Metal Overview: Type-O Negative

Welcome fellow Otaku & Metal Heads to my second entry into my “Metal Overview” series, where we look at the careers of iconic metal bands, and boy oh boy do we have a huge one this time! Considering the anniversary that’s coming up later this month, I feel it was appropriate that the subject of this Metal Overview should be covered. The band this time around, is the dark & gothic Type-O Negative.

Yes ladies & gentlemen, Type-O Negative. Even if you’re a casual Type-O fan, or a casual metal fan in general, you know of this band, not to mention it’s iconic & infamous lead singer/guitarist, Peter Steele (His real name was Peter Thomas Ratajczyk). Despite not being around anymore, Pete’s presence can be felt on cold October days, where the wind bites your skin, and the leaves fly around like ghosts in a storm. The albums that the band created are still fondly remembered today, as the songs they crafted are filled with such emotion & artistry, they can’t be forgotten. Enough of me gushing, so let’s take a look at the life & times of the Drab Four, Type-O Negative. Enjoy!   

Carnivore (1985)

Before I go into the discography of Type-O Negative, I want to talk about the band that created the bedrock for the Drab Four, Carnivore. Formed in 1982 after the breakup of the band Fallout, Carnivore was a very different band: instead of Goth & doom style music, Carnivore was a band that focused on Thrash & Speed Metal, as well as Hardcore Punk. It is surprising to note that for a furious sounding band, there were only 3 band members. There was Pete (Vocals, Bass, Sound Effects), Keith Alexander (Guitars, Vocals, Sound Effect), and Louie Beato (Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Sound Effects). This first release was a sonic assault on the ears! Equal parts slow, fast, and flat-out angry, Carnivore was a good beginning album for the band. Good enough to be on Revolver’s “14 Thrash Albums You Need To Own” list in August of 2014.

I can’t pick a best or worst track from this album, as I’ve actually never listened to this (Apart from a song or two out of curiosity)! Ultimately, I’m leaving this up to you guys, so let me know what you think are the best & worst off of this album. Next album!

Retaliation (1987)

Equally as praised as their last release, Carnivore’s second album Retaliation would ultimately be their last album. Shortly after the release of Retaliation, the band broke up, never to play again, apart from a couple of reunion shows in the mid 90s to mid 2000s. Retaliation is something of a more refined release when compared to their first album: make no mistake, this album is just as wild as Carnivore was. However, the band seems to have polished their music, and this makes the anger & rage all the more potent.

The best track on Retaliation would have to be Technophobia. Out of all the songs on this album, this one is about as close to a typical early Type-O Negative tune as Carnivore can get. All of the essential elements are present: fast & slow guitars, pounding drums, and Pete Steele’s patented voice. If you’re listening to this album for the first time, and for some reason you’re doing this release a great disservice!

Technophobia

The worst track would happen to be the opening song, Jack Daniels and Pizza. The song is just 55 seconds of Pete Steele puking in what might be a toilet bowl (Probably is a toilet bowl), presumably because of what he ate & drank. A waste of time if there ever was one!

Jack Daniels and Pizza

Like I said earlier in the description, Retaliation marks the last album that Carnivore released, as they broke up not that long afterwards. However, with the death of one band, comes the birth of another. As you’re just about to see, a storm cloud was on the horizon, and what it would bring would be something the likes would never be heard of again. Next album!

Slow Deep and Hard (1991)

After leaving Carnivore after the release of Retaliation, Pete, along with childhood friends Sal Abruscato, Josh Silver (Hey, someone with my first name!), and Kenny Hickey got together to form a band called Subzero. The name was changed to the iconic Type-O Negative, and shortly after they signed with Roadrunner Records in 1991, they released their classic first album, Slow Deep and Hard. Although this was a new band, the material within was actually written largely for Carnivore, and to a certain extent it shows. There are still plenty of punky tones throughout many of the songs, but due to the more Gothic & Doom nature of the band, that punk element seems more supplementary. This strange mix somehow works, and creates an experience that hasn’t been heard since.

The best track off of Slow Deep and Hard, hands down, goes straight to Xero Tolerance! Pete’s dry wit & humor comes off like radiation from a nuclear power plant in this song. The mix of Punk & Gothic Metal is just perfect, and the Doom elements are like fine spices peppered on at the last minute. While I’m not the biggest fan of punk, this song is one of the exceptions to the rule, and certainly deserves a place on my MP3 player.

Xero Tolerance

The worst track, however, was something of a challenge. An easy challenge, but a challenge regardless. Ultimately, I decided on the team of The Misinterpretation of Silence and its Disastrous Consequences & Glass Walls of Limbo (Dance Mix). The first is a little over a minute of just plain silence, while the second just sounds like monks chanting in an abandoned temple. At least with the second track it adds up to something, but really seems like’s it’s just a filler piece. An interesting track, but probably should have been more than what it was.

