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Imagine a goth male whose balls are as as big as basketballs and has a voice to match. Picture him sex crazed and completely set out against against the world. But then give him a sense of humor and put him behind sensible pop keyboards and catchy, but slow, guitar riffs. This is what you get when you listen to Bloody Kisses by Type O Negative.
This is undoubtedly a highly influential album, especially within the context of gothic and doom metal. The songs are accessible and simple, yet carefully composed, develop well, and are dark and heavy. As far as musicianship goes, there is nothing impressive here. But the listen is great, and Peter Steele's deep bass voice combines with the haunting synth layers, the chugging guitars, the low bass, and the solid driving drums to create an excellent dark atmosphere.
Standout tracks include the highly praised "Christian Woman", the true opening song of the album. A lone organ line faintly starts in the background and Steele sings a solitary stanza, until everything pounds in and the 'The Bensonhoist Lesbian Choir' pours in flowing melodies. "Black No. 1", another single, is also a good listen, an ironically both an anthem for gothic popular music fans while simultaneously mocking them the whole time.
Not all the songs are dark and slow. Two hardcore styled songs feature on the album as well, "Kill all the White People", a humorous take on violent racism, and "We Hate Everyone" written in the same style.
"Summer Breeze" is an excellent cover of Seals and Crofts, turning an airy hippie ballad into a low creeping song full of dark distortion. It segues into the following song, "Set me on Fire" which turns into a Beatles style psychedelic catchy pop tune.
Interspersed through the album are a few ambient tracks that add more to the mood of the album, often sexually crazed or dark and haunting. They neither seem to add or detract from the quality of the record, but certainly help establish the tone of it.
All in all this is a milestone in metal, and it certainly deserves that credit. This oft-cited masterpiece is one that metal goth fans can listen to over and over again with enthusiasm, however disaffected that enthusiasm is with teenage angst and gothic distain.