When our fearless leader sent me this promo, I was not happy about the prospect of grind/punk bands doing covers of my favorite band, Type O Negative. In my inbox, it sat. Then, I thought about it, and remembered the hardcore roots of Peter Steele and how he infamously said multiple times regarding their next record how he would “like it to be a hardcore album.” With horizons broadened, a mind opened, and low expectations, I dug into Blast No. 1.

Let’s start with the good. An early standout is the cover of “Prelude to Agony” by a German band called Task Force Beer. It starts slowly, as a Type O cover should, and faithfully to the original. Following a lot of the original instrumentals works in the band’s favor. The deeper bellows, gang vocals, and highs provide enough variety to keep it interesting. The heavy-hitting drum performance also brings a sense of immediacy. This track is killer and gets me excited for what’s to come.

The next highlight for me is the “All Hallows Eve” cover by Herida Profunda from Poland. The uneasy, creepy atmosphere is maintained until it kicks into furious blasting around a minute in. The low growls continue through the track, which honestly might be THE approach to cover Pete. Perhaps it’s because of my love for the original, considering it appeared on World Coming Down, my intro, and favorite Type O Negative album, that I enjoy this so much.

Not long after that is another track from World Coming Down, the cover of “Creepy Green Light” by Plague Bearer from Poland. When the frontman says “green light” and it kicks into heavy blasting territory, while still maintaining the original melody, it’s a different and excellent way of hearing it. The way they turn the guitar tone into what I would consider “crunchy” territory works quite well. While it’s quite short compared to the original (expectedly), it’s an excellent re-imagining.

It’s at this point where I must mention something negative. That’s the cover of the band’s most iconic song, which has drenched many a goth girl’s panties. The melody is kept, but that’s about it, as the lyrics have been completely changed. My friends, I hate it.

Moving on to the final track I’ll mention, which is the cover of my favorite track by the band, “Unsuccessful Coping with the Natural Beauty of Infidelity” by a band called Skitzo from good ol’ ‘Merica. It’s nearly 8 minutes, which of course is nowhere near the original, but most of the great parts have been kept, including a faster version of Kenny Hickey’s solo, and “Hey, check this out!” The bass-heavy, almost jaunty “Slut, whore, cunt,” “I know you’re fucking someone else” section is so brilliantly done, it brings a smile and I bet the boys would be proud.

This is 19 songs at around an hour. There are certainly some cuts of which I am not a fan, but for the most part, this is a fun listen to which I will keep going back. With all of the albums covered, there’s something here for all Type O Negative fans. It’s a welcome surprise for me, well worth the price, and if you are a grizzled, old curmudgeon like me, I’m 100% certain you should give this at least a listen.

[Visit the band's website]

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