Customer Reviews

River Runs Red (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Every so often, I revisit a classic album, just to remind myself of the good old days. An album buried in the not-so-distant past, that had anywhere from minor to unbelievable critical acclaim, and is revered by music fans all over as providing something head-and-shoulders above other albums of the time. An album that displays talent, technicality, great lyrics, and even greater songwriting. The kinds of albums whose songs make you come back for more countless times. Life Of Agony's River Runs Red is such an album.

In 1993, the prevalent form of music on the airwaves and radio was the alternative/grunge scene, with bands like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Pearl Jam being everywhere. Rap was rising as a serious music form, with albums such as Cypress Hill's Black Sunday, House Of Pain's self-titled album, and Dr. Dre's The Chronic being then-recent additions to the scene. Heavy metal was being reworked into its 90's style, and bands such as Pantera, Sepultura, Ministry, Tool, and Biohazard were able to maintain a strong fan base and semi-counter the alternative and hip-hop scenes. This was when Life Of Agony released River Runs Red. The album was groundbreaking, because it fused the style of N.Y. hardcore with the nuclear riffage of early 90's metal, coupled with deep, angst-ridden , lyrics, and melodic vocals similar to Alice In Chains. The combination worked, resulting in an amazing metal record.

The album kicks off with a bang, as a heavy thrash riff starts things up, beginning the primal groove of "This Time." It soon turns to a laid-back, bluesy riff, and the thick vocals of Keith Caputo flow over the music like rich butter. A catchy chorus comes in at just the right moment, surrounded by volleys of double bass drumming, hardcore breakdowns, and is topped off with a grungy, spiraling, solo. The heaviness continues with the grungier "Underground," done in a more Alice In chains style, with a quiet beginning that jumps into a pounding riff. The rhythm section of Joey Z.(guitar), Alan Robert(bass), and Sal Abruscato(drums), rule this track. "River Runs Red" and "Through and Through" are catchier, shorter, songs, with Keith's vocals coming into the forefront yet again. "Words and Music," "Bad Seed," and "Respect" revert to the slower, punchier, style of the first two tracks. "Method of Groove" is more of a N.Y. hardcore-styled track, sounding more like Pro-Pain, Madball, and Biohazard than the Sepultura-meet-Alice In Chains sound of the majority of the album, with shouted group vocals instead of the normally melodic style of Keith Caputo. "My Eyes" has an upbeat opening riff, and remains that way throughout it's short length, and "The Stain Remains" alternates between being soft/slow and fast/hard. At about 3:30 into the song, right after a melodic solo, there is an amazing mosh-worthy riff that closes out the album wonderfully.

The song lyrics are very depressing. It makes Staind and Type O Negative sound happy. Especially unusual are the three interlude tracks, "Monday," "Thursday," and "Friday." They consist of the `conversations' between an angry mother and her delinquent son, as well as a few slightly humorous(if not profane) phone messages, and a disturbing ending. I think the kid kills himself. Wow...

The band released a radio sampler and a video, the former for "This Time," and the latter for "Through and Through." The latter received fair rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and drove the album to sell respectably. Fans enjoyed the catchy, heavy, riffs, and the lyrics that could be related to. Life Of Agony's subsequent albums, Ugly and Soul Searching Sun, were not nearly as well received, partly due to the increased melody and decrease in heaviness, as well as the grunge lyrical content. The band went on to break up in 1999.

Although Life Of Agony is no more, their members have continued on in other projects, and the band did leave behind this gem. River Runs Red is still as fresh as I imagine it must have been in 1993. "Through and Through" was a great single, and is my personal favorite track, but all the tracks are great. There is a lot of unsettling material, especially in the interludes, so be warned. It is recommended for fans of Biohazard, Prong, Pro-Pain, Alice In Chains, Godsmack, Sepultura, Pantera, Metallica, Sick Of It All, Madball, Anthrax, and Type O Negative, so if hard and heavy isn't your style, you might not like it. I give this album 5 stars. It deserves no less.

Life of Agony was a strange band when they popped into the music scene of the 90s. Unlike many of the acts in rotation then, they had talent when it came to the music they played, a singer with an odd style that made him stand out from the crowd of more aggressive rock acts gathering, and they had a concept album going for them as well. Some noticed them right away and plugged into what they were doing because of that, hearing not only the single that had gotten play but also the album that was designed to work as one heaping helping of tragedy, but they were mostly lost in the shuffle. Its hard to blame anyone for that, either, because the music industry was jammed with overexposure and it made it easy to miss good acts amongst the bad ones. Still, that was a shame because LOA was a really talented act.

