Decibel Mag review:
Of all of the failed metal bands to reunite, why Life of Agony? The Brooklyn, NY neo-thrash group produced three albums for Roadrunner in the mid-90s before frontman Keith Caputo left to become a singer-songwriter (and, later, a member of the forgettable fetish-industrial band Freax). We wont even get into the groups last gasp effort to soldier on with the guy from Ugly Kid Joe on vocals.
Even in their prime, Life of Agony wasnt exactly setting the metal world on fire. The bands first album, River Runs Red, stays true to the groups roots in the New York thrash/hardcore scene, but later efforts veered abruptly to a melodic grunge style that didnt seem to appeal to, well, anyone. But memories are short, and metal fans elevated LOA to cult status in recent years, as highlighted by a run of surprisingly sold-out concert dates during a 2003 reunion tour.
So now comes the bands inevitable second chance, this time on a major label. Fans who dismissed the groups late interest in dirgy, grungy guitar licks and Stone Temple Pilots worship should avoid Broken Valleythis is essentially a really good Velvet Revolver album, with hints of psychedelica, Sabbath and the Beatles floating around. The first single, Love to Let You Down, may also be LOAs finest momentCaputo channels his inner, post-rehab Scott Weiland when he barks Im willing to walk again/ willing to step back into the light over a great fast-slow-fast song structure that should be recognizable to anyone whos listened to modern rock radio in the last ten years. The glammy Last Cigarette is another winner, thanks to guitarist Joey Zs awesome, slithery guitar solo that would do Slash proud (yep, more Velvet Revolver-isms).
In the end, however, its Caputo who elevates the album above its modern-rock brethren. Sure, he channels/apes all the grunge greats (Cornell, Cobain, Weiland and especially Layne Staley on the Alice in Chains rip Junk Sick), but hes finally, finally, finally developing his own style. On The Day He Died, Caputo captures all the grief, franticness and anger of watching his own dad pass away right before him (and thanks to the rather pummeling beat, its not some kind of Dance With My Father schmaltz). And on the epic title track, Caputo shows off some real range, starting out in a creepy whisper and slowly building up to a rapid-fire wail that he gave all that he had while his bandmates channel early Zeppelin.
Dont get me wrongtheres a good chunk of filler here (including pretty much the entire middle of the album), and originality isnt a strong suit for the band. But Broken Valley feels like the breakthrough for a band thats suffered long enough. Good luck to them, and they deserve all the success thats bound to follow. As for me, Im still waiting for that Carnivore reunion.
