Bandname: Life of AgonyTitle: Broken Valley
Genre: Metal
Release Date: 6th of June 2005
Record Company / Label: EPIC Records
Introduction
January 3rd & 4th 2003, not only marked a turning point for this influential band, but their reunion shows opened the door to a whole new chapter in the LOA saga. LIFE OF AGONY, who have long been considered, as gone but not forgotten, are back as a force to be reckoned with. The future of the group is bright, as the band members are very excited to be touring and writing together again. The problems that the band experienced which lead to their demise seem to be rectified. LoA toured all throughout 2003 in support of their SPV Records double-live album/DVD release ‘River Runs Again: Live 2003’, and in late 2004 recorded their first studio album in 8 years, entitled ‘Broken Valley’.
The first song ‘Love to let you down’ starts with the line: ‘Willing to start again….’ Glad they do, because a life without Life of Agony is only agony…
January 3rd & 4th 2003, not only marked a turning point for this influential band, but their reunion shows opened the door to a whole new chapter in the LOA saga. LIFE OF AGONY, who have long been considered, as gone but not forgotten, are back as a force to be reckoned with. The future of the group is bright, as the band members are very excited to be touring and writing together again. The problems that the band experienced which lead to their demise seem to be rectified. LoA toured all throughout 2003 in support of their SPV Records double-live album/DVD release ‘River Runs Again: Live 2003’, and in late 2004 recorded their first studio album in 8 years, entitled ‘Broken Valley’.
The first song ‘Love to let you down’ starts with the line: ‘Willing to start again….’ Glad they do, because a life without Life of Agony is only agony…
Line-Up
Keith Caputo - vocals
Joey Z - guitars
Alan Robert - bass
Sal Abruscato - drums
Keith Caputo - vocals
Joey Z - guitars
Alan Robert - bass
Sal Abruscato - drums
Website
www.lifeofagony.com
www.lifeofagony.com
Song Review
1. Love to let you down
Heavy guitars burst into my ears when I push play button of my discman to hear the first song of the new album ‘Broken Valley’: ‘Love to let you down’. This song is definitely a great song to start the album with. Catchy song lines exchanged with catchy riffs and a good solo half way.
2. Last cigarette
Again very catchy heavy guitar parts with catchy song lines. This is one of those songs which you will keep singing all day long, because you can’t get it out of your head.
3. Wicked Ways
Slow start with guitar riff and a slow song line, which reminds me a little bit of Audioslave. In this song I sense emotion in Keith’s voice because of the way he sings the song; raw and heavy, supported by exchanging heavy and beautiful guitar riffs.
4. Don’t bother
Starting off this with again a heavy guitar part I’m really expecting a good old ‘River runs Red’ LoA song. Unfortunately it’s not… The guitar and bass parts are okay, the couplets are catchy, but the lyrics of the chorus are very unstructured. In the end the whole song seems a little unstructured to me and it didn’t catch me, except for the couplets.
5. Strung out
This song could have been on the first Soundgarden album, which is not a bad thing for I like that album very much. Great song, strong lyrics.
6. Junk sick
Again a start which makes me expect a good old ‘River runs Red’ song. Indeed the music is like that, but the lyrics are not. I don’t song line fits the music very good. The guitar parts are heavy and powerful, but the song lines are sounding tragic which I think it’s too bad. A powerful song line would have fitted the song more.
7. The calm that disturbs you
This I what I mean! Powerful music, powerful song lines and lyrics. Great song!
8. No one survives
When hearing this song I can image myself in a sort of film scene; an old dark Jazz bar with 2 men drinking whiskey, an old man behind the piano and a emotional singer who sings with his whole heart and soul… What a beautiful song! This is really a part of Keith’s voice which I didn’t hear before and it really suits him!
9. Justified
‘Justified’ has very vibrant song lines and the lyrics are really grabbing me. It’s an emotional song with some dramatic guitar parts replenished by some powerful bass parts which are giving the song its strength. And again in the end I drift away back to that good old Jazz bar of the previous song. Great ending with dramatic guitar parts and vocals.
10. The day he died
Great heavy song! Powerful guitar and bass and cool drums. This song will be a great live one!
