by Steve Huey
Peter Steele predicted that the follow-up to Bloody Kisses would accentuate Type O Negative's melodic side, specifically for the purpose of making money. Steele's attempt at &pop-goth& actually works well for a while; his cynical take on goth rock's typical subject matter is in full swing over the first half of October Rust, and the band gleefully wallows in its stated commercialism by personally thanking the listener for purchasing the album at its start and finish. Unfortunately, the songwriting runs out of steam over the second half, and the cover choice (Neil Young's &Cinnamon Girl&) doesn't lend as much this time out; the overall entertainment value suffers as a result. October Rust comes off as a promising concept and a nice try, but lacks the consistency to fully realize the band's potential.