Neon Nightmare - Faded Dream Review

When it comes to heavy fall tunes it’s tough to top Type O Negative’s contributions to the craft. Neon Nightmare and their debut Faded Dream are a full-on celebration of the band’s works, even starting with the “opening joke” of buzzing cell phone in the form of “Higher Calling” modernizing poor audio feedback from a stereo in 1996.

Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, ex Gatecreeper) doesn’t hide his adoration for the “Drab Four.” “Lost Silver” has various keys played throughout mixing up everything that made his muse Peter Steele and company so poignant from Bloody Kisses to Dead Again, total fan service. You get a little something from each of the albums on that run blended together to completely capture the mood.

“It’s All Over (For You)” is a slow burn feeling like guitarists Kenny Hickey and Josh Silver were playing alongside Garrett in the mid to late ’90s. “LATW2TG” and “They Look Like Shadows” are proof that there is no stone unturned throughout the discography giving a bit more adrenaline to what is typically assumed to be a slow moving band. These speedier rockers usually provide the oomph to get the maximum from listeners on repeated listens.

Garrett does the wise thing trying not to sound overtly like the baritone titan who fronted the group he is emulating, allowing for fans of Spirit Adrift to pick him out of the lineup as he is also comfortable being the former band’s ghostly fifth Beatle, still contributing to the band’s legacy under a different moniker 17 years after the band had recorded any new music.

Garrett does a great job of getting maximum value from ripping off a band (being in on the joke from the start is part of what makes it work so well) that was ripe for the picking and the joke itself is enough to endear fans of Type O to Faded Dream, an ode to locksmiths, wolf moons and loving things to death. Neon Nightmare are a dream homage to one of metal’s unique fallen soldiers.

(released November 1, 2024 on 20 Buck Spin)