1999’s World Coming Down sees Peter Steele
and co in more serious mode than usual ie., fewer annoying joke songs, though we do start with the sound of a skipping CD (Skip It) for 11
seconds before first track White Slavery opens with portentous organ before Kenny
Hickey’s achingly slow Black Sabbathy riffs drag their way into the song,
ushering in Steele’s doomy vocals. In
common with many other tracks here, it’s a slow, anthemic track, taking its
time (eight minutes) to unfold.
There are three thematic short interludes
here, Sinus, Liver and Lung, featuring heartbeats, heavy breathing, and
agonized screams, designed to disturb.
Sticking to the ‘songs’, Everyone I Love Is Dead starts with semi-acoustic
chords before Steele yells “goddammit”, ushering in the heavy, sludgy riffs
over a delightfully dark melody.
It’s the melodies which are the key as to
why this band works so well. The moody
Creepy Green Light is another fine example of this, yet again starting slowly,
over a lone bassline this time before the sledgehammer metal riffs enter. After an abrasive, growling opening,
Everything Dies is almost goth power-ballad, while Pyretta Blaze has the poppiest
chorus on the album.
A trademark of Type O Negative is the
unexpected cover. This time it’s the
turn of the Beatles to get their unique treatment, and here they turn Day
Tripper, If I Needed Someone and I Want You (She’s So Heavy) into their trademark
black holes. Day Tripper in particular
works surprisingly well.
Type O Negative have slowed right down on
this album, only the Beatles medley is beyond crawl pace. Despite this, the album is saved from
dullness by some fine melodies on another strong effort from this band.
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