Type O Negative guitarist Kenny Hickey addressed a long-standing rumor about the band’s recording process. He clarified the truth during a recent interview with Cassius Morris Official.
The discussion centered on a persistent rumor claiming that Type O Negative recorded parts of their album “October Rust” in complete darkness. When asked directly whether this bizarre claim was true, Hickey gave a clear answer while also sharing some insight into how vocals were actually recorded for the album.
Hickey was asked, “Now, I heard a rumor, and I want you to tell me if this is true. Is it true that when Type O Negative was recording parts of October Rust that you guys actually recorded parts of this album in complete darkness?” He responded directly.
“No, that’s not true,” Hickey said. “I mean, Peter liked to do a lot of his vocals in and sometimes he would do it in especially if like people were watching him, but like a lot of people’s Peter’s vocals by I think by that time were done in Josh’s basement. But no. Well, whatever. It’s just a rumor.”
Hickey went on to joke about the rumor before dismissing it entirely.
“Maybe I should buy into it, ‘Yes, we did it all in the dark. Every bit of it.’ We could barely play in the light. I mean, come on,” he said.
The conversation then shifted to whether the band used any unconventional recording techniques during the making of the album.
Hickey was asked, “Were there any sort of offbeat sort of weird recording techniques or was it all just focused on the music and no fluff when you’re in the studio?” He explained the band’s disciplined approach to the studio process.
“No, we were very focused musically,” Hickey said. “You know, Josh was at the helm. It was usually I mean every Type O negative was a gigantic undertaking. I mean we always filled up every CD with 70 minutes or whatever how long it had to be. So there’s always a lot to done to be done and obviously we focused on the basic tracks at first, you know, drums, guitar, and bass. And then the whole process of layering and overdubbing and stuff.”
Hickey also credited producer Josh Silver for pushing the band to improve their performances in the studio.
“And you know, Josh was definitely the drill sergeant with all that stuff,” Hickey continued. “I mean, especially vocally, you know, he had a great ear. So whenever me and Peter were either sharp or flat, he would say, you know, ‘You’re flat, push harder,’ you know. And I still got him in my ears when I record to this day in my in my memory, you know, that voice, you know. So, it’s ingrained in your memory. And it all made us better. Well, I mean, hopefully you’re going to get better at what you do as you go along and do it, not worse, you know.”
Hickey’s comments put an end to years of speculation about the making of “October Rust.” They also shed light on the disciplined studio environment that shaped the band’s sound. That environment, as it turns out, had far more to do with practicality and precision than with any theatrical setup involving darkness.
“October Rust” was never even tracked in a traditional commercial studio. The band recorded the album in Josh Silver’s home studio instead of renting outside space. The decision was driven largely by cost and convenience rather than any atmospheric gimmick. That setup lines up directly with Hickey’s account of vocals being done in Silver’s basement. It reinforces that the recording environment was practical, not theatrical.
Silver’s role went well beyond providing the physical space. He is credited as a producer on the album alongside Peter Steele. He also handled much of the technical side of the sound. That dual role as both engineer and producer explains why Hickey remembers Silver’s voice so vividly in the studio. Silver spent his time correcting pitch and pushing the band toward tighter performances.
Peter Steele’s vocal takes were part of a heavily layered, methodical recording process rather than any one-off stunt. The band spent months working through the material. They put in long days, building the record through repeated passes and detailed tracking. That level of commitment matches Hickey’s description of “October Rust” as a “gigantic undertaking.” Every song was developed through careful layering and overdubbing rather than quick, spontaneous sessions.
That grinding, methodical process ultimately produced one of the band’s most acclaimed records. It proves that the album’s dark, atmospheric sound came from painstaking studio work rather than any literal darkness in the room.
