It’s always nice to see a band with such a long history reunite with ex-members and bring out an album. After twelve full years since the last full-length album, two splits and some line-up changes – including the vocalist’s transition from Keith to Mina Caputo – LIFE OF AGONY is back with full force!

Picture by Tim Tronckoe, courtesy of Napalm Records.

LIFE OF AGONY brings back a classic sound.

“A Place Where There’s No More Pain” sounds like it could have been released in the early to mid-2000’s. It reminds me a little bit of old Alternative Rock bands, but for the life of me, I can’t find a fitting comparison. LIFE OF AGONY‘s new album consists of ten songs, each no longer than five minutes – quite radio friendly, too.

The opener ‘Meet My Maker’ already prepares the listener for what’s to come. With a heavy, catchy riff and strong bass lines that accentuate the melody contrasting to Mina‘s dragging vocals – this is a great start for the album. The title track is hard rock at its best, with a fast paced chorus that makes the whole concept of “finding a place where there’s no pain” sound very optimistic.

A dark album with a positive note.

The lyrics are dark throughout the album, dealing with death, grief and loneliness – a theme fitting the heaviness of the music. But the music itself leaves me feeling energized instead of gloomy. The straightforward sound has a combative character.

One song to definitely get stuck in your head is ‘A New Low’. But I rather listen to ‘Dead Speak Kindly’  and ‘Bag Of Bones’, especially the latter with its strong, positive touch. Since the record starts with the faster songs, the second half feels a little lethargic, more so with the slow and dark ballad ‘Little Spots Of You’ at the end, which certainly tip-toes out of your mind, even though it is a nice song. Still, the album is a solid comeback for the US-based band and surely puts them back on the minds of Hard Rock and Metal fans all over the world.

An absolute highlight on the whole record is Mina showing off her vocal abilities with confidence. The fact that “A Place Where There’s No More Pain” is her first LIFE OF AGONY-album after coming out as transgender and transitioning, absolutely deserves recognition for her personal bravery and is also worth mentioning for better representation in the metal scene. But this shouldn’t overshadow the singer’s vast vocal range and skilled performance, as shown on this record alone.

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LIFE OF AGONY’s “A Place Where There’s No More Pain” from EMP in Germany.

Watch the video for the first single and title track, which features live footage of the band:

 “A Place Where There’s No More Pain” – Tracklist:

1. Meet My Maker
2. Right This Wrong
3. A Place Where There’s No More Pain
4. Dead Speak Kindly
5. A New Low
6. World Gone Mad
7. Bag Of Bones
8. Walking Catastrophe
9. Song For The Abused
10. Little Spots Of You

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