Artist: Life of Agony
Label: Epic Records
Release Date: 6/14/05
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Title: Broken Valley Artist: Life of Agony Label: Epic Records Release Date: 6/14/05 |
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Abyss's Review:
First off, I'm really surprised these guys went in this direction. What with the 'resurrection' of metal (at least to some extent) I guess I just assumed that these guys would go back toward their River Runs Red sound. I mean, it's pretty much unanimous that that was their most successful incarnation. In fact, that record is probably the only reason you (yes, you) are a Life Of Agony fan at all. And this is coming from someone who really enjoyed Ugly (It's possible that Uglyis my favorite LOA album, from start to finish, although I must admit that my favorite songs are off of River Runs Red.) Anyway, as I said before, I didn't expect this direction, which is basically the same direction they were going on Soul Searching Sun, perhaps stripped down just a little bit - but still not all that heavy. I liked a few songs off of that record, but I'm confused as to why a band would call their 'comeback' live album River Runs Again, and then come out with new record like this.
"One word review: Disappointing." So color me disappointed. When I hear Life Of Agony I want to hear some thick, pounding riffs and Keith Caputo belting out some agonized vocals. There is no doubt that this is where this band's strength lies, and we simply don't have that here. The vocals are emotional, but don't expect the powerful croons heard in songs like "The Other Side Of The River," "Through And Through," and "This Time."
To be fair, there are three pretty cool tracks on this record: "Love To Let You Down," "Wicked Ways," and "The Day He Died." I'll continue listening to these songs when I'm in the mood to hear this band, but the remainder of the album is hit or miss, and mostly just mediocre. The lyrics are, of course, emotionally charged - dealing with overdose and self-reflection, and it's easy to see how much effort the band put into this record (so much so that I really want to like this record more than I actually do).
So, if you liked Soul Searching Sun, you'll probably find some stuff on here to hold your interest, but if you were looking for a return to River, they don't appear to have that in them anymore. Even so, this is a good album, but after as long a wait as this has been, I was looking for something a little more compelling. One word review: Disappointing.
Death's Review:
I liked all three of the Life of Agony studio albums that were released during the band's prior incarnation. In fact, I liked them a lot. The band's music spoke to me and I spent hours listening to everything they released and singing along with every word. There just wasn't enough material. So I was psyched when L.O.A. reformed in early 2003. Now a new studio album is finally upon us. If I had not had been tipped off in advance, I would have been very surprised to learn that the new, "comeback" album - released on a major label, no less - was not going to be a return to the River Runs Red sound, but instead, would pick up right where their last studio album, Soul Searching Sun, left off. The band continues their established pattern of album-to-album musical progression, and evolves even further away from their pre-metalcore thrash/speed/hardcore roots and further into the realm of plain and simple "hard rock."
"Life of Agony made Broken Valley this way because they wanted to, and it shows." Thus, there is undoubtedly a legion of fans who will inevitably be left disappointed by this album on their initial spin. And, frankly, I'm not sure that there will be enough "new" fans picked up with the advent of this lighter, more mainstream sound to make up for the alienation. So while distancing oneself from the sound for which a band is most fondly remembered is certainly not the best business decision, in this case, it is clearly the mark of artistic integrity, rather than the "sellout" mentality the band will be accused of possessing by some. Life of Agony made Broken Valley this way because they wanted to, and it shows. That is why this album is worth so much more than it might first appear on paper.
Every Life of Agony fan will agree that the first single and video, "Love to Let You Down," is definitely one of the band's all-time best tracks. It is infectiously catchy (as anthropomorphized in the video), and is one of the album's heavier tracks. But the next track, "Last Cigarette," is definitely more along the lines of Stone Temple Agony, and is definitely more of a straightforward, standard-issue rock track. Not the song I wanted to hear from them, frankly, although on repeated spins I get into it for what it is. And that pretty much sums up the dichotomy of this record. It is all honest and true, and is full of deep, emotional tunes, but there is also a lot of straightforward stuff that isn't bad, but leaves me wanting for something a little more adventurous. Perhaps the next studio album? I'd love to hear something heavy and doomy yet emotional and fragile like Ugly, personally. Anyway, for now, this is what we're getting, and I'm embracing it. Surely I'm in the minority, but I'm glad they are back, I like the record, and I am looking forward to seeing them on Gigantour next week.
Hel's Review:
There is no denying that, most of the time, the music you would prefer to hear from your favorite bands will be that which is most along the lines of the material you first fell in love with. But the hope is, if they move away from that, the new material will still contain the same love and care, and therefore spirit, as the original you love so much.So, no, Broken Valley is no River Runs Red. This is the more mature, grown up Life of Agony we saw the roots of on Soul Searching Sun. I will always dream of LoA releasing a record of their heaviest material yet, but, even so, I enjoy their newer more rock-oriented songs because they retain the spirit and angst of those early songs. And the truly beautiful thing is, the more often I revisit the songs on Broken Valley the more I appreciate the performances.
"Life of Agony are back and they’re still angry – it’s just a different kind of anger." I know I often talk about albums "growing" on me after repeated listens, but rarely is this phenomena more true than it is with the album heralding the return of LoA. I’m just damn happy to have Life of Agony back, no matter what incarnation of their material they choose to create, and as long as they continue to exhibit the ability to thoroughly draw me in, I’m on board. I was absolutely crushed when they split. During the brief time before they called it quits completely, I and was even willing to relunctantly give the Whitfield Crane line up a try, though one live show was all that came out of that for me. So, yeah, I’m going to be a little less critical, because with me, loyalty will get you far.
So where does your loyalty lie in regard to Life of Agony? Are you a RRR-era only fan? Or are you a fan of the entire prior discography (all three of them...)? If you answered yes to the latter, you probably already have the record. But if you did and don’t, then you’ll definitely want to add this to your wish list. After their long absence, however, I don’t understand how you can just leave this one on a list – go out and get it already! This may not be the album you were hoping for but one thing is undeniable. Life of Agony are back and they’re still angry – it’s just a different kind of anger.
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