River Runs Red was a show of force when it released, both in what the songs could do individually and what they managed to accomplish together. Piece by piece, part by part, the album takes the listener through a life filled with turmoil (or, if you want to be technical, of agony), showing you all the things that have gone wrong. The mother that opted to kill herself and the son that blames himself, the father that wasn't there and the friends that never were; these all torment and build as the album rolls forward and paints a picture of one pour soul and the horror they call living. Sometimes, like in "Bad Seed," the lyrics are actually depressing to a point that you can feel horrible for the person, knowing that someone shouldn't have to live that way, and you can also tell that things simply do not get better at that point because some wounds don't heal. Added to that is the vocal style that lends itself emotionally to the words, sounding almost like its hurting when the words are hurting as well. Atop these songs are "breaks" (labelled like days of the week) that aren't simply there to take up space but that instead utilize little specks of "real time" to build this feeling of hopelessness, forging a life of their own in the expanse of a moment or two. With messages left on a machine from both a girlfriend that wants to just be friends, a school that is going to hold our listener back, and a job saying "get lost," everything that can go wrong snowballs on the pile. As you listen you can tell it isn't building toward a happy piece of punctuation at the end, either, but the extro (Friday) that leaves you with the sound of someone running water, a slicing sound, and then a stepmother screaming "no, god, no" in a distance that keeps expanding is crushing. And that all culminates into a whole and made this work hard to dismiss.

Personally, I found River Runs Red to be a brilliant piece of work and would say that anyone that liked the music of that era, guitar-driven and a bit heavy (but not in a bad, too-much-grunge way), should check it out. If you liked it and wanted to continue onward, I'd also say that Ugly, the bands next release, was also worth picking up. Perhaps it doesn't equal the out-and-out perfection that this album showcases, but it does give you a nice taste of what LOA can do after trying to follow up something that came together so well. Its also the last taste of the original lead singer, to note, because the band switches gears at Soul Searching Sun.

Caputo's voice just haunts you even when the CD is just sitting there in its case; the CD vibrates slightly with the insane emotion he manages to pour out of what is technically a very slight voice with little or no range. Some other singers have had this amazing luck--people like Leonard Cohen for example. But Caputo has it in spades and THE RIVER RUNS RED must be his masterpiece. It's just so crazy.

The little spoken word intermissions, named after the days of the week, should have tipped you off from the beginning that you were getting your head into some pretty deep water. So often our bands just deliver straight music and never bother to think about all the other things (just ambient noise for example, or taped conversations, or just background sounds) that might be recorded and listeners might find some meaning in. Take Lou Reed delivering the uber-odd METAL MACHINE MUSIC literally banging instruments through the studio viz fuzzy feedback and still managing to capture the soul of an era even without melody. Life Of Agony updates some of these ideas casually, as though they weren't revolutionary the way they come out on RIVER RUNS RED. Listening close you get the whole back story of our hero. He's not a bad kid, he's just misunderstood--by his family, by his girl, by his teachers and friends and people at work. Or then, as you start to suspect, maybe he IS a bad kid.

At any rate he thinks so. The incendiary lyrics of "Bad Seed," to my mind the killer cut on the LP, make that very clear. Caputo sounds bemused by his own powers; it's as though a miracle had happened and he had finally traced his lineage back to some unnameable evil. Horrible, but at least you know where you are (ask Scott Evil in the Austin Powers movies, who's like the big screen equivalent of Life of Agony.)

This is a truly amazing album. Amazing and totally unique. Nothing sounds like this. Crushing guitars, tremendous bottom end, heartfelt melodies, empassioned vocals, and emotional lyrics abound. This is one of the most awe inspiring and emotionally charged works of art I've ever experienced. Keith Caputo has a soaring, unforgettable voice. Joey Z's guitar sound is massive, churning, razor sharp. Alan Robert, bassist and songwriter, is a musical genius who supplies a bottom end that makes this album groove and pound away. Sal Abruscato's drums sound great. The album deals with some very dark and personal issues. Depression, frustration, insecurity, and most prominently, suicide, are central themes. However, the music, and it's emotional content are almost uplifting. This was a band that tore through the New York Hardcore scene in the early 90's, with talented songwriting, aggression, and originality like no other. Every song is special, with standouts being: "This Time", "Respect", "Words and Music", "Bad Seed", "The Stain Remains", and the anthemic "Method of Groove" and "Underground." Get this album, as a metal fan, or anyone who appreciates the unparalleled emotional power of music.

When I first heard of Life of Agony, it was for their last album, "Soul Searching Sun". I went and bought it, and was completely dissapointed. It wasnt heavy, and just sounded bad. Whenever I thought of them, I thought of that album, and I had no interest in ever hearing them again. Finally, after reading about this album, I decided to give them another try. Boy, am I glad I did! This is an AMAZING album in every way, I have been listening to it nonstop since I got it. It is MUCH heavier that Soul Searching Sun, and the vocals are just damned cool. Cool drums, great grooves, awesome guitars, massive bass sound, and instantly recognizable and amazing vocals make this cd one of my top picks. So if you were like me and bought SSS first and dont like them because of that, forget all that and buy this album. Its too bad they broke up, but thank goodness the other members are doing other projects.

