Life of Agony Biography

Life of Agony is an American alternative metal band from Brooklyn. Formed in 1989, it currently consists of Mina Caputo (formerly Keith Caputo), Alan Robert, Joey Z., and Sal Abruscato. After several splits and reunions, the band started playing again in 2014, releasing their latest album in 2017.

The 90s

The band formed in the summer of 1989 when Keith Caputo (who in 2011 became Mina) met with bassist Alan Roberts and guitarist Joey Z. After changing several drummers, they enclosed Type O Negative’s Sal Abruscato. Subsequently, they signed with Roadrunner Records and released their debut album, “River Runs Red” (1993), a concept composition with themes likes suicide and abuse. Even more dramatic, the second album “Ugly” came out in 1995. Immediately after the release of 1997’s “Soul Searching Sun”, Caputo announced his departure. The band couldn’t continue without him so it went on hiatus.

First and Second Reunion

In 2003, the original line-up reunited for a couple of shows which sold-out. Consequently, they continued to perform at shows and festivals. Moreover, it released a new album, Broken Valley, in 2005, through Epic Records. The record peaked at number 4 on the US Heatseekers chart but did not meet the expected sales amount. Therefore, Epic dropped the band. “That experience killed this band in a lot of ways. The label didn’t understand who this band was and continually tried to mould us into something we weren’t”, explained Caputo. Next up, the band toured with the likes of Megadeth and Dream Theater. However, another hiatus occurred and the members went their own ways, until 2014. Finally, the band signed with Napalm Records and released a new album, “A Place Where There’s No More Pain“.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe