Type O Negative began their career with the 1991 Roadrunner release Slow, Deep and Hard, followed by the luridly titled Origin of the Feces (complete with the appropiately scatological and controversial cover) in 1992. Both records showcase the lush "orchestral metal" musicality and fascinating, hard-to-peg inner workings of singer/bassist Peter Steele's mind, not to mention the his oft-misconstructed political leanings and views about the "fairer sex." Ultimately, though, Steele feels it was Bloody Kisses where the band truly came into it's own, melding the melody, lyrics and heaviness found in songs like "Blood & Fire" into a uniquely signature sound that has inspired fanatical fans ranging from white-skinned vampire wannabees to prog-rock metal bands not to mention raves from hard-to-impress critics at Alternative Press, Rolling Stone and Billboard.
But that was just the beginning for Type O Negative...
Type O Negative took a provocative approach on October Rust, the highly anticipated follow-up to their gold-certified third album Bloody Kisses, which spawned the hits "Black No. 1" and "Christian Woman" and earned the quartet slots on tours ranging from NIN to Queensryche. "We really came into our own with our last album; we found our style" explains Steele. Not that we set any limitations on the new album, we simply feel this is the logical continuation from Bloody Kisses, unlike Slow, Deep and Hard to Bloody Kisses which was really, really different.
October Rust, produced by Steele and keyboardist Josh Silver, was recorded in early 1996 at Systems Two Studios, with Mike Marciano engineering. October Rust marks drummer John Kelly's recording debut with the band although he joined in 1993, just after the release of Bloody Kisses. Type O Negative's diverse yet compatible personalities make the Brooklyn boys as compelling and entertaining on stage as off. Guitarist Kenny Hickey, a founding member of TON, has an aggressive playing style and almost intimidating personality that perfectly suits the band's varied textures and appeal. Josh Silver, his hair flying as he pounds the keyboards onstage, is quite a different character offstage: A self-proclaimed "paranoid schizophrenic hermit."
Unlike many bands, Type O Negative write prolifically on the road, and lyricist/songwriter Steele penned nearly 80 percent of the material on a Yamaha keyboard in the back of the tour bus. The musical goal was "sonic saturation-as much sonic information as possible," and with the 12 songs on October Rust, intoned in Steele's sensual, resonant voice and realized via the band's tight unique, heavy, and wild musicality, they succeeded. While Bloody Kisses proved to be the breakthrough album for Type O Negative, October Rust will be a follow-through... Steele & Co. are never ones to leave an audience unsatisfied. As for any concerns about topping their last effort, Type O Negative feel no pressure and are fully confident in the textural sounds and memorable moments captured on their third full LP. Earthy, tactile and infused with Pagan influences, fire imagery and salamious sensuality, October Rust is candy for a diabetic world.
