This has been a more than satisfactory re-encounter with TYPE O NEGATIVE.
Despite a little shadow of doubt I had, Dead Again (released in 3 different dates in the world) proves to be next to Bloody Kisses and October Rust one of this band’s better works so far.
To be honest, I don’t think I enjoyed the previous release very much, except for a few songs like I Don’t Wanna Be Me or We Were (Electrocute).
But hell what a fucking come-back!!!
TYPE O NEGATIVE starts this new production really strong with the song that gives title to this album, it has awesome riffs, great rhythm, a very catchy chorus in their pure tradition and an end that makes total justice for such a great piece of ear-exploding greatness.
For the next 2 songs, the band dwells between sudden (but totally solid) slow-then-fast rhythms, and good vocal experimenting. I believe that somehow the abundance of more fast-paced songs in this album and the previous one really mark an era for this group.
The guitar work in this record is sublime. You know what to expect from TYPE O NEGATIVE in that sense, all the riffs sound crushing, in their purest vibe and they are excellent in composition.
I particularly like what they did in the song September Sun musically and lyrically. It’s one of my favorite tracks for it contains lots of elements that were fully studied in previous releases, but also innovation; a detail I particularly liked from the song was that part when Peter Steele sings in a different language (I don’t want to speculate about what it really is).
The rest of the songs pretty much add the seal of quality in Dead Again. Nothing sounds unnecessary, or out of place. Songs like An Ode To Locksmiths prove once more how good experiments with classic-style riffing can be taken to a fine end while the last track Hail And Farewell To Britain waves goodbye at us with the conviction, power and the confidence of leaving a great album behind.
TYPE O NEGATIVE did an amazing job, Dead Again proves that they sound, sounded and will always sound like nothing else, but still they can re-invent and mutate their own sound with great results.