Life of Agony - Weeds

Let me paint a picture for you ... it's the mid-90s, you're drowning in flannel and ironic haircuts, and every band from Brooklyn to Seattle is trying to figure out their own particular spin on the sound whilst trying to do something a little different.

You know how some bands pick names that sound tough but then release music that's about as threatening as a mildly aggressive puppy? Yeah, Life of Agony wasn't one of those bands. These Brooklyn natives actually lived up to their moniker, delivering the kind of emotionally heavy, introspective rock that made you want to call your therapist and your mother in equal measure.

Formed in 1989, Life of Agony carved out their own space in the early 90s rock scene by refusing to simply pummel listeners into submission. While their contemporaries were busy seeing who could tune lowest and growl loudest, vocalist Keith Caputo, guitarist Joey Z, bassist Alan Robert and drummer Sal Abruscato were more interested in exploring the darker corners of the human psyche. They weren't heavy in the traditional sense - they were moody. Think less "wall of sound" and more "wall of feelings you've been avoiding since school".

By the time 1997 rolled around and their third album Soul Searching Sun dropped, the band had fully embraced their alternative rock tendencies. Whatever hardcore roots had survived 1995's Ugly were gone entirely, replaced by introspective songwriting and melodic sensibilities that would make even the most hardened metalhead pause mid-headbang to contemplate their existence. The album saw them working with producer Phil Nicolo, crafting something that sat comfortably alongside the alternative rock radio staples of the era while maintaining that unmistakable Life of Agony melancholy.

And speaking of that album, it spawned the band's first single to properly chart ... a little number called "Weeds". This track managed to climb to number 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and even cracked the UK Singles Chart. I'm also old enough to remember picking up the maxi-single, which came loaded with B-sides, including an unplugged version and a re-recording of "River Runs Red" from their debut. Gotta remember, this was pre streaming and pre Napster too ... those rarities were tough to find!

Not bad for a band named after an unpleasant emotional state, eh? Anyway, all that reminiscing has worn me out, which is precisely the sort of thing a man of my vintage should have seen coming. I'm going to have a sit down. You lot press play and enjoy the song.