11. Broken Valley
The guitar sound in the beginning of the song followed by an easy drum part and a dramatic vocal part are giving the song an ambience of suspense. You really are anxious to hear the rest of the song. Well done!
‘Broken Valley’ is a song of easy parts exchanged by heavy choruses. Too bad that in the end the song loses it’s structure and it can’t keep me focussed.
12. Room 244
‘Room 244’ is the last one on ‘Broken Valley’. It’s an instrumental song of melodic guitar and drum parts replenished by a nice bass sound. This sure is a good ending of the album.
1. Love to let you down
Heavy guitars burst into my ears when I push play button of my discman to hear the first song of the new album ‘Broken Valley’: ‘Love to let you down’. This song is definitely a great song to start the album with. Catchy song lines exchanged with catchy riffs and a good solo half way.
2. Last cigarette
Again very catchy heavy guitar parts with catchy song lines. This is one of those songs which you will keep singing all day long, because you can’t get it out of your head.
3. Wicked Ways
Slow start with guitar riff and a slow song line, which reminds me a little bit of Audioslave. In this song I sense emotion in Keith’s voice because of the way he sings the song; raw and heavy, supported by exchanging heavy and beautiful guitar riffs.
4. Don’t bother
Starting off this with again a heavy guitar part I’m really expecting a good old ‘River runs Red’ LoA song. Unfortunately it’s not… The guitar and bass parts are okay, the couplets are catchy, but the lyrics of the chorus are very unstructured. In the end the whole song seems a little unstructured to me and it didn’t catch me, except for the couplets.
5. Strung out
This song could have been on the first Soundgarden album, which is not a bad thing for I like that album very much. Great song, strong lyrics.
6. Junk sick
Again a start which makes me expect a good old ‘River runs Red’ song. Indeed the music is like that, but the lyrics are not. I don’t song line fits the music very good. The guitar parts are heavy and powerful, but the song lines are sounding tragic which I think it’s too bad. A powerful song line would have fitted the song more.
7. The calm that disturbs you
This I what I mean! Powerful music, powerful song lines and lyrics. Great song!
8. No one survives
When hearing this song I can image myself in a sort of film scene; an old dark Jazz bar with 2 men drinking whiskey, an old man behind the piano and a emotional singer who sings with his whole heart and soul… What a beautiful song! This is really a part of Keith’s voice which I didn’t hear before and it really suits him!
9. Justified
‘Justified’ has very vibrant song lines and the lyrics are really grabbing me. It’s an emotional song with some dramatic guitar parts replenished by some powerful bass parts which are giving the song its strength. And again in the end I drift away back to that good old Jazz bar of the previous song. Great ending with dramatic guitar parts and vocals.
10. The day he died
Great heavy song! Powerful guitar and bass and cool drums. This song will be a great live one!
11. Broken Valley
The guitar sound in the beginning of the song followed by an easy drum part and a dramatic vocal part are giving the song an ambience of suspense. You really are anxious to hear the rest of the song. Well done!
‘Broken Valley’ is a song of easy parts exchanged by heavy choruses. Too bad that in the end the song loses it’s structure and it can’t keep me focussed.
12. Room 244
‘Room 244’ is the last one on ‘Broken Valley’. It’s an instrumental song of melodic guitar and drum parts replenished by a nice bass sound. This sure is a good ending of the album.
Technical information
Total playing time: 44.00
Total numbers: 12
Total numbers: 12
Cover pictures
Conclusion
‘Broken Valley’ is an album in the line of ‘Soul Searching Sun’ but then more mature. When I first heard the album I had to get used to it. After hearing it a couple of times I was hooked on it! This album contains really great lyrics and powerful guitar riffs replenished by a heavy drum sound a catchy bass riffs. Sometimes the Life of Agony members seem to lose themselves into their music too much which makes it a little bit unstructured. But that’s okay for we are used to that from Life of Agony.
‘Broken Valley’ is really an addition to every metal record collection and I think this going to be some very heavy and great live material!
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extra's: n/a
Total: 9
Sound: 9
Extra's: n/a
Total: 9
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