A band who have been with us for about 10 years, Type O Negative have gone from being cult favourites to a growing international reputation as one of the gothic / rock scenes most highly respected bands.

I recently had the chance to chat with Johnny Kelly, drummer for the band, who had just come from a traffic jam to do some press stuff in anticipation of the release of the band's new album World Coming Down, whicch I consider to be the best thing the band have yet done.

I mentioned the improvement I thought this album was over the band's previous releases.

"Hey thanks man. You know we tried very hard with this album, as we always do. I hope that people like it as much as you did. I think the secret to making music that people will like is to first write stuff you like yourself."

Having only listened to World Coming Down only the night before, I mentioned that despite some of the lyrical content, I thought a lot of people would get into it.

"It's strange you know, a lot of people think that because music like ours has, I don't know, moody lyrics or whatever, that you can't back it up with great music you know what I mean? Well, why can't a song about something like real life, you know the real depressing things, have a great hook too? I guess that's what's made this album so different, because a lot of people have gotten into the music as much as they have with the lyrics."

Talk turned to the production of the album & Johnny's preference for live gigs came to the fore.

"Yeah, I prefer a live performance, though I don't mind working in the studio. I find live performances a little bit frightening as well as enjoying them a lot. I guess it all comes down to the fact that when you play live, you have to get it just right, then & there. You don't have the backup of working in the studio & if a band can't make it live, then they're not going to make it at all I think. Any mistake you make during a gig is going to be noticed immediately & if the challenge of getting it right at the moment you need to is a big buzz."

With that point, I enquired which the rest of the band liked, live or studio work.

"Well as I just said, I like the studio, but for me the buzz is live. Josh & Peter seem to like working in the studio though, I guess because they like the process of getting the music to sound just the way they want it to. The studio has it's uses though & you need to get your music to sound right there too, because for most people, your albums are where most people come across a band."

With the music side of things out of the way & more promotional work on the way, I asked how the band viewed the possibilities presented with the Internet.

"We've been interested in the Internet for a little while now & we reckon it's got a great potential for promotion & I guess as well as a way of fans keeping up with what's happening with their favourite band. There's a lot you can do with the Internet & we've looked at making our music available online as well."

That last comment made me ask Johnny about MP3, which I've asked a lot of bands recently.

"Well, personally, I think MP3 has some real problems with piracy & the people behind it are seriously going to need to address that before we or I guess a lot of other bands are going to take it seriously as a tool for distribution. We've always had bootlegging going on & import editions of albums which might be from other countries, but this is a whole other thing we're looking at & it's a little bit scary I suppose."

I lastly had to find out what the band listen to that might influence the sund of Type O Negative.

"Well, really, I have to go back to the classics, you can't go wrong. Looking at my CDs here, there's bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, you know, all the usual. I don't really listen to a lot of new music as there isn't a lot that interests me for any length of time. There are bands that are doing interesting things, like Korn, but that one just passed me by. I guess the influence thing goes from what you listen to - you know, the music makes the band. We're all pretty much the same I think & I think that's what makes us sound a little different."

Check out the band's new album World Coming Down out now through Roadrunner or watch for them touring soon.