Wednesday 17 June 2015

River Runs Red

There is, quite simply, too much music out there. You pick and choose based on various factors. But you can't listen to it all. Recently I noticed a couple of people post pictures of the cover of the first Life of Agony album. I had never heard the record or the band, but based on the number of times I was seeing this album cover pop up, I decided to give it a listen. I went to youtube and played it and within seconds I was really into it. So I downloaded the album and then found myself listening to it non-stop for three weeks straight. I played it about three times a day and had no time for anything else. So when I got chance to buy the record this past weekend, I jumped on it.

The funny thing is that this record came out in 1993, and I had seriously never heard the band even once (that I was aware of) in the twenty two years since. I had heard of the band and seen the record over the years, but in my head the band's name, the record label and the cover art made me think that this was some kind of lame nu metal album... despite nu metal not really being a thing until a few years later. Not that I know anything about that stuff, of course.

Anyway, it's funny to think that this is the best record I have heard this year and it came out when I was 18. Kinda makes me think that I am an idiot for prejudging some things based on band name or cover art or some other nonsense. But then again, as I said, there's too much music out there. You can't listen to anything, so you make choices. Sometimes, however, you probably get it wrong.

8 comments:

Jeff said...

This post made me smile! I'm really surprised by a few things here and I don't know what surprises me more. I grew up with this record and have always loved it - even some of the stuff that came after. But to hear how much you're enjoying it now is just awesome! I can kind of see how you, not really being a fan of this genre (at least that's my perception from reading your blog for some years now), could easily overlook this record. But to think it might be the best release you've heard this year - that's excellent! You never cease to amaze me my friend. Keep up the good work!

xtinox said...

an amazing record! congrats on the original press. strange that you never even listened to one song of that album in over twenty years. but you're right, just too much music. i always seem to discover bands that are ultra-popular to the rest of the world already, haha.

massivewaste said...

Haha, this one seems to stir the emotions! It was one of the records that lead me to a long, long hiatus from listening to Hardcore and Punk when it came out - not that it is bad record, it is actually a great record, but maybe even that was the reason to deviate from the right path :-)

Nico said...

Love this record and love the band, the first two records are flawless, everything else after that has it moments. So check out Ugly when you have the chance. I've actually seen them on Monday and it was great. Despite the singer changing gender, the voice was still powerful and great. Also the rest of the band was on point. Tide and loud like it should be.

Mike said...

What I got from this post is that you now enjoy nu metal. Nope...I've never heard this Life Of Agony record...at least I don't think that I have...

J@screamingforrecords said...

Great record, the follow up Ugly is good too.

mcs said...

Great to see so many comments on here again. Kinda funny that it took a record like this to generate so much interest. I gather everyone else has been listening to, and loving this, for years. Except for Mike of course.

geoff said...

when this first came out, i couldnt stand it. 2 years later, i saw the error in my ways. that record is near perfect. find the their song 'plexiglass gate', its my favorite by them.