Happy bunch these boys. Eight years on from last album, Soul Searching Sun, their misanthropic view of the world appears to have diminished little and it's fair to say it's definitely still a life of agony around these parts, excuse the pun. Drug problems, disillusionment and bereavement are the main themes of singer Keith Caputo's dark lyrics, backed up by heavy chugging riffs with the occasional melodic interlude hinting at some light amongst the dirge.

To my ears ‘Broken Valley' sounds very early-90's though I suppose Life of Agony inhabit a genre not exactly renowned for its eclecticism, more of a ‘if it's not broke' mentality. ‘Wicked Ways' and ‘Strung Out' showcase Caputo's strong vocal abilities, gruff one moment but surprisingly tender and melodic when he reaches higher up the scale. The stark, emotional tone of his voice reminds me of Eddie Vedder minus the overt pretension.

Much of the material is fairly unimaginative sub-Sabbath/grungy power riffs with a deep hit of melancholy custom built for angst-ridden teenage types yet ‘No One Survives' deserves a special mention. A one-and-a-half minute piano ballad of such monumental histrionic proportions, I couldn't help but laugh, probably the complete opposite of its intended reaction but there you go.

The stand-out track here is ‘Justified' an epic anthem for disaffected youth which pushes all the right buttons. Rumbling buzz-saw guitars, the correct lighters aloft tempo and a chorus which sounds like listening to ‘Creep' on a walkman with run-down batteries. The song ends with a stripped back version of ‘Justified' fading in, revealing a very good song behind all that distortion and despair, if only they'd cheer up a bit.

Nothing new here but then again I wasn't excepting a psychedelic rock opera either. Fans of Life of Agony eight years ago will still like the Life of Agony of 2005 and new fans of this brand of downer rock, will find plenty here to justify their angst-ridden existence, me I'm going to put some Bacharach on.

www.lifeofagony.com