Type O Negative - October Rust

I’ve been blogging about metal for over a year and a half now, and still—still—there are so many iconic bands I haven’t touched yet. One of the biggest gaping holes in this blog’s blackened soul? Type O Negative.

Honestly, I don’t know why it took me so long to get into them. They were everywhere when I was a teenager. I guess my heart only had room for one charismatic frontman back then, and tragically—it wasn’t Peter Steele. Teenage me made some mistakes.

Well. Better late than never. This week, I fully surrendered and binged October Rust, Type O Negative’s fourth studio album from 1996—and now I have regrets. Regrets that I didn’t do this sooner. This album owns me.

Type O Negative formed in 1989, rising like a gloomy fog from Brooklyn, with Peter Steele (vocals, bass), Sal Abruscato (drums), Josh Silver (keyboards), and Kenny Hickey (vocals, guitar)—all childhood friends, which somehow makes their entire goth metal legacy feel even more wholesome and cursed.

They originally called themselves Repulsion, then Sub-Zero (because of course they did), before settling on Type O Negative. In 1991, they dropped their debut Slow, Deep and Hard, which was musically still rough, raw, and very different from the lush doom romance they’d come to perfect.

Their third album Bloody Kisses (1993) went Platinum and catapulted them into gothic metal legend status. Until Peter Steele’s untimely death in 2010, they released seven studio albums. Dead Again (2007) was their final one, debuting at #27 in the US—their highest chart position ever, though nothing they released after Bloody Kisses came close in sales.

October Rust was certified Gold and remains their second-bestselling record. Why do I love it? Hard to explain without throwing on a velvet cloak and whispering dramatic things to a raven. It’s just one of those albums you feel. You don’t put it on for background noise. You sink into it.

Hit play. Sit down. Stare out at some misty weather. Light a few too many candles. Pour a truly unnecessary amount of red wine. Suddenly it’s not just an album—it’s a séance.

The magic of October Rust lies in its ambience. Josh Silver’s hypnotic keyboard work, Peter’s distorted baritone croon, those deliciously heavy basslines and razor-sharp guitars—it all melts into this brooding, romantic fog that swallows you whole.

The lyrics deal with death, dying, decay, and of course, sex (it’s Peter Steele, were you expecting restraint?). They should feel cheesy—and occasionally flirt with it—but somehow, Type O Negative keep it authentic. It never feels like parody. It feels like confession.

Hard to pick favourite tracks, honestly. This is an album best consumed whole, in one indulgent sitting. The songs bleed into each other, sometimes abruptly, sometimes subtly, but always with intent. There’s no weak link here. Not even their Neil Young cover Cinnamon Girl, which I know some people hate, but I’m not one of them. Let me have my messy little goth joy.

If I had to choose, I’d pick My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend. It teeters dangerously close to pop, but somehow never loses its gothic cool. It's flirty, cheeky, utterly unhinged—and that keyboard intro? Top-tier.

Then there’s Love You To Death—THE gothic metal song, capital letters absolutely required. That delicate piano intro, Peter’s voice at its velvety best... it’s like being serenaded by a very sexy vampire who might also cry in the bath.

Green Man is another favourite. This one is Peter’s song. The “Green Man” nickname came from his NYC park supervisor days, stomping around in a green jumpsuit. Somehow, the track turns that image into a haunting pagan lullaby.

Die With Me opens with an acoustic guitar, and Peter’s vocals are lighter, almost tender. It’s vulnerable in a way that feels startling for a band known for brooding menace. Burnt Flowers Fallen is hypnotic, repetitive, and perfect—like grief on loop.

And obviously, In Praise of Bacchus needs to be on this list. It’s long, dark, intimate, and quietly devastating—touching on alcohol abuse and broken relationships without ever once sounding like a pity party. Just raw honesty, wrapped in black lace and funeral smoke.

The other tracks? Not far behind. There isn’t a single throwaway moment here. October Rust is, without question, on my all-time favourites list. Listen. Repeat. Drink something red. Lie down dramatically.

For me, it’s nearly perfect. And if you haven’t listened to it yet... what are you even doing with your life?