LIFE OF AGONY — River Runs Red (review)

LIFE OF AGONY — River Runs Red album cover

Album · 1993 · Hardcore Punk

5/5 · 2014-12-31
Kingcrimsonprog

River Runs Red is the cult-classic debut full-length studio album by the underrated, unique New York band Life Of Agony. It was produced by Josh Silver and released in 1993 through Roadrunner Records.

The album is a concept album which tells the story of a confused and disillusioned young man with low self-worth and a poor support network, who ultimately decides to commit suicide. Its pretty grim, dark, weighty stuff. The story really sucks you in, and you find yourself hoping its not going to end in tragedy.

Musically, this album is a pretty interesting hybrid. There’s touches of Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, NY Hardcore and a big Type-O Negative influence at the same time. At times its almost sort of like Sick Of It All doing a St Vitus cover song, with Pete Steele on vocals. Not really, but that’s a ballpark idea of what to expect.

The whole thing is chocked full of pummeling double-kicks and gang vocals, big fat dirty riffs, inventive drumming, really unique and interesting vocal performances and bucketloads of catchy hooks.

Album highlights include the speedy Title Track, the absolutely crushing opener “This Time” and the bitter introspective “Bad Seed.” If you wonder whether the album is for you or not, check out those three! That said, the whole album is rock solid, consistent from start to finish, and there’s no messing with tracks like “These Eyes” or “Method Of Groove” either. The only thing you’ll find yourself skipping are the three additional atmospheric tracks (each named after a day of the week) that provide the story but aren’t songs. Awesome for when you sit down and listen to it as a story, but missable if you just want to be bludgeoned by heavy music.

Overall; this album is an absolute monster. Relentlessly catchy, full of crushing riffs, a dynamic mix of speed and slow, powerful vocals and an interesting story. It’s a pretty unique record that no other band sounds like (and the band themselves would never repeat stylistically) and as long as you aren’t upset that it doesn’t fit neatly into one confined box, this album just gives and gives. It’s a grower, and the more spins you put in, the more magic you get back. In short – highly recommended.

more than 2 years ago
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siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Hardcore with a special recipe for crust sounds like my kinda thing :) We should get emoticons for these shouts or am i just retarded?

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

This is not "regular" hardcore though, as the vocals point in another direction, but that´s also what makes this one so special.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review. I wanna check this out. I have a thing for hardcore and crust lately

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review. I wanna check this out. I have a thing for hardcore and crust lately

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I agree. It´s a very Unique sounding release. The music is for the most part pretty basic NY hardcore, but the vocals and the lyrical concept really provide the album with something extra.