Glass Walls of Limbo (Dance Mix)

Slow Deep and Hard, a classic release from Type-O Negative, and one that would bring the band some well deserved fame & recognition. Their next offering, however, would be a bit of a backtrack. Next album!

The Origin of the Feces (1992/1994)

1992 Original Cover

1994 Re-Release Cover

After the success of Slow Deep and Hard, Roadrunner Records asked (More likely told them it was in their contract) Type-O Negative to record a live album. Instead of recording a live album, the band used the money they were given to buy a horde of cheap vodka, and simply went to the basement of one of the band members (Whoever it was, I’m not sure) to record their second release, The Origin of the Feces. To me, The Origin of the Feces is the weakest release of the band. Simply re-recording their previous music (With some minor tweaks) is a massively lazy move. So you’re probably asking yourself, why should I listen to this? Well......because of the experience!

Although there’s really nothing new on here, what makes this an album to listen to at least once is the atmosphere. They pumped in plenty of effects, including a fake crowd that hated their guts, as well as a song stopping mid way because of a supposed bomb threat (This was done because of issues during their Slow Deep and Hard tour in Europe). It’s because of these effects that create an album that feels completely new, while at the same time staying incredibly familiar.

Best track 100% would have to go to their remake of Paranoid! Curiously only on the 1994 re-released of the album, this cover is simply stunning. The band took a song that was barely 2 minutes long, and extended it to 7 minutes & 30 seconds. The gothic sounds of this new version of Paranoid is absolutely sublime, and even manages to incorporate another classic Black Sabbath tune into the mix. For any new Type-O Negative fans I won’t spoil it for you, but for the veteran fans reading this, you know what I’m talking about.

Paranoid

There really isn’t any worst track on The Origin of the Feces. The only real flaw of this album is that it rehashes almost everything off of Slow Deep and Hard, apart from the best tracks (See above). Overall, this album is definitely the weakest of this discography. Pick it up only if you’re curious. Next album!

Bloody Kisses (1993)

After a successful 1st album, and a 2nd album that was iffy at best, Roadrunner Records was worried for the band. They thought that they were gonna go under, but when Type-O Negative released Bloody Kisses on August 17, 1993, those fears were immediately put to rest. Bloody Kisses was a pretty important release: not only was it Roadrunner’s first record to go platinum in the US, but it was widely acclaimed by critics & listeners who bought the album. Bloody Kisses established the band’s reputation as masters of Gothic Metal, as the music on this album is dark, gloomy, yet beautiful in a strange way. The dry & satirical humor of Pete Steele continues to shine on this album, and it’s just as biting as it was on their first two records.

The best track of Bloody Kisses comes in the form of the guilty pleasure known as Summer Breeze. A cover of the Seals & Croft classic, Type-O Negative added a healthy dose of gothic sensuality & eroticism, and turned it into their own unique creation. This is definitely the song you listen to on summer nights, with the sun going down, and a lovely women sitting right next to you.

Summer Breeze

It should be noted that this edition of Summer Breeze was not the original version they recorded! Type-O Negative recorded a version with altered lyrics, but Seals & Croft pitched a fit about it, saying the band was “Wrecking their song with offensive and wrong lyrics”. The band cut it from Bloody Kisses, and they simply re-recorded the original piece. While the original cover of the song was darker in tone, it’s still something that everybody should listen too!

Summer Breeze (Banned Version)

Honorable mentions go right to the duo of Kill All The White People & We Hate Everybody. Created in response to racist accusations from a tour in Europe, along with Pete Steele’s previous lyrics from his days in Carnivore, these two songs practically made fun of the whole issue, and are good tracks in their own right.

Kill All The White People

We Hate Everybody

Worst Track? Nothing on Bloody Kisses is a bad at all! A perfect record all the way, I highly recommend this release to anyone who is even slightly interested in the band. Next album!

October Rust (1996)

During their two-year promotional tour for Bloody Kisses, and during their exposure on MTV, VH1, and Rolling Stone magazine, original drummer Sal Abruscato quit the band to join another, the Brooklyn quartet Life of Agony. Johnny Kelly, the band’s drum technician, was hired as a full-fledged drummer, and would stay with the band until it’s demise in November of 2010. October Rust, the fourth album of Type-O Negative (Third if you don’t count The Origin of the Feces) was released on August 20, 1996. While not quite as commercially successful as Bloody Kisses was, October Rust was certified gold, and managed to get to No. 42 on the Billboard 200. The sex & sensuality that was explored on their previous album is examined further on this release, and while the Doom Metal aspects have taken a step or two back, this is supplemented by a more ballad-like atmosphere. This atmosphere is something I actually welcome, as it shows a softer yet still heavy side of the band.

