Brooklyn-based goth pioneers Type-O-Negative have always had a macabre way about them, pivoting on black humor and somehow poking fun at dark issues that irk our existence. On their Myspace page they even refer to themselves as "four d**ks from Brooklyn." One thing is certain: they don't take their career or the music industry as seriously as other bands, knowing that this could all end tomorrow. However, this has had no impact on their musical integrity and ability to deliver album after album of great music to their fans. Before every album comes out, rumors circulate that it's going to be the last Type-O album, yet they keep putting out new music. Whether it's their openly talked-about alcohol and substance abuses, a side project, or an old band doing some reunion shows, the only thing that has really been impacted is the time between release dates. It's been four years since their last record, Life is Killing Me. The band—Peter Steel - vocals, bass, Kenny Hickey - guitar, vocals, Josh Silver - keyboards, and Johnny Kelly - drums—have just released Dead Again on SPV. Diehard Type-O fans have already hailed this as one of their all-time favorites in the Type-O catalogue.

      Drummer Johnny Kelly recently discussed the past, present and future of Type-O-Negative.

     InsideCx: Why has it been so long between records?

     JK: There is no simple answer for that; I can't say that I'm happy about it. Four years between records is a long time. I've been playing with Danzig since 2002. I've even gotten Kenny involved, and I was fortunate to keep working playing drums. I mean, they are very similar bands.

     InsideCx: You did a DVD with SPV, but Dead Again is the first full-length album since leaving Roadrunner Records.

     JK: Between Carnivore and Type-O, Pete was with [Roadrunner] for like 20 years, and when the contract was up we needed to see what kind of interest there would be in us. SPV offered the best European deal—they are the best European label—then they counter-offered with a worldwide deal because they wanted to make a stronger presence here in the U.S.

     InsideCx: There has been a lot of talk that this and every Type-O record is going to be the last one.

     JK: Well, sometimes we look at it like … here we are in 2007 and we just speculate—when is it going to end? That's how we look at it. Since I joined in 1993, this band has been destined for failure and to break up, but here it is 14 years later and we are still here. We are the thing that would not leave, just like the Saturday Night Live skit.

     InsideCx: Type-O has such a unique sound. You are true pioneers of this era of gothic music. You have helped it evolve and have influenced so many people.

     JK: When you think about it, it has always been around—Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, early 1980s sub-culture. We took that aspect of it and mixed it up with Black Sabbath and the Beatles. It's hard to say that we are an influential band. It's hard to say yes to that. There are some things that we have done differently. After the band is long dead and gone, 15 or 20 years down the road, you will see whatever impact the band really had. [laughs] It certainly helped that our lead singer has fangs!

     InsideCx: How do you look back at your career?

     JK: I can't complain. When I was a kid listening to Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, I was like, this is what I want to do! Be careful what you wish for! I'm 39 now and I'm like, what am I going to be doing? I did not have any other plan; this is what I always worked toward.