Burning1:
A band like TYPE O NEGATIVE just doesn’t need an introduction. Songs like Black °1, Christian Woman and My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend should belong in everyone’s collection. But if you are new to the goth/dark/metalscene, you won’t get disappointed. Buying a TYPE O NEGATIVE album is always great, you won’t get those cynical lyrics elsewhere! 4 years is a long period to release Life is Killing Me, but this band will never be forgotten.

If you’re familiar with TYPE O NEGATIVE’s earlier work, you already know that they always fool the listeners with the first track of the album. Remember the moaning girls on Bloody Kisses or even 1 min of noise on October Rust, these guys are always in for a joke. This time we do get a musical piece, but one that never leaves the starting grid!

But then I Don’t Wanna Be Me, sure is a real TYPE O NEGATIVE song. It doesn’t have that dark atmosphere as we are used to, but more the no nonsense approach like we find on Kill All The White People, an easy sing-along song with attitude. No surprise they took this song as the first single of the album, make sure to check out the video clip that’s downloadable at Roadrunner Records!

The one song that really had my attention, was I Like Goils, which is actually pronounced as “I like girls”. It was really a long time ago that I had this much fun reading lyrics. As it seems, Peter Steel sure doesn’t like male attention and what a way of making that clear! “There’s no way I’m gonna drop the soap” and “I hate all men including you” are only a little preview of what we get to hear on this track, but I can guarantee you, it gets so rude you’ll almost wet your pants!

Reviewing every track of this album sure isn’t my intention, I could write for days about all the elements that can be found on Life Is Killing Me, the atmosphere…the return of the sitar...the cynical humor...the signature sound… and of course Peter’s unique voice! If you already loved TYPE O NEGATIVE in the past, you won’t get disappointed here! And if you’re new to them, this album sure will tell you why they are so well known!

A nice bonus to this review is that I actually received this promo CD from Kenny, the TYPE O NEGATIVE, at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. Among the other bandmembers, I even had a long talk with Mr. Steele himself. He hates beer, but none’s perfect!
After seeing their show, it seems like these guys never left the stage!

Jussie:
Amidst all the doom gloom and tragedy the bands new material shows a renewed side to the comical humor of that of the lead singer Peter Steele. Having been through some chaotic experiences with the band, the fab four from Brooklyn headed into the studio to lay down some of the best music since there last album World Coming Down. Life Is Killing Me shows a more solid than ever approach to the bands foundation of music. Songs such a Life Is Killing Me and The Dream is Dead, shows the more harder edge sound from the band that has been known for melodic haunting overtones. Kenny Hickey’s guitar shows ever present here with more of a technical twist to the riffs and leads. Seems to me be the band is moving in a more serious direction. Life Is Killing Me, shows the pure seeds of genius lyrically as well as musically. Josh Silver gives his all time best with the inner emotional depth with that of the song Anesthesia. TYPE O NEGATIVE as a whole keeps surprising fans and reviewers alike with their music and overall being true to what they believe. Peter Steele’s lyrical concepts with the new material are heartfelt and humorous like. His signature sound with his low B tuned bass tones are more pronounced on the songs of Todd’s Ship God’s (Above All Thing’s) and A Dish Better Served Coldly. Keeping the rhythm section going Johnny Kelly’s incessant rhythmic beat still keeping the solid sound groove tight and adjusted. Life Is Killing Me is an album that shows the true identity of the band that keeps reaching to new levels surprising all whom listen. TYPE O NEGATIVE tops it again.