Intense and heavy, yet light-hearted and melodic, Type-O Negative’s latest release Life Is Killing Me has managed to encapsulate a perfect balance between nihilism and black humour. The album features eleven anthems of sex, hate and impending doom on a global scale.

Since the beginning Type O Negative has been injecting its fans with its gothic-tinged metal, and still, over a decade later they have managed to maintain their sense of humour and particular distaste for political correctness despite their success. The hooks are catchy, the guitaring confronting and engulfing and the vocals deep and melodic.

The album is dominated by a dark, almost pop-metal feel, from the ear-catching single I Don’t Wanna Be to the slower cry of Life Is Killing Me to the smooth, deep groove of Anesthesia. The obligatory ballad can be founded in the sarcastic cries of The Dream is Dead, and the as for the progressive epic, look no further than A Dish Better Served Coldly.

Type O Negative use keyboards in much the same way Fear Factory did in its height, creating an atmosphere for which to enhance the deep melody of the vocalist. However, more unconventional song structures, a light hearted attitude and (god yes!) refreshing guitar solos separates Type O Negative from the rest of the horde.

From the rather eerie introduction Uncle Freddy Died, to the final high-energy track How Could She, Type O Negative successfully creates a half-serious tasteful album for the likes of which we have not heard for many years. The evolution of the band has brought it to its highpoint, where it stands to remain for quiet some time. A breath of fresh air into the dark, musty and rotting crowded den we call the popular music industry.

Type-O Negative – Life is Killing Me 
Label: Road Runner Records
Rating: 
 

Tracks: Uncle Freddy Died  I Don’t Wanna Be  Life Is Killing Me  Anesthesia  The Dream Is Dead  Todd Ship Gods (Above all things)  Electrocute  Less Than Zero  A Dish Better Served Coldly  Load And Queer  I Like Goils  How Could She

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