Without a doubt, the best track of October Rust is the 60s stylings of My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend. The song that helped me discover the band, My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend is an example of Pete Steele’s wit & dry humor coming to the forefront, and shows off how smart the band can be.

My Girlfriend's Girlfriend

As for the worst track, Red Water (Christmas Mourning) takes the spot. While not a horrendous song by any stretch of the imagination, the reason why it’s the worst is because it feels rather out of place on October Rust. The more depressive atmosphere it gives out makes it feel like it should belong on their next album (More on this in a bit). Despite that, this is still a great track!

Red Water (Christmas Mourning)

October Rust, one of my favorite Type-O Negative records of all time! A required album for anyone interesting in the band, and in Gothic Metal in general. Next album!

World Coming Down (1999)

Every Heavy Metal singer or band has a black sheep in their discography. An anomaly, so to speak. A release that stands out from the rest of their library, whether it’s for the right or wrong reasons. Examples include the relatively weak Physicist from Devin Townsend, the criminally misunderstood Dark Side of the Spoon from Ministry, and Septicflesh’s only brush with Industrial Metal in the form of Revolution DNA. For Type-O Negative, their black sheep would be World Coming Down. Compared to their albums before & after, World Coming Down is the bleakest release they’ve ever put out. To quote youtuber CoverKillerNation: “This album is mired in depression, suicidal litations, with excess, drug addiction, and alcoholism”.

The reason for World Coming Down’s overtly dark nature is simple, and that would be loss. During the period between their previous album and World Coming Down, the band was getting ready to record their next release. With working titles like Prophets of Doom and Aggroculture, the band was feeling great, then tragedy strikes! From 1997 to before the release of World Coming Down, Pete was losing loved ones & friends almost left & right, and coupled with the drugs & alcohol he was consuming on an almost daily basis, created an atmosphere that was just downright uncomfortable. This environment lent fuel to the creation of their darkest album ever, World Coming Down. Released on September 21, 1999, World Coming Down was actually a little more successful than October Rust, reaching No. 39 on the Billboard 200. Gone is the trademark humor of their previous works, and instead the music on this album is absolutely 100% serious (Apart from the opening fake track, Skip it). Despite the serious nature of the release, there’s a dark kind of beauty within the songs. Pete Steele harnessed his pain & suffering, and in doing so created 13 tracks that just flood your ears with harsh lyrics, deep subject matter, and gothic beauty.

Best track.....this was a tricky one folks. Pretty much every single song on here is absolutely fantastic to listen to, but ultimately I’m giving it to Creepy Green Light. Originally title Spooky Green Light, Creepy Green Light is the only song on this album that seems to have even a hint of positivity to it. The song evokes the cold & darkest days of October, and as the track goes on, you can feel the wind faintly cross your skin, and gives you goosebumbs that seem to stay around forever.

Creepy Green Light

Worst track.....Nothing at all! World Coming Down, my other favorite Type-O Negative record! If you can get past the bleak nature of the music, you'll find an absolute gem of an record. Next album!

The Least Worst of Type-O Negative (2000)

The only official compilation album that the band ever produced (More on this in a bit), The Least Worst of Type-O Negative is an interesting collection of songs. A medley of tracks, from Slow Deep and Hard, all the way to the then-current World Coming Down, the tracks on here are either all unreleased editions, or remixes. The only true “remix” on here is The Misinterpretation of Silence and its Disastrous Consequences, and even then it was simply shortened from a minute & 4 seconds, to just 39 seconds. Like Slow Deep and Hard, this is the worst track on here, and is an even more annoying waste of space, simply due to it’s shortened length. The best track, however, would have to go to the three songs recorded during their World Coming Down sessions, with particular emphasis on the album’s closing track, Stay Out of My Dreams.

Stay Out of My Dreams

The Least Worst of Type-O Negative, a fantastic mix of their career in the 90s. If you want to introduce someone to Type-O Negative, then this is a surefire way to get them to enjoy the band. Next album!

Life Is Killing Me (2003)

A massive return to form, Life Is Killing Me is the second album produced by Type-O Negative in the 2000s (First if you discount The Least Worst of Type-O Negative). Released on June 17, 2003, the album did as well as World Coming Down did (Life Is Killing Me also got to No. 39 on the Billboard 200), and once again felt like a typical Type-O Negative album. The gothic tones were back, there was the band’s patented doom & gloom, and Pete Steele’s dry humor & wit returns in full force. There’s a little bit of World Coming Down’s serious nature still around, but it seems to be used in a more positive light. In short, Life Is Killing Me is classic Type-O Negative, coming back onto the metal scene, and saying “We’re still here, bitches!”

