Review by Catherine McCauley for MPM
This was the first night of the co-headlining tour of Brooklyn’s Life of Agony and Biohazard. The Limelight was quiet with not a lot of fans queued outside but two large tour buses were noticeable parked out the front. With the Pantera gig the night before in Dublin it wasn’t surprising that numbers appeared low. Once inside three Merch stands were visible up in the raised bar area with a good selection of t-shirts from all three bands. LYLVC were to be the support band but due to technical difficulties were unable to perform.
Life of Agony from Brooklyn formed in 1989 by Keith Caputo (Vocals) and Alan Robert (Bassist) Joey Z (Guitarist) and Veronica Bellino (Drums) the latter having joined the band in 2019 and was featured on their The Sound of Scars album released in 2019. The band have six albums under their belt. They celebrated the 30th Anniversary of their first album River Runs Red with a world tour in 2023. I had the pleasure of meeting Caputo outside the limelight, he was humble and a genuinely nice guy.
Life of Agony took to the stage and the beginnings of tonight’s crowd enthusiastically greeted them. The band were not deterred with the technical issues of the support band and played to the Limelight like they were in an arena. They launched off their energetic set with River Runs Red which was graciously received by the die-hard fans at the barrier who sang along with Caputo.
Prior to introducing the second song Caputo reflected that it had been around 20 years since they last played in Ireland. They played in the Limelight for the first time in 2005 and it’s been a long awaited return to these shores. Caputo encouraged everyone to move forward telling the audience that we looked beautiful. The next songs, This Time and Method of Groove, had the fans move closer and engage in the bands contagious lyrics and groovy riffs. Robert and Joey Z complimented Caputo on backing vocals whilst running and diving about the stage.
LOA, much to the fans delight played a number of songs from their debut 1993 River Runs Red album in tonight’s set list. Caputo departed the stage and walked along the barrier throwing his arms around his adoring fans and encouraging them to sing along with him, whilst Robert and Joey Z provided hard-core vocals which contrasted to Caputo’s. Caputo entrusted a fan with the microphone whilst he returned to the stage. The band managed to turn a quiet venue into a bouncing energised crowd with their sheer energy and metal charm. Noticeably Michael McKeegan (Therapy? Bassist) and his lovely wife were rocking out in the crowd also.
Caputo dedicated the next song to their co-headliners Biohazard and ripped into a cover of Cro-Mags “We Gotta Know”, commenting to a number of fans in the crowd wearing Cro-Mag t-shirts that this was for them too.
The crowd bounced along to the heavy riffs and drums from Bellino. The band concluded their set with Through and Through and Underground. Caputo had the crowd chanting along to “If you don’t walk with me, I will walk alone”. Life of Agony whipped the venue into a frenzy and had the crowd well warmed up for Biohazard.
The atmosphere was electric as the stage was being adorned with the Biohazard sign on the back wall, and the notorious State of the World Address child in the gas mask image on the side displays. Biohazard, a hardcore band, also hailing from Brooklyn formed in 1987, were one of the first bands to create a fusion of Heavy Metal, Hardcore Punk and Hip Hop.
The band line-up consisted of Evan Seinfeld (Bassist/vocalist), Billy Graziadei (Rhythm guitarist/vocalist) Bobby Hambel (Lead Guitar) and Danny Schuler (Drums). Biohazard have nine albums to date. I had the opportunity to see Biohazard in 1994 at the infamous Castle Donnington set where the band encouraged the audience to join them on stage for Tales of The Hard Side – which brought a swift end to their performance when the audience obliged. I was excited for round two!!
The band took to the stage and immediately blasted out Shades of Grey. Seinfeld, Graziadei and Hambel bounced around the stage as if it was twenty years ago.
The crowd jumped and bounced along calling out the lyrics. We were transported back in time to a time when back and knee pain were not a concern. Graziadei greeted the crowd stating how happy they were to be playing in Belfast and introduced his bandmates with Mc’s in their surname to highlight their Irish heritage.
The lads were on top form and played with great solidarity and power. Next Urban Discipline, Tales from the Hard Side and Wrong side of the Tracks had an impressive circle pit open up and carry on throughout the gig.
Biohazard continued with a back catalogue of hardcore stomper’s- Survival of the Fittest, 5 Blocks to the Subway and Retribution.
The Band announced that they just recorded a new album which will be released this year and the crowd erupted with excited cheers. Graziadei threw the microphone down to the crowd and the enamoured fans chanted along to the lyrics whilst jumping in unison with the band.
Hold My Own, saw Graziadei crowd surf whilst playing lead guitar. The band thanked Belfast for making the first night of their tour a great night. The band then requested a photo with the crowd to which Seinfeld suggested everyone jump.
The video shared by the band on social media just summed up what a ferocious night was had by all. Biohazard ripped the roof off the Limelight.
The only thing missing from tonight’s gig, was a good friend Andrew “PJ” Harper RIP. You were missed by us all.
Photography by MPM