In 1993, back when Roadrunner Records was the home to a number of then up and coming bands who helped the record label make a name for itself (bands such as Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Type O Negative; all of which are no longer with the label which is now home to Nickelback, ugh), there was this New York based band which burst onto the metal scene with one of the most unforgettable debut albums of all time. Life of Agony's "River Runs Red" is undoubtadly one of the most unbelieveably depressing and one of the best debut metal albums ever released, and one of the absolute best albums to ever come from Roadrunner Records. Laced with infectious grooves, primal riffs, and some melodic vocals that seem out of place at first, "River Runs Red" weaves a story of a teen at the brink of suicide, and naturally, it doesn't end well. Opening track "This Time" will reel the listener in, followed by the grungy "Underground", the title track, "Through and Through", the excellent and saddening "Bad Seed", "Method of Groove", and "The Stain Remains" are more than amazing songs, but there is so much more to be found here that it can't be put into words. Twelve years later, "River Runs Red" still packs a punch, and nothing that Life of Agony released since could ever come close to matching this album. A masterpiece, it deserves to be in any and every heavy music fan's collection.

not only is this the best album from Life Of Agony, this was the best album that was released on Roadrunner records in 1993. the music's got the NYC toughness and heaviness, but it also has Keith's piercing, soaring operatic vocals which gives the music a very nice balance and contrast. after this album, LOA kind of evolved into a more melodic, rock-oriented band rather than the metal/NY hardcore band that they started out as. the only drawback from this album are the theatrical segments between some of the songs that chronicle the days of the week in the life of a depressed, suicidal teen spiraling to his self-demise. a little over dramatic for my taste, but nevertheless, this album is still a f*ckin' beast, and in my opinion, one of the best metal albums of the 90's.

This is the album that got me hooked in the first place, and when I found out that it was being remastered, I couldn't help myself. I knew it needed remastering, had to turn the volume way up just to hear the music. Anyway, I went through a bad breakup, and this was one album that I listened to around that time. The darkness surrounding the music and the interludes in between tell a story that affects everybody, not just one person. One person goes through bad things, and his actions, whatever they are, can affect everybody around him. Long story short: a young man deals with a hellish home-life, a girlfriend who breaks up with him over the phone, losing his job, and to top it off, he can't graduate from high school. All this leading to a tragic end. If you don't know the story, you have to listen to the album. Life Of Agony hasn't really put out one album that I can honestly say is bad, but everything they've put out after this (even their latest album Broken Valley) just pales in comparison. It is too good. The anger, darkness, and raw emotion. I know that many people have their issues with Roadrunner re-releasing albums, but if you can simply get past that, you'll find that this version is worth it even if you've already bought the album before.

This album when it was released was ahead of it's time. The music was hard and dark, which gave depth to an already tormented vocal. If the band would have continued on this path instead of playing garbage, they would no doubt have been a renowned band. I now hate the band and wish they could realize what they had.

BUY THIS ALBUM! and find keith and punch him in his face. Thankyou and good night.

This is a godly CD. It's definintly the best of LOA's CD's, not to say that the others aren't incredibly good as well. Keith's voice is a voice like no others', and it gives me chills every time I listen to the CD. Keith and Alan are so good at writing lyrics. This CD is filled with incredibly talented music, not neccessarily skill-wise, but creatively.

This Time-Still my favorite LOA song. It's about Kieth's trouble's with his father. That's a very broad overview of the meaning, but you'll have to find out for yourself.

Underground-A great anthem to staying true to one's self, summed up by the first lyric of the song "If you don't walk with me I will walk alone."

River Runs Red-Although this song is quite negative, it's still really catchy, and I personally love the lyric "I suppose I'll be dead by the morning light, don't be surprised if you mind when you find me."

Through and Through-A quicker song. This song is about, in my opinion, not doing anything until you're ready to avoid messing up.

Words and Music-Easily summed up by the chorus "It's these words and music that keep me leaving, keep me breathing."

Bad Seed-A song about Keith's mom's suicide, it's a really good song.

My Eyes-This is another negative song about suicide, but still, the opening riff is icredibly catchy.

Respect-A song about respect. The chorus kind of sounds like a cult-chant, but a good song still.

Method of Groove-An awesome song where Alan and Joey join Keith in singing. This is a very positive song filled with awesome riffs, like all of their songs.

The Stain Remains-This is about overcoming hardships in life and stay away from negativity, and making your dreams come true. Keith's voice in the beginning gives me chills everytime.

All the interludes in the CD are awesome, and the last one is really jaw-dropping. It's so sad, but really deep.

Hands down, this is the best CD ever. I can't really say any bands that relate to them, but if you like any sort of metal, you should love this. This CD is a great addition to any collection. BUY THIS ALUBUM!!!