Live Review: Life of Agony - The Asylum, Birmingham
4th February 2023
Support: Madball, Tarah Who?
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
It’s been three and a half years since Life of Agony last ventured onto British soil. Originally booked for Bloodstock last year, last minute illness on the European mainland prevented their festival appearance, however this week they did make it our small island and in doing so celebrate the 30th anniversary of the very special ‘River Runs Red’ album.
As we arrive at The Asylum Venue, a gritty live music space in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, it is down to Californian outfit Tarah Who? to kick start the evening. Formally a two-piece when we last spoke to them, the now trio set the tone for the evening. Immediately it’s those fat bass lines that grab the audience’s attention, followed by the gritty vocal offering of Tarah herself. Their style melds hints of hardcore with elements of grunge but at the centre is a rock n roll heartbeat the drives their sound forward. There may be little room on the stage for the band to move at all, but that doesn’t stop the crowd getting lost is a mesmeric aural performance.
Switching things up, it is NYHC veterans Madball who ramp up the intensity. Sitting juxtaposed to the openers, they produce out and out hardcore at it’s very best. By now the room is packed with the sell out crowd as things are about to get messy.
From the opening notes of ‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’ the fans kick off, circle pits in this relatively small venue open up and it starts to get wild, encouraged at every opportunity by the band themselves.
The hour long, eighteen song setlist sees the band span its full career. Frontman Freddy Cricien, like a hyperactive child on stage, can’t stand still as he throws his shapes and the crowd follow suit. ‘Face to Face’, ‘Lockdown’ and ‘Spit on Your Grave’ highlight the set before it is rounded out with ‘Pride’ and the good friendly violent fun comes to an end… for now.
Celebrating the longevity of an album is always a special thing. The fact that Life of Agony’s ‘River Runs Red’ is as fresh today as it was when released thirty years ago is a testimony to the skills of a band who were pioneers in their field. At the time of it’s release ‘River Runs Red’ was ground breaking, telling a harrowing tale through Life of Agony’s own brand of metal-cum-hardcore-cum-grunge, a sound so unique it’s yet to be recreated.
As the Wu-Tang Clang intro tape dies down we are treated to the album from start to finish ‘This Time’ leads into ‘Underground’ with vocalist Mina straight into the crowd as they all sing along together. The album’s uniqueness came from the interludes, which helped progress the story the songs depicted, tonight the interludes remain intact as the story is recited in full. As ‘The Stain Remains’ leads into closing interlude ‘Friday’ there is barley a dry eye in the house. An hour of pitting to this rendition of the critically acclaimed album has left everyone in attendance physically and emotionally drained.
The crowd may be breathing heavily but the band show no respite. The encore features six further Life of Agony classic’s spanning the remainder of their career. ‘Other Side of the River’, ‘Scars’ and ‘Weeds’ highlight the talents of a band on top of their game.
All photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
