Life Is Killing Me (Limited Edition) [Extra tracks, Limited Edition]

After the opening track, a reworked piece of music from "The Munsters", the new sound is heard. The catchy "I Don't Want to Be Me" is the most accessible track on the album, a sort of Type O Negative stylised pop-punk song, with the usual keyboards and fuzzy guitar. It is no doubt a commercial song, but the overall feeling from the new album is that Peter Steele is no longer focusing his songwriting in that direction and is rather allowing the band to produce the sound it originally seemed to be evolving towards.

At times the humour can seem intended purely to be controversial for its own sake, especially in "I Like Goils" which appears on the surface to be an insulting, anti-homosexual message. In fact it is really Steele's comically exaggerated response to the attention he has received from the gay community following a Playgirl shoot! Nonetheless, the return of their light-hearted humour is a welcome one, if sometimes a little needlessly provocative, like the description of a sex change gone wrong in "Angry Inch".

Other notable tracks are the mid-tempo title song "Life Is Killing Me" which holds the usual grave-sounding vocals in a melancholy Doom Metal atmosphere, attacking the greed and detatchment pervading medical care. "...A Dish Best Served Coldly" adds a slightly progressive tinge to the whole affair, as well as demonstrating Steele's bass talents. "Nettie", a respectful tribute to his mother, offers the greatest vocal range, conveying much more emotion.

It's also worth noting that the track order has been altered for the European release, probably to spread out some of the better tracks which originally appeared at the beginning. The reason is that, like most TON albums, the sound eventually becomes a repetative noise, due in a large part to that fuzzy guitar which is so distinctive. And hence, despite a selection of impressive tracks and a progression of their sound, this album is only good enough to secure the band's existing position as one of the big guns.

KEY TRACKS: Life Is Killing Me, I Don't Wanna Be Me, Nettie, ...A Dish Best Served Coldly

The bonus CD is also awesome in its own right with several unreleased themes. Out of the Fire being an unreleased and unused theme made for the WWE wrestler Kane, and all other songs are sweet, especially the cover of Black Sabbath, made by the original band and this is also the 2nd cover version of this Type O have done, with the other Type O version of this being on 'The Least Worst Of' album.

Stay Negative!

Let's look at more interesting stuff.

Peter Steele began his quest when he, Marc and Louie created the band CARNIVORE, this began with demos and then the band were signed to ROADRUNNER or actually ROADRACER as it was in the 80's. Their first self-titled debut in 1986, un-owned by some die-hard CARNIVORE fans, but that was followed by an even more better nugget, 1987's RETALIATION, a must own for all, lots of swearing and complex moodswings by Pete.

In 1991, TON was brought to life, but the other alternative name was SUBZERO. SLOW, DEEP AND HARD is the most disgusting name for an album and should be known world-wide to the mothers of prostitutes. LIFE IS KILLING ME is fantastic in all senses, "Thir13teen" is a good instrumental, from the TV series "The Munsters", "I Don't Wanna Be Me" is simply great, nice chorus and sensible lyrics from Pete's point of view, "Less Than Zero (<0)" has greater lyrics, sound is ace. "Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things) has great music and lyrics very comparable. "I Like Goils" has awesomely funny lyrics and vocals, a simple quote here "But I'm proud not to be PC!A Dish Best Served Coldly" has ace vocals, music, and lyrics, no complaints so far, except the songs last so long, as in Type O's career...

"How Could She" has got woman's names in it, brilliant song, the title track is cool aswell, describing Peter Steele's slow and painful suicide, all of it's parts are basically lowlife kinda style. "Nettie" is a sensitive song where Peter sees the light in his uncontrollable misery. "(We Were) Electrocute" is brilliant, and is on the "Freedy VS. Jason" soundtrack, sensible selection.

"Iydkmigthtky(Gimme That)" is sensible and i felt fair to love this song, i wouldn't bother to describe it more,simply concentate on the Brills, excellents, and fantastics. "Angry Inch" is the size of Peter's penis, i read the lyrics again, Oh Boy! I almost died laughing at them. "Drunk In Paris" is another fantastic instrumental, especially Josh Silver's piano on this nugget. The album closer "The Dream Is Dead" is about a lonely Valentines Day, good ending aswell, overall, Just beyond words!

Peter Stelle, Josh Silver, Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly have produced a great album, BUY THIS! THERE'S A BONUS CD WITH UNRELEASED NUGGETS ASWELL!

~ Calum Fairweather