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Rating: Writing reviews is no longer my forte, and some time ago, I admitted that I didn't want to participate in this "game" anymore.
But everyone changes: Pippo Baudo, years ago, collaborated with Mediaset after years of loyalty to RAI (where have I read this before?) and Claudia Koll, yes, she, has calmly transitioned from the arms of Tinto Brass to those of Our Lord.
Seeing only one review dedicated to Life of Agony, I HAD to get to work.
Here, duplicates are written but, a sad reality, we forget too quickly about bands that have given their soul and energy in the past years. Whether it be the '80s or the '90s.
So, here we are, talking about "Ugly" by New York's Life of Agony.
The second chapter for the band of Keith/Mina Caputo (you read that right, the singer changed gender) and an album totally different from the unattainable "Rivers Runs Red".
From the monolithic blocks of hardcore mixed with Sabbathian doom, a true delight to my ears, our heroes veered, within two years, towards a peculiar and certainly more graceful sound. The year was 1995.
Some Iommi-style riffs are still present, sure, but threading through these twelve tracks is a grayish grunge haze. Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots, in fact, will flash through your mind more than once during the listen of the fantastic "Ugly" (cover and title are stunning).
To all this, however, you must add an intimate and emotional vein, lyrics centered on the singer's life and many childhood memories.
An emo-grunge album with some metallic openings. An album not to be underestimated.
Many, back then as now, criticized the band's shift. Mistake! Our heroes didn't change their stripes to jump on the bandwagon of winners; indeed, the word "winners" terribly clashes when placed beside the name of the unfortunate Life of Agony.
A voluntary and spontaneous change, as I was saying, and a clear departure from the hardcore-metal paths, those paths that introduced us to the New York quartet in the early '90s.
I highlight the melancholic opening of "Seasons", but also heavy-weight songs like "I Regret", "Lost In 22", and the title track. The grim "Don't You (Forget About Me)" closes the dance, a track that seems to have come out of the hat of a less metallic Type O Negative. Moreover, reading the booklet, you'll discover that Sal Abruscato was the drummer common to both bands.
What else can be added? After “Ugly”, the quartet could never again replicate their great achievement: combining metal (and hardcore) with "intimate” themes and sounds.
The third “Soul Searching Sun”, Year of Our Lord 1997, proved to be too pale and devoid of ideas.
A band to rediscover and love. Especially for the first two gems of their skimpy official discography.
PS: Wanna bet that good old De…Marga… has seen them live too?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 This Time (05:42)
When all is said and done
I'll always be your son
But all is not forgiven
Well I'm on my knees pleading
Just 'cause I'm grown you think I don't need
Much more than what you've ever given me
So when we gonna get together
Seems there's no time for me
You act like you got forever
You've got time, but you ain't got time for me
You said you've got time
But you ain't got time for me
Now that you've gone and tossed
The bottle away now will ya
Start a new life with the new wife
Well she'll never be my mother
I suppose that you know you oughta
Remember the ones you left behind
You're just letting it slip away now
You act like things are fine
I know you think you've been born again
But this time
You're leaving your son behind
This time
This time
This time
02 Underground (04:41)
If you don't walk with me, I will walkalone
Hard enough to believe in myself
When I know they don't believe in me
Unwilling to change for society
I'll be who I wanna be
I wanna tear it up, tear it out
Get my aggression out
This is what we're here for, control the dance floor
This is why we're here
I said, this is why we're here
So when will it end, when will it end
When will they comprehend, comprehend
That we will overcome this system
I said this is why we're here
They keep on kicking me down, kicking me down
Tryin' to keep me underground, underground
But did I mention we were paving the way
For the new breed of bad seed
We'll never let up until we hear every voice scream
Screamin' these words, screamin' these words
'Til very voice is heard, voice is heard
They keep on screamin' these words, screamin' these words
'Til every voice is heard...
Calling from the underground!
I can feel it in the air breathe!
I can see we all agree
Unwilling to change for society
We'll be who we wanna be
We are the underground
We are the underground
03 Monday (01:31)
(Street sounds; door opens; sound of television, crying baby and mother in
the kitchen)
MOTHER: Yeah, sure, now you walk in! You walk in now, four o'clock! You're
one hour late for dinner! You know, the school called me today and told me
you'd been playing hooky. Do you know that? Who do you think you are?
