Band:	Type O Negative
Album:	Bloody Kisses
Style:	Doom metal, Gothic metal
Release date:	August 17, 1993
Guest review by:	Joey Jo Jo

Disc I
01. Machine Screw
02. Christian Woman
03. Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)
04. Fay Wray Come Out And Play
05. Kill All The White People
06. Summer Breeze [Seals And Crofts cover]
07. Set Me On Fire
08. Dark Side Of The Womb
09. We Hate Everyone
10. Bloody Kisses (A Death In The Family)
11. 3.0.I.F.
12. Too Late: Frozen
13. Blood And Fire
14. Can't Lose You

Disc II ["Top Shelf Edition"]
01. Suspended In Dusk
02. Black Sabbath [Black Sabbath cover]
03. Black Sabbath (From The Satanic Perspective) [Black Sabbath cover]
04. Christian Woman [edited version]
05. Christian Woman [butt-kissing sell-out version]
06. Black No. 1 [edited version]
07. Blood & Fire [Out Of The Ashes mix]
08. Summer Breeze [Rick Rubin mix] [Seals And Crofts cover]

The Brooklyn-based band decided to issue a disclaimer for their second album stating:"Don't Mistake Lack of Talent for Genius.". Although it's a tongue in cheek statement, over the years it can be accurately applied to them. On Bloody Kisses is where the drab four flirted with 'genius'. Type O Negative's humble start was heavily rooted in their previous incarnation as hardcore thrash band Carnivore, not dissimilar to Stormtroopers Of Death with lyrics insisting it was Peter Steele's favorite avenue for venting rage. While Slow, Deep, and Hard still had some left over bile, its not as outlandish while still retaining the trademark morbid humor of Carnivore. After the canned live album Origin of the Feces the focus of the band seemingly shifted from pissing off as many people humanely possible to trying to get laid.

The first notable thing on Bloody Kisses is how the band's new identity is in full force. From the opening spoken line in "Christian Woman" Peter Steele makes the transition from nihilistic barbarian prick into a bonafide goth heartthrob quite smoothly. And on "Black No. 1" Peter's new persona is solidified while outdoing other similar vocalists in the process. While the effort can be viewed as a parody of the cliches found in the goth rock genre, the band is taking those same traits to a higher level with a great deal of maturity and superior song writing.

On the other side of the spectrum, they haven't left their ranting anthems behind either. Not only are there interludes littered throughout the album that are both funny and sometimes disturbing. Songs like "Kill All The White People" and my personal favorite "We Hate Everybody" show off they still have a knack for writing great hardcore stuff while pissing a few people off here and there. However, Roadrunner Records at one point made an insulting gesture by taking away that aspect of the album. Releasing an edited version with more graphic artwork, with less graphic songs.

Although Type O Negative are not exceptionally gifted musicians by any stretch of the imagination, they more than make up for their shortcomings on the mixing board. A big reason why the album works so well is the lush production. A dense, airy atmosphere with choirs, subtle keyboards, and psychedelic touches are present throughout. While it may not be a masterpiece, Bloody Kisses is their masterpiece. Laying a foundation of what is to be known as their trademark sound, along with stellar production values and strong songwriting mixing dark humor and seriousness. Those same qualities have stayed with the band throughout their albums and live shows. Something which we may never see or hear again.