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LIFE OF AGONY
1993 - River Runs Red.
1995 - Ugly.
more LIFE OF AGONY.
way more Helter Skelter.

October 12, 1993 - 2023: 30 years of: River Runs Red.

A new type of NYHC.

Shining from the dirty underground, here's a bloody through and through concept-album. Brooklyn's blue-collar LIFE OF AGONY, along label-mates BIOHAZARD and MADBALL, were part of this new breed from the early 90s that crafted a modern-hybrid between traditional-thrash and hardcore-punk. Fueled with a street-level vibe and lethal tone, all wrapped with angelic vocals ...LIFE OF AGONY is a unique blend.

Fast and furious, a new beast is here and "This Time" now one gets out of this pit bruise-less. Metal's Yin-Yang, aggressive downtuned thrash and Keith Caputo's superb voice. The massive hammering of "Underground" is another vulgar display of power, while the MTV mosh-video for "Through And Through" brings the pushing and shoving right into your cable-TV.

Twisted and tormented, the heavy melodies of "Words And Music" and the hardcore punches of "Bad Seed" ups the game with both Big Four thrash and CBGB anger. The unannounced 1:56sec perfect street burst of the title-track "River Runs Red" and the equally brutal "My Eyes" are both mandatory stage-divers.

"Concept-album" and "hardcore-punk", two opposite attracts that tend to never be issued by the same artist, yet LIFE OF AGONY sets the pace. River Runs Red is an intricate voyage into a teenager's week: from losing his girlfriend on Monday, being harassed by his angry Mother, to losing his job on Thursday ...and to ending his own pain late on Friday. The last minute-and-a-half of this CD won't leave your mind at ease.

Produced and recorded at System Two with TYPE O NEGATIVE's Josh Silver, the drum-tracks were also performed by then TYPE O NEGATIVE skinsman, Sal Abruscato. Rapidly joining the band full-time, LIFE OF AGONY became a major part of Roadrunner Records's facelift, leaving thrashmetal and deathmetal aside, while morphing into 1993-94's new sounds and rock-avenues.

From another scene, a true metal-gem, from the decade that gave us a fresh new outlook on traditional heavymetal and it's status-quo. The band would dig deeper and get even more personal on 1995's dark Ugly CD.

"Raise your hands if you understand..."

*
This Time = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HnDVKiWDYM
Through And Through = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCijH0USo8
River Runs Red = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGKCDrAzMZo&list=OLAK5uy_l13DmbMWj40FJ0g5epz-1qBAp7x4JWYbY
Live in NYC in 93
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kftc22znoOs
MTV interview in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIHDvcm7YAY

October 10, 1995 - 2025: 30 years of: Ugly.

Beauty in darkness.

Bursting out with the explosive emotions of 1993's River Runs Red debut-CD, this gang has a different twist. From the depth of the indie NYHC-scene, arises it's favorite rodent: Brooklyn's LIFE OF AGONY.

Forget about the Big Apple, this is the biggest guitar-tone of all, as "Seasons" kicks-in. Thump, groove and that velvety voice. The heat rises-up a notch on the street-level vibed "I Regret" and the build-up on the sick introvert title-track of "Ugly".

Heaviness, crunch and sentiment are flying high on "Other Side Of The River" and the tearful "Let's Pretend". Newwave gets a 90s facelift on the SIMPLE MINDS classic "Don't You Forget About Me" ...a beautiful touch that fits like a glove.

With DIY esthetics, even in this saturated scene, their thrashmetal sounds is unmistakable. Almost gone, was the hardcore punches as this is a fully mature band ...yet the jump-factor is still present on some cuts.

The seed is sown, emo-rock before emo-rock was even a thing. Mid 90s metal-bands with character and soul, new soundscapes and fresh attitude. On stage, the delivery was close to perfection, what a wonderful time to be alive, I know, I was there.

LIFE OF AGONY would tweak the pace and embrace new horizons, as displayed in 1997's Soul Searching Sun CD.

*
Ugly = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mi07oOSE7Y&list=OLAK5uy_mQzaBST8M1zkqZrhVI-QAEhaYBVASn6Pw
Interview in NYC in 1995
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbCA8Giy93I
MuchMusic interview on Power30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s3wIblFfkY
some band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRQLdgflY60

more LIFE OF AGONY:

#Alternative-Metal 1992