangout with a friend of mine. We stopped by the F.Y.E. at the mall we frequent (When said mall still had one), and lo & behold World Coming Down was on sale for $9.99 if I recall correctly. From there, it was just a few short years until I had everything from their collection. Even the horrendous The Best Of Type-O Negative I grabbed, if only because of the one lone good song on it. The rest.....is metal history.

And that was how I found Type-O Negative. Not exactly the best band discovery story, but it’s how I discovered one of my top 10 bands of all time. I’m glad that many people were able to discover the group during their lifetime, and afterwards as well. So on the decade anniversary of Pete Steele’s passing, I figured that it was time to tell this little story. I’ll see you all next week, when I’ll rank the band’s discography. That should be an interesting one!

Album Review: Stryper's Against The Law

Happy Easter fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

My tribute to Type-O Negative is happening soon, but before that can begin there’s one thing that must be done, and that’s my annual Easter blog post! 2017 was an overview on Christian Metal icons Stryper, 2018 was a funny day that celebrated the obscure Grim Reaper, and last year was a review of Tourniquet’s first album (Who were Christian Metal legends in their own rights). With 2020, I think it was appropriate that I go back to Stryper once again, and we have an interesting album today. Turning 30 years old in August, the particular release came at an interesting time. It came at a time where old styles were going out of fashion, and Stryer’s faith would be ultimately broken. So enjoy some Easter chocolate, and take a look at my review for the band’s only 90s release, Against The Law. Let’s begin.

Background
By the time of In God We Trust in 1988, Stryper were on top. Their unique brand of Hair/Power Metal, coupled with their less dogmatic brand of Christianity, made them a standout in the metal community. However, with success of their 4th album, they may have gone down a little bit too far on the pop path, as that was the chief criticism at the time (Alongside over-production & looking even more Glam as other criticisms). On top of that, the continuing badgering & harassment from the PMRC & various major televangelists really dampened the band’s spirits. Once it reached 1990, the band finally had enough! They had enough of Christianity, and they were tired of being considered a niche band. So, they threw it all aside, and decided that it was perhaps a good idea to go back to their roots. Considering that this was a few short years before the arrival of Grunge, this move was sort of bold of them, and it was due to this tough time for Stryper that Against The Law was made.

Released on the 21st of August, 1990, Against The Law was the most shocking album Stryper had ever released at that time. There was no yellow or black iconography, no Isaiah 53:5 symbolism, and perhaps most strikingly, there was no sign of Christianity anywhere to be found on any song (Although they did still look at things with a Christian worldview sometimes). In the place of what was missing, their songs became more about Rock ‘N’ Roll & relationships, and their imagery was more leathery than the spandex suits they wore during the 80s. In comparison to pretty much everything beforehand, Against The Law sold rather poorly. Perhaps to the surprise of no-one, this was partially because of rumors from both mainstream & Christian media that the band’s music was moving towards a more mainstream sound as their Christian faith waned. In the nearly 30 years since Against The Law was released, it has simultaneously become one of the most reviled and beloved Stryper albums to have been released, and it seems that this won’t change anytime soon.

Basic Description
A portal to the past.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this is not the Stryper you know. This is an anomaly within the Stryper discography. There’s no yellow & black anywhere, there’s no Isaiah 53:5 on the front of the album cover, and perhaps most significantly there is no sign of Christianity to be found across the entire record (Although there is the Christian worldview I mentioned above). At the end of the day, Against The Law is a look at the very beginning of Stryper’s career. A look at when the band weren’t yet of the Christian faith, and instead were just a typical Hair Metal band of the early 80s. Granted, the band didn’t have the look of a Hair band, but they still had the soul of one despite the times. I’d argue that Against The Law is probably what Stryper would have stayed as if they pursued the Hard Rock/Hair Metal route that Roxx Regime originally was. Definitely an interesting album because of this.

Best Track
Like I said back in 2017, the title track and Caught In The Middle were the best tunes on Against The Law. Both songs are simple, pure, hard-hitting Hard Rock/Heavy Metal tracks that can get stuck in your brain for a while. It is jarring at first for more faith-minded listeners to note the lack of a Christian viewpoint, but I think it’s refreshing that these two songs (and by extension the album as a whole) don’t have that. Regardless, the instrumentation & vocal work are top notch as always for Stryper, and that quality isn’t lacking on these two tunes.

Against The Law

Caught In The Middle

Worst Track
Also like I said back in 2017, Against The Law’s only fault is the lack of religious imagery & ideology. Again, this is really a fault that only Stryper’s more religious fans would take an offense to. I can easily see why Christians who loved this band at the time would call the group a sellout, but if they took their time to research what was going on, I think they would ease up somewhat in their persecuting.

However, if I wanted to be nitpicky, I would theoretically say that Against The Law’s only other fault is that it might be a bit on the long side in comparison to everything else that came before. Thanks to the adoption of the then new CD format, an additional 20 minutes was able to be put on the album, and thus the record is a beefier experience. Again, this would be only be a point that the most nitpicky of people would point out, as I actually like the fact that Against The Law is a bigger release. It lets the band show off more of their past selves, and I for one am thankful.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Against The Law

Overall Impression & Rating
Against the Law is an odd album for Stryper. If you don’t count the Roxx Regime demos, then this record really is the only black sheep of the bunch. It has the classic Stryper quality, yet there’s none of the band’s typical imagery & religious flavoring anywhere to be found during it’s running time. It is odd at first to not hear any mention of God or Jesus, but this album is the only real time that fans can listen to what the band once was. For me, it’s a nice gateway into the past, and I for one enjoy looking back at what was.

Against the Law gets a 9.5 out of 10.

So that concludes my annual Easter tradition. Despite the plague that still has a grip over everything, I hope all of you are having as best of a day as one can have under these circumstances. Until next time, take care!

Pete Steele Month (A Tribute)

Hi fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

It seems that life & fate are odd creatures. The coronavirus is still running rampant, politicians proving how incompetent they are, companies still proving that the dollar is still their bottom line, and overall getting cabin fever. However, I’m still doing the best I can to keep my spirits high....ironic, give what this month entails.

As many of you can probably guess by the title of this post, this April marks the decade anniversary that Type-O Negative frontman Peter Steele left this Earth for Heavy Metal Heaven. It was shocking for all fans of the band, and for metalheads in general. Despite only being a fan for under 4 years at that point, there’s been a hole that was punched into my heart that’s never quite properly healed. I was still getting into metal, and the discovery of these Gothic Metal masters was one of the most important discoveries during my still continuing journey. All these years later, I still feel some sorrow whenever I listen to a song or two.

So, as to alleviate some of the emotional pain I’m feeling, I’m dedicating April to Pete Steele & his memory. I know I said that Compilation Month was happening again, but I feel that this takes precedent. So for all of April I’m devoting the posts in question to the green giant & the musical legacy he left behind. I don’t have any of them typed up yet, so below is a quick way to access them. Just pin this post to your favorites, and access it when the posts in question come out (I'll let you know when they come out in each post).

How I Found Type-O Negative: A Story (Link)
My Type-O Negative Album Ranking (Link)
My Favorite Type-O Negative Songs Per Album (Link)

In any case, let’s not be too down & out this month. Let us celebrate the life of one of Gothic Metal’s most iconic stars, and let us celebrate the fact that we’re still alive. Despite rampant disease, the sun still shines down on us all. See you all the 14th for the first article, when I’ll tell you the story about how I discovered the Drab Four. Until then, keep your blood in check.