TYPE O NEGATIVE: LIFE IS KILLING ME

SCORE: 100/100

Type O Negative still manage to shine just as bright as they did on 'October Rust' with their 2003 opus 'Life Is Killing Me'; it opens on an even stronger note than their 1996 LP - and the guitar riffs make this album stand out especially high amongst the massive crowd of gothic metal albums there are to choose from.

The result of Type O Negative shifting back into a heavier set of soundscapes was an album with more memorable moments that lie deep within the guitar riffs and instrumental deliveries in particular - with the vocals following suit. It's much heavier when compared to 'October Rust', and the interesting elements that experiment and mix and match with sounds leave this album feeling lush and entirely full of the most intricately wound detailing imaginable.

'Life Is Killing Me' is another victory lap for the band - it's another dreamlike gothic haze that will completely engulf you in the dark smoke it creates through sound, and it's an album that feels entirely immersive and well worth its runtime. Even though this project has gotten somewhat mixed reception when compared to their other work; it's just as good. 

The two moments that kick this album off set an incredibly high standard for the rest of the album to follow up to, with 'I Don't Wanna Be Me' easily being one of the best songs the genre has to offer - the guitar and drum work are both incredibly, awe-inspiringly strong within this album, with each element coming together into one dark, steamy melting pot of sounds that are worth drooling over. Despite the album feeling like it might be too head strong, it manages to follow up these highs with even more moments that stay on the same level of the playing field. 

Peter Steele dealing with an especially negative outlook on life after feeling like the things he loved were slipping away led to the dark melancholy that is present throughout this album. It's done on a different wavelength than on their earlier material - and most of it came from a genuine place of despair within Steele's life. Him feeling troubled and dealing with what he described as a mid-life crisis made him feel especially down - all of which can be heard being poured out onto this entire album.

'Life Is Killing Me' is closer to straight-laced metal on 'How Could She?' in particular, and the sheer heartache that Steele was going through is written all over this album to every possible degree. It manages to be something so heavily blissful while being so full of sorrow and dread, and it's a striking combination. 

It's well worth its long runtime, and it makes use of style and raw energy to keep the project interesting and more than just simply worthwhile. It's a stunning showcase of the style and sounds that the band became known for, and it feels like a heavier expansion of 'October Rust' that you simply won't want to miss out on.

This album is the one for any fans of heavier gothic material. It lacks the dream-pop aspect of 'October Rust' and opts for more doom metal and alternative metal sounds that give this album an especially jagged edge when compared to the soft/dark sound of 'October Rust'. It's a hugely dark album that makes despair blend seamlessly into themes of love and hatred all at once; and it's an intoxicating combination that you won't want to slip away from.