Review Summary: Whilst it may not replace 'Bloody Kisses' or 'October Rust' as the definitive Type O album, LIKM is certainly a worthy addition to their canon, showcasing all colours of their black and green rainbow.
A (comparatively) more lighthearted affair than grim predecessor 'World Coming Down', 'Life Is Killing Me' stands proudly amongst the Brooklyn quartet's canon, showcasing all colours of their black and green rainbow, striking a fine line between head-banging and heartbreaking.
Following doomish intro 'Thir13teen', opener 'I Don't Wanna Be Me', quashes any speculation that Type O have dulled with age; an uptempo riff powerhouse, and arguably one of the finest tracks of Type O's career, it sports enough punk riffery, goth ambiance and chorus catchiness to confirm that despite the ironic title of the LP and Type O's inherent pessimism, the 'Drab Four' are very much alive and kicking. The album is truly an achievement in the sense that it caters to all facet's of Type O's signature goth/doom sound, from the psychedelic flavours of 'Less Than Zero' to the 80's inflected '(We Were) Electrocute', the NY band still manage to sound cohesive and consistent, true to their dark sense of humour and characteristic contrast of aggression and sensitivity.
Akin to the rest of their back catalogue, Type O do not shy away from emotional topics, gentle giant frontman Peter Steele milking his despair to the point of intensity, whether he's waxing lyrical about his mother ('Nettie') or bittersweet revenge ('…A Dish Best Served Coldly'). This raw emotion is contrasted with the more humorous tracks on the album, such as the punkish 'I Like Goils' and the cover song (every Type O album has one) 'Angry Inch', which deal with fending off homosexual advances and transgenderism respectively. 'How Could She?', whilst lyrically in the realm of fantasy with regards to infatuation with TV starlets, has Steele vent his frustrations with cries of 'why don't you love me anymore?', his pained bass-baritone vox swimming in a sea of heavy guitars, synth ambiance and Beatles-style harmonies as the track climaxes. With every release it gets harder for one to discern where and when Steele and co. are actually joking, as even with more apparently lighthearted songs, the pain Steele channels appears startlingly genuine.
Whilst it may not replace 'Bloody Kisses' or 'October Rust' as the definitive Type O album, LIKM is certainly a worthy addition to their canon, and the sonic balance and contrast within make for a commendable introduction to the band.
Stand out tracks; 'I Don't Wanna Be Me', 'Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things)', 'Life Is Killing Me', 'The Dream Is Dead'
RIP Peter Steele.