Kinda like World Coming Down, I had a tough time picking out what the best track is. While all of the songs on here are fantastic pieces of music, the only flaw that this album actually has is that it suffers from a case of Multiple Personality Disorder. The flow is rather chaotic, going from serious to funny/sarcastic at what seems like random. That said, I enjoy the hell out of How Could She?, the track at the album’s halfway point. Simultaneously a tribute to Pete Steele’s favorite fictional TV women & a critique on how said fictional TV women don’t judge, How Could She? is just a fun song all around.

How Could She?

Life Is Killing Me, Type-O Negative’s comeback album in the 2000s. It’s not one of my favorite albums, but it’s one that I can most definitely appreciate. If you didn’t like the bleak nature of World Coming Down, then this will be the record for you. Next album!

The Best of Type-O Negative (2006)

As we’re winding down this overview, we arrive at what may very well be the worst release in the band’s discography. Truthfully, Type-O Negative had nothing to do with this release: by 2005, Pete Steele did not like the situation they had with Roadrunner Records, and in his words described it as “A noose around my neck”. Aside from a poor deal, the band left Roadrunner supposedly because of the release of The Best of Type-O Negative, which was allegedly an unauthorized release (There were simultaneous unsanctioned compilations of Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Ill Nino). Ironically, Pete Steele was still friends with the staff of Roadrunner Records, and in October of 2005, was on the Roadrunner United to help celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary.

The music on here is nothing new. Unlike The Least Worst of Type-O Negative, none of the tracks on here were altered in anyway. Hell, even the cover isn't original, as Roadrunner used cover art from the European promo of Love You To Death in what was probably an attempt to save money. Only one tune on this compilation is unique to the whole thing, and that’s their cover of Deep Purple’s Highway Star. Originally off of a NASCAR compilation album (NASCAR: Crank It Up 2002, to be exact), their version of the song is actually pretty good. It’s intense, and harkens back slightly to the Speed Metal attitude that Carnivore embraced back in the 80s. Definitely a good driving tune!

Highway Star

Simply put: buy the least worst of, ignore the best of. Next album!

Dead Again (2007)

2007 Original Cover

2008 Re-Release Cover

The sad truth about 2007s Dead Again, is that it wasn’t supposed to be the band’s final album. As it was revealed after Pete Steele’s death on April 16, 2010, he was actually supposed to start writing for their next album in May of the same year (The working album title was called Double Crossed, and was going to further continue with the religious themes on this album), then his passing came, and that was it for Type-O Negative. Despite the tragedy in the future, Dead Again is a fantastic album. Released on March 13, 2007, Dead Again is the highest charting album of their career on the Billboard 200. Getting as high as No. 27 on the charts, to be exact. The album also marks another change for frontman Pete Steele: In 2005 he was serving some jail-time, and in the process finally got off of drugs (Later he would get off alcohol as well), and even overcame his longstanding atheism to become a Roman Catholic. This release was also great for the band as a whole: they were signed to a new record company (SPV Records), and for the first time since Bloody Kisses, the band used drums solos instead of a drum machine (Johnny Kelly was only “Credited” as the drummer on their previous 3 albums).

Best track was tough to pick out. To date, Dead Again remains Type-O Negative's most focused, most precise, and their most organized album to date. Because of this, Dead Again has much more of a seamless quality to it, making it a little difficult to pick out a song. That said, I absolutely love These Three Things. The longest song on the album, and perhaps in their entire discography (14 minutes & 21 second), this track is just epic. The guitars & drums are working overtime on here, and Pete’s voice is all over the place, but in a good way.

These Three Things

Worst track? Really the only problem with Dead Again is the overtly religious tones throughout a majority of the tracks. While I don’t have a problem with this (I think it adds to the album’s flavor), for many of the more atheist-minded fans of Type-O Negative it will certainly irk them. Regardless of this one point, Dead Again is a fine album, and in a strange way a nice way to conclude a great career. Most certainly recommended!

Dead Again

So this was my overview of the Brooklyn badasses known as Type-O Negative. Despite not being together anymore, the impact that their music left is still felt by all who loved them. I hope you liked this second entry of my “Metal Overview” series, and be sure to spread this around to anyone who would enjoy it. I’ve got one out-of-theme review coming up, but I won’t give out any hints. See you soon!



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Click on the link below for my first Type-O Negative review.

http://heavymetalotaku.blogspot.com/2014/10/review-type-o-negatives-october-rust.html