RANK’d!: Type O Negative Discography

Happy Halloween…..bay bay.

I said I might do it and dammit…I’m doin’ it. I’m taking a week off from my Re-Rank’d stuff to do this little sidequest. So for this, i’m ranking the Type O Negative Discography as kind of an ode to the band and the late great Peter Steele for Halloween, since it was their favorite holiday. Now, a bit of history with this band for me.

I actually fucking hated this band.

See, I used to be a sucker and pay for Sirius XM, and Liquid Metal(the only metal channel) would be a channel i’d frequent. And back then, they’d play new stuff and old stuff, but they’d QUITE OFTEN play: Black No. 1 or Christian Woman….every day, at around the same time period that i’d listen….for weeks. ABSOLUTELY HATED IT, and since SXM’s Metal choices are slim to none…I had to endure. Much like how I now despise Journey and The Beatles after hearing them on repeat at work for years…. They were just way too slow for me, Pete’s voice didn’t resonate with me yet and Kenny’s guitar playing just didn’t jive with me…Fortunately they eventually stopped playing them after a while. Ended up cancelling SXM(good luck) after similar issues with other bands i didn’t like, and time went on.

Enter Trivium’s cover of I Don’t Wanna Be Me. I thought it was a pretty good song, had no clue it was Type O Negative’s song. As soon as I did, I put myself in a different mindset and took the plunge and listened to a greatest hits album….and came out thoroughly enjoying it. Then, I went ALL in and listened to the entire discog, every single Tuesday at work…and had eventually dubbed thee: Type O Tuesday. Pete’s big baritone voice and bass, Kenny’s low tuned fuzz box guitar and high end vocals, I somehow became completely enraptured. It was just Sexy Gothic Sabbath, and I was a dumbass. As more weeks went on, I fell in love with the band and have inserted them into my all timers list(idk if i’ll EVER make that list). Now i’ve since sunset Type O Tuesday(can’t listen too them forever, i’d hate ‘em again), but I still, on occasion, throw on a personal greatest hits list to get back into the mood. Especially during spooky season.

Now let’s get into it!

#. 7: Slow, Deep and Hard, 1991

The one that started it all. This one to me is kind of the tweener album. Peter Steele was just off his stint with Carnivore, a much faster punk/metal band. And you can hear it in this album quite a bit, some of the leftovers from that era, with a hint of what’s to come. Now this isn’t a bad album per se, it’s just I prefer the NEXT album more, you’ll see why in a sec. But there are some all timers in here, with the opener, a blistering 12 minute thrash fest. It’s really like 3 songs put together, my favorite being “I Know You’re Fucking Someone Else…”. Catchy, dirty, exceptional. The rest of the record is good too but as you’ll see below, it’s just not as good to me. Too much Carnivore, not enough Type O yet.

Favorite Track(s) - Unsuccessfully Coping With The Natural Beauty Of Infidelity

#. 6: The Origin Of The Feces, 1992

Always a gamble image searching this album cover….nine times outta ten, it’s the original. With Pete Steele’s literal asshole on the cover. Brilliant, yet disgusting “I Don’t Give A Fuck” attitude. Anywho, this album is basically the first album…but “Live”, like it’s fake Live. It sounds way better, the “Live” setting is a ton of fun, and the songs flow into one another, just like a regular show would. It’s a blast hearing all the background BS going on and hearing Pete just do his thing and dealing with the “hecklers”. Glass bottles being thrown, “Fuck You's”, cheering for them to finally be done, so much fun man. Plus it includes their INCREDIBLE covers of Hey Joe(Hey Pete), and Paranoid. They completely transform the songs to Type O songs instead of just retreading old ground, it’s fantastic. Especially love Hey Pete, fits Type O so damn well.

Favorite Track - Hey Pete

#. 5: Dead Again, 2007

The last one. Peter Steele’s final impact on the planet before departing 3 years later. And man was it an impact. Really only ranked lower due to it not being on Spotify(seriously WTF?) and not being as familiar because of it. But, what I do know, is this is the culmination of all of Pete’s projects, Carnivore thrash with Type O Sabbath-y grooves thrown in. The title track is an absolute banger, thrashy punk Pete in full force. Kenny’s guitar work is a ton of fun here, the “woah” matching sections at the end are especially so. Tripping A Blind Man is the perfect blend of old and new, starting off full Sabbath, then cut to Pete’s bass riff and we’re off to the races. Fantastic chorus, fantastic song. The rest of the record is great as well, September Sun was the big single after the title track. A 9 minute slow grinding epic. Kenny putting in work in this one on vocals and guitar. Just overall a really great send off for Type O Negative and Peter Steele.

