New York goth metal quartet Type O Negative was founded in 1990 by vocalist/bassist/songwriter Peter Steele, guitarist Ken Hickey, keyboardist Josh Silver, and drummer Johnny Kelly. The band emerged from the remnants of thrash band Carnivore, led by Peter Steele and Sal Abruscato. Type O Negative’s music redefined thrash metal with slowed-down tempos, blending misanthropy, misogyny, depression, and vampiric vocals, accompanied by distinctive guitar distortion. Their debut album, ‘Slow, Deep and Hard’ in 1991, featured melancholic dirges like ‘Unsuccessfully Coping with the Natural Beauty of Infidelity’.
Despite critical backlash for his dark humor, Peter Steele continued to infuse irony and skill in Type O Negative’s music. The band’s sophomore release, ‘Bloody Kisses’ in 1993, incorporated Beatlesque melodies and ironic treatments of gothic themes, earning a cult following and Billboard success. Following the album’s acclaim, drummer Sal Abruscato departed to join Life of Agony, and Johnny Kelly joined Type O Negative. The band’s subsequent albums, ‘October Rust’ (1996) and ‘World Coming Down’ (1999), maintained their dark allure and musical depth.
In 2000, Roadrunner Records released ‘The Least Worst of Type O Negative,’ a compilation showcasing the band’s evolution and unreleased tracks. ‘Life Is Killing Me’ (2003) and ‘Dead Again’ (2007) further solidified Type O Negative’s musical legacy. Tragically, on April 14, 2010, Peter Steele’s passing marked the end of Type O Negative as a performing and recording entity, leaving behind a lasting impact on the goth metal genre. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi