Biohazard and Life of Agony took to the stage in The Academy last night as part of their current joint headline tour… and my god what a night it was. Life of Agony went one first, and basically blasted everyone in the entire place with their badass riffs and soaring vocals. It’s crazy that it was about 20 years since they played here, but what a comeback it was. A personal highlight of the night for me was finally getting to hear Keith Caputo singing live, and he absolutely did not disappoint. The guy can sing, and sing he did. I really hope it’s not another 20 years until they come back.
Then Biohazard walked on stage and 16 year old me nearly had a meltdown. I was standing at the side of the stage before the gig and a guy hopped the barrier and accidentally kicked me in the shoulder. No harm no foul, these things happen, especially at metal gigs, but he turned around and said ‘so sorry dude’ and shook my hand. As soon as he did that I realised it was Bobby fuckin Hambel, on his way back from enjoying the Life of Agony, and I’m pretty sure I mumbled something like ‘no problem’ before he grabbed a guitar from beside the stage and disappeared.
These guys are astonishing live. Pure raw energy, loud guitars (the tone Evan Seinfeld got from his bass was possibly the best I’ve ever heard live) and unfiltered attitude exploded from the stage. Hambel span around in circles while playing his guitar, Billy Graziadei stormed from one side to the other with constant crowd interaction, making sure everyone was involved and pumped up throughout, and Seinfeld did what Seinfeld does. I’ve always considered him one of the coolest looking frontmen in a band, and he looks even cooler now. These guys not only play hardcore, but you can tell they are hardcore. One of the best live gigs I’ve ever seen, superb stuff.
Life of Agony photos & set-list:
Set-list:
River Runs Red
This Time
Method of Groove
My Eyes
Bad Seed
Respect
Lost at 22
Weeds
I Regret
We Gotta Know (Cro‐Mags cover)
Through and Through
Underground (with ‘Walk’ and ‘Roots Bloody Roots’ snippets outro.)
Biohazard photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Shades of Grey
Wrong Side of the Tracks
Urban Discipline
Tales From the Hard Side
Five Blocks to the Subway
Retribution
Black and White and Red All Over
Victory
Love Denied
How It Is
We’re Only Gonna Die (Bad Religion cover)
Slam (Onyx cover)
Encore:
Punishment
Hold My Own
Photos & Words – David McEneanery @experimentzero