Ghost Cult scribe Wil Cifer ponders the previously unthinkable – what if there was a Type o Negative tribute concert to the late Peter Steele and to the bands’ legacy? Who would be able to fill those massive shoes and do proper justice to The Green Man, we all love so dearly. This is speculative and just a bit of playful, educated spell casting, nothing more. Peter is irreplacaeble, and we know that.
With the remaining living members of Type O Negative are active (at least Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly) with working bands (Sun Dont Shine, Quiet Riot, Silvertomb), and seemingly open to the idea of a tribute to the band might happen now, fifteen years after Steele’s death, with music publications and fan wish lists all falling along the lines of stupidity that makes you wonder if they were really paying attention while he was alive at, but before I approach the topic of “Who is worth of wearing the green tank top?” let’s look at bands that are carrying the legacy of goth-metal forward in 2025.
Who Can Sit The Throne of the Green Man?
Modern Doom and Goth Metal bands have a chance:
The band who best carries forward the brand of doom and gloom celebrated by Type O without being a tribute to them are the suicide obssessed French-men in Hangman’s Chair who blend sullen sonic heft with sprawling atmosphere an dense guitars to carry the desperate pleas of the vocals. “Saddiction” offers little in the way of Bela Lugosi-like theatrics, and seemingly honest dramatization of depression set to song
While November’s Doom and Paradise Lost are both offering doomy reflection in their approach that has been highly refined over the year’s it’s Evoken who delves further into the shadows on “Mendacium” by expanding their atmospheric reach to capture the more ethereal nature of goth.
But if you want a sonically heavier and more apocalyptic soundtrack to the grim realities of of the unravelling with a fetish for dystopian grimness Scorpion Milk finds Grave Pleasures’ Mat McNeary carrying on the more punk stained legacy of the genre on ‘Slime of the Times”. This is carried into even more intense murkier depths with Tombs “Feral Darkness” that finds morose baritone moans colliding with a barrage of blackened death metal fury that broods more than it blasts.
If you want a more industrial flavor Black Cross Hotel has you covered with a sleazed out Halloween in the back alleys of Los Angeles feel to their brand of cobweb covered metal that can be heard on “Songs For Switches” Another industrial leaning band that brings an aggressive nergy to the midnight hours is In Covert who bring a death-rock sneer to their noisy confrontational album” Bleak Machinery”.
Other “goth’ adjacent acts who deserve a nod include the new self-titled release from Your Inland Empire that finds former members of The Crown making morose grooves that combine Swedish metal with Depeche Mode like sensibilities. As well as Carach Angren’s new EP: The Cult of Kariba, that feels like a more inspired an haunting version of Cradle of Filth, but with more notable hooks and less screeching.
And now for who would best serve the memory of Type O Negative should this tribute to Peter Steele move forward in one direction or another. I’ve seen absurd names like Christina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil mentioned, and kids who are YouTubers, this is not the route to go, even some one like Phil Anselmo who was friends with Steele, should focus on Carnivore songs if he is included. I will give you my top 10 picks in no particular order, though not all of them encapsulate all that Steele did as a singer.
1-Keith Caputo – Life of Agony
There is a strong connection to the band as both Josh Silver and Sal Alabruscato worked with these guys who toured with Type O, and Caputo’s emotive delivery and power baritone makes sense.
2-Henry Font- Pist.On
Once again shared connection with other members of the band. Font’s vocal style could work on the Bloody Kisses (Roadrunner Records) era songs.
3-Brett Campell – Pallbearer
In 2016 they covered “Love You to Death” on their “Sound and Fury” ep, he maintained his identity while doing the song justice.
4-Dax Riggs – Acid Bath
The most unlikely as he is trying to hold his sanity together during the reunion tour with Acid Bath, and never got the chance to promote his own solo album earlier this year before he was whisked away on the road, I could hear him giving the songs his own spin, mainly just fan-fic on my part.
5-Kirk Windstein – Crowbar/DOWN/solo
Connected to the band through other projects and were frequent touring mates.
6-Aaron Stainthorpe – High Parasite/ ex- My Dying Bride
He has got some free time on his hands, and could pull it off.
7-Cedric Toufouti – Hangman’s Chair
Might not have the same baritone, but sings from a similar emotional place.
8-Dylan Kaplowitz – Age of Apocalypse
If Keith Caputo is not available I can hear him at least tackling the “Slow Deep and Hard Songs.”
9-Kristoffer Rygg- Ulver
The question is not would he able to pull it off, but would he want to make the trip to America for it?
10- Mat Mcnerney – Grave Pleasures
See above …
Ok Johnny, Kenny, Josh… I did all the thinking for ya on this one, chose your fighter!
Honable mention – bassists
Alan Robert – LOA
Evan Seinfeld – Biohazard
Todd Strange – Sun Dont Shine, ex Crowbar, ex DOWN
Rex Brown – Pantera
Nate Newton – Converge
Steve Zing – Danzig/Samhain
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WIL CIFER
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