![]() Not only had the movement broken off into numerous, sonically-diverse subgenres- including death metal, power metal, black metal, doom metal, and more- but it had also found a niche within alternative music, thanks to the mainstream acceptance of Seattle grunge and bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. By the time the ‘90s rolled around, the idea of what could be considered “heavy metal” had broadened significantly. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, the genre grew exponentially in both diversity and popularity, with both a thriving mainstream (defined by the glam/pop metal sound of Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt, and others) and a bubbling underground (represented by the burgeoning thrash scene populated by early Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus, and Anthrax). Heavy metal- the tougher, more amplified extension of hard rock- emerged at the dawn of the ‘70s, pioneered by the mighty Black Sabbath. I’m speaking of the late, great Peter Steele: the mordant, towering, self-deprecating frontman of Type O Negative- one of heavy metal’s most ingenious and underrated bands.Įmerging from the Brooklyn metal/hardcore scene of the late ‘80s (which also included contemporaries Life of Agony and Biohazard), the brilliance of Type O lay largely in their seamless and inimitable melding of two utterly disparate musical genres. But, unless follow the metal or goth scenes, you might not even realize it. Tuesday, April 14th marks the 11-year anniversary of the passing of one of rock’s most unique and charismatic frontmen.
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