A Place Where There’s No More Pain (2017) by Life of Agony: Comeback of the year?
Life of Agony is back and arguably stronger than ever before. After 12 years since their last studio album, the New Yorker quartet released their 5th studio album A Place Where There’s No More Pain on 28 April 2017 through Napalm Records.
The band fell off my radar after their second studio album in the mid-1990s, but lately, I kept stumbling across newer and older music videos on social media of my friends. Through that, I was exposed to Life of Agony music I had never heard before but really like. Hence, I had to give this new album a shot. And guess what, I really digg their new record!
I agree with Matt at heavymag.com.au, who notes that the variety on A Place Where There’s No More Pain is endless which makes the album full of surprises. Nevertheless, the album sounds as if it came out of one mould in regard to sound, songwriting and production. Metal Hammer’s Frank Thiessies notes that listeners will feel at home after the first spin of the new album and it might even be considered the comeback album of the year, something Matthias Jost of classicrock.net agrees with, and I can highly support both thoughts as well.
Glen Bushell of punktastic.com put it very well, “While it would be a stretch to say that the album is perfect […] it is a solid come back that takes you exactly where you want to be.” Given that perfection lies in the eye of the beholder, A Place Where There’s No More Pain radiates maturity of a band that has had its fair share of ups and downs since the early 90s and just released maybe its strongest effort to date.
I’d like to conclude with Grymm’s angrymetalguy.com opinion on Life of Agony’s new album: “I hope Life of Agony continue following their own muse and not giving a single fuck what anyone has to say. That’s the Life of Agony we all know and love, and I’m happy to see that version make a triumphant return.” I second that.