In the early 1990s, Type O Negative's Bloody Kisses knocked down the walls separating goth, metal and even alternative rock. Augmenting the group's core sound with cool washes of synthesizer and art-pop moves, main man Peter Steele crafted a sound that derives its power from mood and atmosphere rather than straight-up heavy-metal heft. Indeed, Bloody Kisses is an extremely rich listening experience. Each and every song is a soundscape in need of exploration. At the same time, don't overlook Steele's lyrics. The guy possesses an ironic sense of humor that is subtle, if outrageous.