Type O Negatives musical style has been described as gothic metal, gothic rock, and doom metal. The band combined goth imagery with heavy doom metal and experimental tendencies. Peter Steele, the bands lead vocalist and bassist, cited Black Sabbath and the Beatles as main influences on Type O Negative. Other influences include Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, and AC/DC, and gothic rock/post-punk bands such as Joy Division, Cocteau Twins, Christian Death, Bauhaus, the Sisters of Mercy, Killing Joke, the Cure, the Psychedelic Furs, Clan of Xymox, Swans, and Dead Can Dance.

While some sources, such as Spotify, Wikipedia, and Google, describe Type O Negative as goth, they are not necessarily correct. Type O Negative is a metal band that has gained a cult following in the goth subculture due to their dark, brooding music and controversial lyrics. However, they are sonically different from post-punk, goth-rock, deathrock, etc.. Therefore, Type O Negative is not a goth band, but a metal band with gothic influences.