Don't walk away from me! Don't walk away from me!
(Door opens and closes; Mother's voice muffled; Kid takes off coat,
rewinds tape on answering machine.)
GIRLFRIEND: Hi. It's me. I just wanted to tell you that, I don't know if
you know this, but we haven't really been gettin' along lately. And, I
just don't feel the same anymore. And, I hope we can still be friends and
all, but I don't wanna go out with you anymore. Sorry.
(Long silence; Beep)
04 River Runs Red (01:55)
I got the razor at my wrist
'Cause I can't resist
I've got this fever burnin' fist
That does as I wish
But when I get downtown
And see what's around
I just know there's got to be
A better place to be found
CHORUS
Oh, God help me
The river runs red and I think I'm dyin'
Well I knew there'd come a day
When my mind would say "Hey, are you afraid";
Well all I know is that I been down here tryin'
Well, I'll bleed on through the night
I suppose I'll bedead by the morning light
No don't be surprised if you mind when you find me
CHORUS
Oh, God help me
07 Thursday (02:10)
Street sounds; door opens; sounds of television, baby crying and Mother
in the kitchen)
MOTHER: Eh, back so soon? You know, don't you have a decent pair of pants
you can put on? You look like a...a PIG walking in the street! Your hands,
your face-filthy! You disgust me! I can't believe you live in this house!
You repulse me. I want to throw up! (Phone rings) Goddamn kids!
(Door opens and closes)
MOTHER: Right! Slam the door again on me! You know, you're just like your
father! (Voice becomes muffled; sound of answering machine tape rewinding)
BOSS: Yeah, I'm callin' 'em now...Hello? Hello? Pick up the phone! Where
the fuck are you? What's the matter, you just decided not to come to work
today? What the fuck is wrong with you? Ya fuckin' lowlife! Hey, you know
what? Don't even bother coming in anymore. I've had enough with you and
your shit. That's it, you're fired. You understand me? Fired. Don't come
back here, fuck you, and goodbye. (Silence on machine; sound of cigarette
lighter; beep)
MRS. GLICKER: Hello, this is Mrs. Glicker. I'm calling to reach you about,
to let you know, that, uh, you, you're not graduating this year because
you are failing two subjects and I need to see you as soon as possible. Be
in my office on Monday at 8:30 a.m., promptly, and we'll discuss this
matter further. Thank you. Bye. (Phone hangs up; silence; beep; shuts off
machine)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
08 Bad Seed (05:40)
Am I to blame?
If I won't speak her name, if I won't face her grave
Maybe I'm to blame, maybe I'm to blame
Since you're gone, I've never felt the same
Well maybe I'm just a bad seed
Of the family
I'll get my sleep without tear-stained sheets
And I'll never come cryin' for sympathy
Well I need a place to run to
Yeah I need a place to hide
Yeah I need a place where I don't need a smile as my disguise
Am I to blame?
If I won't face your grave
Am I to blame? Am I to blame?
If I cannot bear to face your grave
And mother please shine down on me
Show me that I'm not the bad seed
Maybe I'm to blame, maybe I'm to blame
Since you're gone I never felt the same
Well maybe my mind's deceiving me
But I think you took the easy way out
You left me standing there empty handed
As soon as you put that gun in your mouth
So please don't keep on asking
If there's something wrong
'Cause you know damn well if I was fine
I would've never ever written this song
Am I to blame?
If I won't face your grave
09 My Eyes (02:47)
A little older, little wiser
With every breath I learn just a little more
And with all I've seen, I've finally made up my mind
Enough of this world
Enough blood in these eyes
So, so, so sick of this life
It's about time that I realized
Release this hate from inside
Enough blood in my eyes
Call it what you will
Call it suicide
Disregard how you feel
I'm just freeing my mind
Clench my teeth as I sleep
So, so, so sick of this life
Cannot take, cannot fake
Can't shake this blood from these eyes
All I have and all I will be
Nevertheless I'll live for all eternity
'Cause you can't erase my words, can't erase my mind
You can't wipe out my thoughts
Can't shake this blood from my eyes
So, so, so don't even try
Just give me one good reason to live
I'll give you three to die
Let's leave this world behind
10 Respect (04:16)
From day one I could not comprehend
Was it us, was it me or was it them?
