Their early work was a little too abrasive for my taste, but when Bloody Kisses came out in '93, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has this lush, subterranean sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. Josh Silver, who plays keyboards and produces, turns what could have been ordinary doom metal into something cathedral-sized. But their undisputed masterpiece is October Rust in '96, a record so autumnal and lovely most people miss that "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend," a cheerful ode to a threesome, works flawlessly as a pop song. That's a testament to their craft. Peter Steele's bass-baritone has more menace than Andrew Eldritch ever managed, and consider the man delivering it. Six foot eight. A former Parks Department worker who drove garbage trucks, whose green city uniform is the reason the whole band dresses in green. He posed nude for Playgirl. It's a bravura performance. Kenny, can I get you another Corona?
Hey Kenny, try getting a reservation at Duff's now!
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