Flashback CD Review #23 - Life of Agony - Broken Valley

This review was written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2005.

Life of Agony

Broken Valley

Epic Records - 2005

http://www.lifeofagony.com

What's The 4-1-1?

Life of Agony has reunited with all four original members and have released their first brand new studio release in 8 years.

Genre

Hard Rock / Metal

The Good

The music on this album is generally top notch, especially in the case of the more hard rocking songs. I loved the rapid fire vocal delivery of singer Keith Caputo on the song "Last Cigarette." The band's lyrics deal with a lot of negative experiences that can occur in everyday life including the murder of a loved one in the superb rocker "The Day He Died". The best song on the album is the lead off track, the hard driving radio hit "Love To Let You Down." The song has been getting a lot of airtime on the rock and metal radio stations and its very deserving. I've already added it to my list of candidates for best song of the year.

The Bad

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy most of the songs on this album. I know the music was pretty good, but I didn't enjoy the majority of the vocals. Some of the songs had odd vocal arrangements that I just couldn't get into. It's not that I consider this a failure of the band's songwriting craft, more that I personally didn't enjoy them.

The Verdict

While I didn't end up enjoying most of the album, I'm sure that this is an album that will surely thrill the band's long time fans. I just don't know if beyond "Love To Let You Down" that there will be anything that will expand that fan base. I had really been excited to hear the full album after hearing the lead single, but I ended up rather disappointed.

Did You Know?

When singer Keith Caputo left the band in 1997, former Ugly Kid Joe vocalist Whitfield Cran was hired to take his place. The band counts Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and surprisingly enough, Radiohead among their influences.

Rating: 2 out of 5

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on May 22, 2011 at 3:09pm

I have this CD as well, but I really haven't spent any time with it. Love To Let You Down is a cool song.

I also have Soul Searching Sun, which I haven't really listened to either.

I like the honest review. Not every album is all that good.

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Permalink Reply by TageRyche on May 23, 2011 at 7:03am

I always write what I think, no worries there.

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on May 23, 2011 at 7:48am

I do know that. Didn't mean to make it sound like I thought you always provided strictly positive reviews. I was thinking of some of the other places and reviews I've read that always seem to be positive.