Wanna know what I think? The human race is pretty freaking strange. I mean... people seem to be naturally drawn to things of an anomalous nature, things that differ from the norm. At the same time, though, the masses have a tendency to reject the brilliance of that which is truly strange. Ladies and gentlemen, that just may explain why Type O Negative is not a household name.

With their 2003 disc Life Is Killing Me, the New York-based rockers continue to fascinate me. Their ways are dark and mysterious. Their bizarre humor is a key element of their music. While Type O Negative is definitely not a "band for everyone", it's undeniable that they are one of a kind. From lead vocalist/bassist Peter Steele's deep, rumbly vocal intonations and his wonderfully eccentric lyrics to the band's heavy usage of haunting keyboards, every element of Type O's music is fresh and innovative.

"Thir13Teen" is the crunchy, gritty instrumental that opens up Life Is Killing Me beautifully. It melts right into the album's first 'full' song, "I Don't Wanna Be Me", a surprisingly uptempo, energetic number with swirling keyboards and jumpy guitars. Although it's quite a jolting track, Peter's lyrics help to contribute a truly melancholic feel to it -- "Please don't dress in black / when you're at his wake... / Don't go there to mourn, but to celebrate."

Drummer Johnny Kelly gets a chance to pound the kit up on the humorous "I Like Goils". Its pace is similar to "I Don't Wanna Be Me", and as its title may suggest, it's Peter's tongue-in-cheek response to rumors regarding his sexuality. "...A Dish Best Served Coldly" immediately follows, and its slow-building, creepy structure is overwhelmingly beautiful. Not only does this song offer up one of Peter's most amazing vocal performances, it also has great lyrics -- "In this bleak world of absent law / one in which the just are whores / An honor to die for the truth / an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth."

"Life Is Killing Me" is the epitome of a perfect title track. Its pace is unpredictable -- its beginning is slow, with sludgy guitars and eerie sound effects, but it soon speeds up. Peter analyzes the medical field in a way that it's probably never been tackled before with his snarl of "Doctors and thieves, they both wear masks / Overpaid meat magicians." "Nettie" may not be quite as lengthy as its predecessors, but it's yet another enjoyable, emotional track. Peter's resonant voice is chilling here, spilling over with emotion in the song's soaring verses.

The last quarter of Life Is Killing Me perplexes me. Some of it just doesn't grab my attention like Type O's work usually does, and some of it is nothing short of incredible. For instance, "(We Were) Electrocute" has a lovely, ethereal feel, but its slight redundancy bogs it down. "IYDKMIGTHTKY (Gimme That)" is another track that highlight's Peter's voice excellently -- his husky whispers in the verses are a nice contrast to his plaintive cries that shortly follow. Honestly, the song is quite neurotic, which makes it all the more intriguing. The acronym stands for "If you don't kill me, I'm going to have to kill you," which Peter just so happens to shout several times throughout the song.

"Angry Inch" is a comical song about a sex-change operation that went horribly wrong. It gives the album a refreshing change in tempo, with clicky, insanely fast guitars. Peter's coarse growls of "Six inches forward and five inches back! / I got an angry inch!" are instantly memorable -- this is a song that tends to stick with you for quite some time after listening to it. I honestly think Type O Negative is the only band that could pull something like this off. "Anesthesia" is a bass-heavy, poignant song that stands out as one of the album's very best. The suspenseful pauses and blaring keyboards add so much to the song's gloomy atmosphere.

"Drunk In Paris" is a brief, moody instrumental that leads the listener into the closing track, also known as "The Dream Is Dead". This song stands out as one of the darkest, most cathartic moments on Life Is Killing Me -- Peter's forlorn lyrics ("Champagne glass of blood and wine / on chocolate hearts alone I dine") are accompanied by piercing, sludgy guitars. This was a great choice for a closing track, as it seems to be perfectly embody every single thing that makes Type O such an entertaining band.

As I mentioned earlier, Type O Negative is simply not a band that will appeal to every single rock/metal lover (well...then again, what band appeals to EVERYONE?). I say this because their songs aren't particularly radio-friendly or catchy, and their music (this album, in particular) may need time to "grow" on listeners. I can't imagine that anyone who is even remotely familiar with the mind-blowingly wonderful voice of Peter Steele can deny that he's extraordinarily talented. Life Is Killing Me is a nice mix of uptempo and slower Type O songs, and it's also got a nice lyrical balance of gritty humor and pure grief. Are you bored with your CD collection? Feeling adventurous? Check this disc out.

Recommended: Yes