Life Of Agony - Rivers Runs Red + Ugly + Soul Searching Sun + 1989-1999 (1993/1995/1997/1999) [4 albums to 1 combined repost]

Brooklyn, NY's crossover legends Life of Agony formed in 1989. They perfected their angst-filled hardcore/heavy metal hybrid along the way, obtaining a devoted audience in the process. Their first studio album, River Runs Red, was similar to their stage show at the time – straight-up energy and aggression in a hardcore/thrash format, with shards of heavy metal cutting through at times, and the group toured extensively upon its release. Once the tour was completed, LOA went directly back into the studio to work on their next album, 1995's Ugly, which signaled a complete overhauling of the band's signature heavy-duty sound. The album resembled the sounds of the alternative stars of the day, especially Stone Temple Pilots, and it wasn't greeted favorably by the record-buying public. LOA were still able to retain their audience, and the resulting tour was a success, as they opened for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Type O Negative, and Anthrax.

Drummer Abruscato exited the band after the tour, and was replaced by ex-Pro Pain/Crumbsuckers drummer Dan Richardson. Their next release, 1997's Soul Searching Sun, followed essentially the same formula as its predecessor, and was again met by a varied response.

Keith Caputo left the group before the tour, letting the members know that his heart was no longer in the music. The other bandmembers were crushed, but because of their commitments they needed to fill the spot immediately. At an Anthrax show a few years before, former Ugly Kid Joe vocalist Whitfield Crane had told Joey Z. about his desire to play heavier music, so LOA's manager spoke to Crane and he jumped at the chance. The new lineup had only a week to rehearse, and the bandmembers barely knew Crane when they let him join. Once the tour ended, they went back to the studio to record, only to realize that they no longer wanted to continue as Life of Agony without Caputo. They flirted with the idea of Robert singing with Stuck Mojo bassist Corey Lowery filling his spot, but the lineup was doomed from the start and the band officially disbanded in April of 1999. (They have reunited later, in 2003).

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Life Of Agony - Rivers Runs Red + Ugly + Soul Searching Sun + 1989-1999 (1993/1995/1997/1999) [4 albums to 1 combined repost]

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• Joey Z. - guitar • Sal Abruscato - drums • Keith Caputo - lead vocals, keys • Alan Robert - bass •

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Life Of Agony - Rivers Runs Red + Ugly + Soul Searching Sun + 1989-1999 (1993/1995/1997/1999) [4 albums to 1 combined repost]

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With their unique combination of New York hardcore, metal, and a touch of spooky grunge vaguely reminiscent of Alice in Chains, Life of Agony got their career off to a fine critical and commercial beginning with their debut release, River Runs Red. Brooklynite veterans of their city's legendary hardcore scene, vocalist Keith Caputo, guitarist Joey Z., and bassist Alan Robert were joined by former Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato in 1993. The group released this disc on Roadrunner records shortly thereafter. Dark is probably the first word that comes to mind when listening to River Runs Red. Z.'s grinding guitars dominate the mix with a metallic croaking that's distinctive and sonically ahead of its time. The grungier tracks featured at the beginning of the record ("This Time," "Underground") stand out, along with some more reckless hardcore material like "Method of Groove." Caputo's howling tenor has a muffled tone that while passionate, sounds undeveloped. The singer's delivery is unique, however, and it must have grown on more than a few listeners, as this debut garnered respectable sales numbers and the band was given plenty of choice opening slots on their tour to support it. Passionate, serious, and heavy, River Runs Red is one of the early '90s' better metal debuts.

~ Vincent Jeffries, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. This Time
02. Underground
03. Monday
04. River Runs Red
05. Through And Through
06. Words And Music
07. Thursday
08. Bad Seed
09. My Eyes
10. Respect
11. Method Of Groove
12. The Stain Remains
13. Friday

all lyrics, melodies & musical concepts by Alan Robert
all music and arrangements by Life Of Agony.


Produced by Josh Silver
Engineered by Ed Reed and Joe Marciano
Recorded & Mixed at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC

Release Date: October 12, 1993
Format: Original Recording.
Label: Roadrunner Records
Catalog No.: RR 9043-2

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Life Of Agony - Rivers Runs Red + Ugly + Soul Searching Sun + 1989-1999 (1993/1995/1997/1999) [4 albums to 1 combined repost]

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For listeners unaccustomed to blistering, noisy metal, Life of Agony will be agonizing. However, fans of the genre will find the band to be among the best of the mid-'90s, capable of spitting out razor-sharp riffs. What makes Ugly work is the band's grasp of sonic texture – they can make even their quiet moments menacing.

