20 Years Strong: River Runs Red, Live in Brussels
After the critically acclaimed studio offering Broken Valley, Brooklyn's hardcore heroes Life of Agony toured and then took an extended break. In 2010, they returned to the road, touring a select number of cities in the U.S. and Europe. The purpose was to celebrate their 20th anniversary. This date, performed on April 30 in Brussels, featured LOA playing their entire debut album, River Runs Red, and select subsequent material. In addition to recording the date, they filmed it -- a ten camera shoot -- for inclusion in this CD/DVD package. The CD contains ten tunes from River Runs Red (only "Thursday" and "Friday" are omitted), as well as "Other Side of the River" and "Lost at 22" from Ugly, "Weeds" from Soul Searching Sun, and "Love to Let You Down" from Broken Valley. The performance is energetically, even intensely performed and impeccably recorded. LOA in their current state of development: uses their root hardcore sound as a base and employs heavier retro hard rock tropes à la Queens of the Stone Age and latter-day Soundgarden. The pace of the show is solid, and the audience participation is strong -- something all LOA fans will be well acquainted with. The DVD contains the entire concert, as well a documentary on the band's history and a photo album.