Life of Agony

Life of Agony

Life of Agony is an alternative metal group from Brooklyn, United States, formed in 1989. The band’s core early line-up consists of vocalist Keith Caputo, guitarist Joey Zampella and bassist Alan Robert, with Caputo and Zampella described as cousins and Robert as a long-time friend. Their recorded and touring history includes a changing drum position, with Sal Abruscato of Type O Negative hired to play on the albums River Runs Red and Ugly. Abruscato later returns when the band reforms in 2003.

History

After the first two albums with that line-up, Abruscato leaves because of musical differences. For Soul Searching Sun, the band recruits another drummer for recording and touring. Caputo then leaves in 1997, saying the band’s original spirit has gone. After a tour with replacement vocalist Whitfield Crane, formerly of Ugly Kid Joe, Life of Agony disbands in 1999.

The group reunites in 2003 with its original line-up and plays two sold-out hometown shows, which leads to a new studio album, Broken Valley, in 2005. Caputo comes out as transgender in 2011. The band breaks up again in 2012, but the original River Runs Red line-up returns to the stage for several gigs in 2014.

Later releases and activity

Life of Agony continues with further releases, including A Place Where There’s No More Pain in 2017, described as the first album with Caputo as a transgender woman, and Sound of Scars in 2019. A documentary film, The Sound Of Scars, appears in 2022.

Style and membership

The band is associated with alternative metal, alternative rock, crossover thrash, hard rock, heavy metal and metal. Over time, its membership includes Keith Caputo, Alan Robert, Joey Zampella, Sal Abruscato, Dan Richardson, Whitfield Crane and Veronica Bellino.