October Rust
October Rust sounds heavy without constantly hitting hard. Type O Negative give the guitars a full, soft edge and leave plenty of room for keyboards and melody. Peter Steele's deep voice connects those elements. The music can be dark while remaining notably inviting. That makes this record more than a straightforward hour of gloomy metal.
After the brief opening jokes, Love You to Death establishes the real tone. Piano and keyboards create a large, romantic space where the singing can develop slowly. The song takes its time and uses its heavier moments to give the melody more weight. The band do not make the tension more complicated than necessary.
My Girlfriend's Girlfriend brings the pop side further forward. Rhythm, keyboards and a repeating chorus make it immediately accessible. That lighter feeling fits well between the longer, darker pieces. The band keep their own sound even when the songs almost invite dancing.
Die with Me seeks a more intimate opening with acoustic guitar. The larger sound that follows makes the quiet start more effective. Later, Haunted gives the record a long, gradually developed closing song before the band's brief spoken farewell. The soft voice and heavy instruments work well together. Atmosphere and gradual changes create most of its impact.
The drawback is the scale. More than seventy minutes of such dreamy, full music requires patience. Some repetitions offer less reward, and the short jokes will not work for everyone. Still, October Rust has enough clear melodies and strong contrasts to offer more than a mood alone. Type O Negative make romance, discomfort and heavy guitars parts of the same world. That world is especially convincing when the songs retain their simple shapes and allow the arrangements to develop around them.