Favorite Track - (I’m fuckin’) Dead Again

#. 4: Life Is Killing Me, 2003

The one after Pete’s mom died. Sometimes grief can lead to absolutely beautiful artwork, sometimes it sends you down the deep end. That’s this record. A pissed off, depressed Pete. A faster record than the 3 previous, especially with the track that started it all for me, I Don’t Wanna Be Me. The catchiest track in their catalogue, you can’t not sing along to it. Such a depressing track, yet gleefully energetic. The rest of the record is no slouch. Less Than Zero is a slow banger with a mandolin thrown in. Todd’s Ship Gods is a chunky poppy little ditty, I Like Goils is a ton of fun and a good speed up. A Dish Best Served Coldly is a riff fueled 7 minute epic with some great Pete stuff in here. How Could She? is another 7 minute epic, more old Type O with some Kenny solo work in there. The title track is another depressingly upbeat catchy tune with a bit more pissed off Pete. Nettie is the full sexy baritone Pete and his lowest lows as well. (We Were) Electrocute is the sad one. (Gimme That) is prolly the worst of the bunch for me. Angry Inch is a much needed fun upbeat catchy tune. Anesthesia is the Pete vocal powerhouse(live is Kenny)and the ending is incredible work from him. The Dream Is Dead is a smooth closer to a fantastic record.

Favorite Track(s) - I Don’t Wanna Be Me/Anesthesia

#. 3: World Coming Down, 1999

The one with my favorite Type O song. The rest of this album is pretty good, Everything Dies is a chunky fantastic-ly depressing song, Pyretta Blaze has FANTASTIC riffage, but really the reason why this album is here…nothing else compares to my favorite all time Type O song, Everyone I Love Is Dead. Everytime this comes on, I get extra giddy. The GOT DAMN riff dude. Simple, dead simple, SUPER Effective. Pete’s bass fills it in nicely. Vocals are catchy and depressing as always, then Kenny hits a rare solo and it fucking rips. Again, simple and effective. Powerful song that gets me going every damn time.

Favorite Track(of all of Type O Negative) - Everyone I Love Is Dead

#. 2: Bloody Kisses, 1993

The one that made em famous. The one where they became Type O Negative. The slow riffs, Pete’s crooning sexy baritone vocals, all in full display, and boy was I wrong about them. Of course the 2 tracks I hated start the record…and ultimately become some of my favorites. Christian Woman is the one for me on here, because I ACTUALLY listened to it when I went back and love it so much. The “Jesus Christ Looks Like Me” riff is a particular favorite riff of mine. Kenny is one thing if not extremely effective at making simple riffs have immense impact. Black No. 1 is the sexy spooky goth time song and it’s great. Summer Breeze is a FANTASTIC cover of the Seals & Crofts joint. Set Me On Fire is more sexy time, and Blood & Fire is even more sexy time. The reason this record isn’t quite No. 1 for me is purely the in-between stuff, bogs the album down a bit, and maybe still a bit TOO slow at times, the title track in particular.

Favorite Track - Christian Woman

#. 1: October Rust, 1996

The one that got ‘em laid. The evolution of Type O Negative, from dorky punks to sex gods. The sexy time is cranked to 11 on here. Right outta the gate, Love You To Death is slow, deep, and hard right into your ears. Be My Druidess is Pantera’s own Phil Anselmo’s favorite song, and one of mine. Green Man is a slow catchy tune. My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend is full on girl-on-girl action. Die With Me is the ballad, solemn, melancholy, still sexy. Cinnamon Girl is all sexy riffage and a fantastic cover of Neil Young’s not-as-sexy version. And my last favorite of the bunch, Wolf Moon(including Zoanthropic Paranoia). A lot of slow build but man, that closing howl section is pure euphoric energy. More bangers, or humpers shall we say, than the rest of the albums put this on the top of the list(or bottom if you’re into that). Okay, that’s enough euphemisms I promise.

Really, this album is what I think, and what many other fans consider, to be THE Type O record that encapsulates everything that’s great about them. Like I mentioned earlier, the full evolution of Type O Negative. And if you’re new to them, I’d absolutely start here.

Favorite Track - Toughest choice….but it’s gotta be: Love You To Death

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed this journey. I had a blast making this. I really should do more retrospective-y type of lists like this more often. I got a lot to say about other fantastic bands. But to end this one properly: Rest In Peace Type O Negative and especially…Rest In Peace to the absolute legend, Peter Steele.