SilentScream213 My relationship with Type O Negative has always been troubled. Doom and Gothic Metal are some of my favorite genres, and Type O Negative practically invented the later (despite what people say, I am firmly of the opinion they have NEVER played the former). The thing about these genres is that they are known for being moody, melancholic, sombre, etc. Type O Negative, rather than representing these traits, are more so a parody of them.

Most of their songs are filled with tongue in cheek humor, sarcasm, overly vulgar sexuality, and Peter Steele’s ever so annoying “sensual tough guy” persona. It’s like if gym jocks tried making Gothic Metal. The joke interludes found on many of their albums send a pretty clear message they don’t really take anything too seriously.

Anyway, as for this album… Most of the music is pretty good. Red Water is great, even, with some actually melancholic and doomy atmosphere. Far too often, these songs are overlong and filled with all the annoying tropes of the band I mentioned before. The gothic guitar melodies and echo effects are usually quite nice, and Peter sounds good for the most part, but he still falls into parody territory too often.

It’s just a band that doesn’t sit well with me.

Warthur Based on what I've explored of their discography so far, Type O Negative seem to be a remarkably consistent band. Take October Rust - anyone who enjoyed Bloody Kisses or Life Is Killing me will find more of the same sort of doomy gothic metal with a sense of humour that those albums offer. (It even has a joke intro, much like Bloody Kisses did). But does this get samey or stagnant? I wouldn't say so; the band find plenty of ways to shake up the formula, including throwing in a Neil Young cover (Cinnamon Girl) this time around, a move which works far better than I'd have expected it to.

Negoba Goth Masterpiece

Type O Negative has always had three things that I love - a huge guitar tone, a bass vocalist, and a dry black humor. As goes with my general feeling of loving the album after the most popular, October Rust is my favorite by Peter Steele and the Green Guys. To be sure, this is the most user friendly of all the Type O albums, but it's also the most true to the goth metal ideal. Between this album and the preceding Bloody Kisses, Type O helped to form the genre.

Right now I listen to "Love You to Death," which is obviously very tongue in cheek, overdone in every aspect. But that's what I love about it. If you're going to dress in black, why not put in some fangs and get out the cape? October Rust delivers on every little dark pleasure in that respect. The super low notes during the verse of "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend." The goth pseudo-eroticism. The B-movie key sounds. Steele's signature fuzz / chorus bass. It all works here. And whether it was the record company's pressure, the band's hope to sell more records, or just luck, Type O's usual don't-give-a-flying-f attitude that usually ends up in some shotty performances, throwaway songs, and too many repetitions doesn't rear it's ugly head on this one.

Bottom line: Most polished, most legitimately goth Type O record. And that's a good thing.

ChaosAngel On this, the third studio album from the Brooklyn-based Type O Negative, the Drab Four put the gothic in "gothic metal" in a big way, layering a lot more symphonic/melodic keyboards on top of their gloomy-doomy metal. In so doing, they put out their most successful, and arguably best, album.

(Warning, we are now entering minor spoiler territory.)

Once you get past the band's "little joke" (the first track, called "Bad Ground" is nothing but a low-level buzz, and actually begin listening to the music (which begins with the epic intro to "Love You to Death"), you are in for a delightfully cheesy slice of gothic metal from the guys who started it all.

I'm writing this review in December, so I feel the need to mention the album's festive (heh heh) song, "Red Water (Christmas Mourning)", which always seems to find its way onto every Yuletide playlist I ever make.

This is one of two albums I would recommend to a new listener (the other being the previous album, Bloody Kisses). Really, I would recommend this minor masterpiece to anyone at all.