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Seasons
02. I Regret
03. Lost At 22
04. Other Side Of The River
05. Let's Pretend
06. Ugly
07. Drained
08. How It Would Be
09. Unstable
10. Damned If I Do
11. Fears
12. Don't You (Forget About Me)

all songs written by members of LOA, except "12" by Keith Forsey & Steven Schiff
(originally performed by Simple Minds for the film "The Breakfast Club")


Produced by Steve Thompson. Mixed by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero
Engineered by Mike Marciano, Eddie Reed and Jay Ryan
Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY. Mixed at River Sound, New York
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC

Release Date: October 10, 1995
Format: Original Recording.
Label: Roadrunner Records
Catalog No.: RR 8924-2

In the early '90s, Life of Agony was a straight-ahead hardcore metal band. They built up a loyal following by incessant touring and word of mouth, with little MTV or radio airplay. On their second album, 1995's Ugly, the band chose a different musical path – they tried melding their hardcore with the melodic alterna-metal of Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains. The album wasn't given a warm reception from longtime fans or the record-buying public. The group was now faced with a new dilemma; should they stay true to their newly decided musical direction, or conform to their fans' expectations of what Life of Agony's music should sound like? The group chose to stick to their guns and do what their hearts told them to on Soul Searching Sun. It's a mixed affair with some tracks succeeding (such as the opener "Hope"), while others fall flat (the clean guitar-driven ballad "My Mind is Dangerous" and the drug addict-cliché "Heroin Dreams"). New drummer Dan Richardson (ex-Pro-Pain) fits the band perfectly, able to handle their musical schizophrenia with no problem. Soul Searching Sun will certainly not be the album that wins back the group's old hardcore fans, but that wasn't Life of Agony's musical goal in the first place.

~ Greg Prato, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Hope
02. Weeds
03. Gently Sentimental
04. Tangerine
05. My Mind Is Dangerous
06. Neg
07. Lead You Astray
08. Heroin Dreams
09. None
10. Angry Tree
11. Hemophiliac In Me
12. Desire
13. Whispers
14. River Runs Red (Re-Zamped) [Bonus track]
15. Let's Pretend (Trippin') [Bonus track]
16. Weeds (Unplugged) [Bonus track]

all music by Life Of Agony. Lyrics by Alan Robert and (or/with) Keith Caputo


Produced and Mixed by Phil Nicolo and Life Of Agony
Recorded & Mixed at Studio 4 Recording, Conshohocken, PA.
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY.

Release Date: September 9, 1997
Format: Original Recording.
Label: Roadrunner Records
Catalog No.: RR 8816-2




1989–1999 is a compilation album released by Life of Agony in 1999 through Roadrunner Records. It contains nine songs from the demos the band released, some bonus tracks of previous releases as well as a few extra tracks. The chorus for "Dancing with the Devil" (Demo) was eventually kept to be used for the chorus in "Other side of the River" from 'Ugly'. Tracks 10 and 11 were bonus tracks of the 'Ugly' album and tracks 12 and 13 of the 'Soul Searching Sun' album. The S.O.D. cover songs were originally recorded for a tribute album, which was never released. These cover songs are sung by guitarist Joey Z.

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Life Of Agony - Rivers Runs Red + Ugly + Soul Searching Sun + 1989-1999 (1993/1995/1997/1999) [4 albums to 1 combined repost]

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Not a career overview compilation, but a collection of previously unreleased material from throughout Life of Agony's tenure, 1989-1999 gathers 15 tracks that have never before seen the light of day on CD, including live performances, covers, and assorted outtakes. It's primarily a package designed for devoted fans, who will find plenty of hidden gems to unearth.

~ Steve Huey, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Here I Am, Here I Stay (originally from "The Stain Remains" demo, May 1991)
02. Depression (originally from "The Stain Remains" demo, May 1991)
03. Plexiglass Gate (August 1992 writing sessions, never officially released on demo) (originally from "East Coast Assault" comp.)
04. 3 Companions (August 1992 writing sessions, never officially released on demo)
05. Drowning (August 1992 writing sessions, never officially released on demo)
06. Dancing With The Devil (August '92 writing sessions, never officially released on demo)
07. Step Aside (originally from "Step Aside" demo, June 1990)
08. Colorblind (originally from "Step Aside" demo, June 1990)
09. March Of The S.O.D./Sgt. "D" And The S.O.D. (recorded at Krusty's Funhouse, Yonkers, NY, July 1997)
10. Coffee Break (originally from limited edition "Ugly" tin metal box CD)
11. Redemption Song (originally from limited edition "Ugly" tin metal box CD)
12. How It Would Be '97 (recorded at The Barn, Conshoshocken, PA, June 1997) (originally from "Weeds" slimline CD single)
13. Tangerine (Re-Zep) (recorded at The Barn, Conshoshocken, PA, June 1997) (originally from "Weeds" 7" single)
14. Lost At 22 (Live from Koln, Germany, August 24, 1997) (originally from "Desire" slimline CD single)
15. I Regret (Live from Koln, Germany, August 24, 1997) (originally from "Desire" digipak CD single)


Compiled by Alan Robert and Monte Conner
All additional information read inside the booklet.

Release Date: January 25, 2000
Format: Original Recording reissued
Label: Roadrunner Records
Catalog No.: RCD 8580