Type O Negative
Dead Again
SPV Records
Release Dates
* March 13 – USA/Canada
* March 16 – Germany
* March 19 – Europe

I’ve been a Type O Negative fan since 1993 and I gotta tell ya, their latest effort made me pretty happy.

Type O was the first band to use straight up hardcore beats as a backdrop to horror movie organs, dirge and virtuously applied amp feedback with “Slow, Deep and Hard.” “Origin of the Feces” was a “live” album with the SDH songs on it but the characteristic Type O wit was more evident. It had been my favorite album up to this point as well as “Bloody Kisses”, considered by many to be the classic TON album. BK was more sensual but still had oomph. It set the stage for vocalist Peter Steele’s sonic porno phase with “October Rust”, heaped with layers of lush sound and Pete’s mojo. However, the dream (for me) started to die there. I liked “World Coming Down” at first but it was too damn depressing, though the two Halloween songs rocked and some really technically apt parts lit it up. “Life Is Killing Me” to me was just bleh except for the “Anesthesia” track. I hated it, specifically because of the lyrical content but I did think “How Could She” was a very creative piece. It wasn’t fun anymore.

That’s why I was really happy with this new album and would even go so far as to say it’s their best one yet. In “Dead Again,” all the sonic meanderings finally balance out. They took the best snippets of their own innovations as well as what they swipe from everyone else (Black Sabbath, The Cult, the Beatles, Deep Purple, Duran Duran (I think) etc) and tied it up tight.

Keyboardist/producer/guard of the royalties Josh Silver pounds out some beautiful pianowork on the “September Sun” track and he really tears it up a la Deep Purple on a few of the tracks. Really impressive stuff. Guitarist/vocalist Ken Hickey shines on this album. Every album, his work gets better and in my eyes he’s established himself as a damn good, versatile guitarist, between sheer wailing and eliciting atmospheric elements via amp feedback/stringing. He and drummer Johnny Kelly (a great drummer who obviously loves what he does and specifically rocks it on the “Some Stupid Tomorrow” track in grand style) are also in Seventh Void and Danzig, just so you know.

Though he’s one of the best vocalists ever and a fine bassist as well, Peter’s lyrics aren’t usually that impressive. This time, he raises a few eyebrows in “These Three Things” when he preaches against abortion. I do wonder if he would still hold the admirable sentiment if smacked with a paternity suit by a skanky groupie he never thought he’d see again.

However, I would wonder that about any male who is pro-life because I feel that it’s really not a decision for men to make unless they plan to spend money on getting those babies adopted or for the health care/housing costs of the women who are going to be pregnant for nine months without any support from the father.

I myself stand by the Jewish halachic opinion of abortion, which is that it’s basically murder and you don’t do it unless the woman is going to die or go certifiably nuts.

Anyway, another gem from Father Steele is that he seems to have referred to the fact (thanks Zero) that an unbaptized baby can’t get into heaven on that track. I find that very entertaining, whether or not he means it. There is an unconfirmed rumor that he was excommunicated for his snazzy little ditty “Christian Woman” (which incidentally boasted some of his best conceptual work) so if that’s the case, it’s pretty hilarious that he would give that credence. But the man just pulled a Charlie Chaplin on the 25th Anniversary Roadrunner recording and made up a completely new language so there’s often no telling if he means what he says.

Anyway, anything is better than listening to Peter kvetch about his love life and how everyone is mean to him… poor baby.

So, people are jumping from “These Three Things” like it’s a lightning bolt from the sky. It’s already proven to be a great publicity stunt. Judging from the Type O Negative forum, many of his worshippers are liberal uber alles so it’s nice to think they’re feeling slightly uncomfortable.

The one track that annoyed me on the album (besides all the kvetching) was good music with stupid lyrics – the “Halloween in Heaven” song. And the female vocals caused it to sound like the soundtrack for an HBO kids special or something. It grated on my nerves.

But like I said, I think it’s their best album yet. You did a great job, boys.

BRING OUR SOLDIERS HOME!!!!!!! CLICK THE PICTURE FOR MORE INFO