Friends will come and go as it seems
And now I have no shoulder on which to lean
Still I do not understand
You break your back for something
Well where's the fans?
Show me respect
And I'll (show me)
Show you right back
Show me respect
And I'll (show me)
Show you right back
I see the boys that I once called my friends
They'll fake a smile and then they'll shake your hand
When will this ever end?
I look around at my brothers
My only true friends
Show me respect
And I'll (show me)
Show you right back
Show me respect
And I'll (show me)
Show you right back
You got a lot to learn my friend
You've got a lot to learn about respect
You got a lot to learn my friend
You've got a lot to learn about respect
11 Method of Groove (05:17)
We've got the method of groove that grabbed your attention
Now that you're aware we're gonna give you the message
My father taught me many things
Living deaf, dumb and blind will get you nothing
SO listen up and hear what I have to say
It's never too late to learn in this day and age
We'll point you in a new direction
Passed down to this generation
If you've learned anything from me
It would be to hold on to your dreams
Learn from my mistakes
And it will take off some of the weight
He said, "You got your whole life to live,
And so much more to give
Never compromise and you will never live a lie".
He said, "Son, remember where you came from".
We never doubted ourselves for a minute
Oh they may criticize and compromise, but we were always in it
So come on down and see what this is all about
It's in our soul, on the road, wherever we may go
So wake up, nothing can stop us
We got the chaos so just let us
Provide the lines that make your mind spend the time
Think before you sink to the bottom
He said, "Son, remember where you came from".
13 Friday (03:35)
(Street sounds; Door opens and closes; sounds of baby crying and television)
MOTHER: That's right! That's all you do, just sit in front of the TV!
FATHER: Hey, don't break my balls, shut up already!
MOTHER: You're not gonna help! I gotta deal with your kids and that loser son of yours...
FATHER: I work hard all day and I gotta deal with your SHIT! (Sound of glass breaking)
MOTHER: What do you fuckin' think you're doing? What are you doing?!
FATHER: How do you like that?!
MOTHER: What do you think you're doing?
FATHER: How do you like that?!
MOTHER: You fucking animal!
FATHER: I told you to shut the hell up!
MOTHER: Don't you ruin my kitchen! I'm sick of this! I want out! I want out!
FATHER: Get the fuck outta here!
MOTHER: I can't stand this! You and your lousy fucking kids!
FATHER: Hey, how do you like that you bitch? (More glass breaking)
MOTHER: Don't you destroy my kitchen!
FATHER: Hey, I'll destroy your world!
MOTHER: FUCK YOU! You PIECE OF SHIT! Now get out of here you pig!
FATHER: Yeah, get outta here...you!
MOTHER: You and your fucking loser son! (Door slams) I'm outta here! I'm
not dealing with nothing anymore! You piece of shit! I WANT OUT! I WANT OUT!
(Kid breathes heavily; turns on stereo)
MOTHER: Get outta here! Get outta here! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!
(Sound of bathroom door opening and closing; bathtub water turned on)
MOTHER: I want you outta here! Right this minute! I gotta use the
bathroom! Whatta you doin' in there?! You goin' through my makeup? It's my
bathroom, I gotta use it! Don't touch my tampons! It's my bathroom, I work
hard to keep it clean, I can use it whenever I want!
(Sound of Kid slitting wrists; brief cry of pain)
MOTHER: It's my bathroom!
(Sound of blood dripping into the bathtub; door opens)
MOTHER: Oh, oh, OH MY GOD! OH JESUS CHRIST! NO! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! OOOOH MYYYY GOOOOD!!!!
(Dripping continues)
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Other reviews
By ez
A debut that leaves many bewildered due to the freshness of these 13 compositions that dare to mix slowdowns on the brink of doom with New York-style hardcore accelerations.
An album to own to understand what true METAL-CORE with melodic touches is, so fashionable today, but especially to hear singing rather than shouting from an underrated singer like the great (not in stature) Keith Caputo.
