LIFE OF AGONY — Soul Searching Sun (review)

LIFE OF AGONY — Soul Searching Sun album cover Album · 1997 · Alternative Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
UMUR
"Soul Searching Sun" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US alternative rock/ metal act Life of Agony. The album was released in September 1997 by Roadrunner Records. Dan Richardson has replaced Sal Abruscato on the drums but otherwise there are no changes in the lineup since the last album "Ugly (1995)".

There´s been quite a development in the band´s sound over the course of the first three albums. "River Runs Red (1993)" was more or less a hardcore album with a unique sounding vocal style, while "Ugly" moved away from hardcore and closer to alternative metal. "Soul Searching Sun" moves even further away from hardcore ( actually there´s nothing on this album that indicates that Life of Agony was once a hardcore act) and fully embraces an alternative rock/ metal sound with more than a few nods toward the Seattle scene ( Nirvana and Pearl Jam are to some point valid references IMO).

While the sound production is good and the musicianship solid ( allthough nothing too special) the songwriting on the album is very uninspired to my ears and it unfortunately becomes a major issue the longer you get into the album. It´s actually to a point where even though I´ve owned this album since it was released in 1997, my listen to the album before writing this review, was the first time I have been able to listen to the full 53:06 minutes that the album lasts in one go. The music is completely bereft of energy and enthusiasm to play music. Lead vocalist Keith Caputo sounds like he wants to be anywhere but here. His sedated performance on this album is just the opposite of his passionate and engaging performances on the first two albums. The songs generally lack hooks and memorable moments and the only song that stands out just a bit is "Weeds". Not that even that track measures up to past glories. "Soul Searching Sun" was a great disappointment to me when it came out and it´s actually gotten worse with time if you ask me. At least back then the sound on display here had some sort of relevance. A 2 star rating is warranted.
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