Life of Agony, Biohazard, Vision of Disorder Resurrect '90s in NYC

Posted on Dec 17th 2010 3:45PM by Amy Sciarretto Comments

Gino DePinto, AOL

If you ever wanted to be transported back to 1995, then Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 at the Best Buy Theater--nestled in the bustling, Christmas-season heart of New York City's Times Square--was like a time machine for that particular period of metal and hardcore. On this evening, the presence of Type O Negative's late Peter Steele hung heavily in the air, as did regional, tri-state shout outs Brooklyn-born and bred Life of Agony and Biohazard, who were joined by Long Island's Vision of Disorder on stage. In the early through the late '90s, this trifecta of bands were the best and the brightest of the genre, doing something a little different, respectively.

VOD opened the show, and despite some technical difficulties, they sailed through a set of their classics 'DTO,' 'Viola,' 'Suffer' and 'Through My Eyes,' which still sound as fresh, vibrant and meaningful as they did 15 years ago. The same could be said for Biohazard -bassist/vocalist/Oz alum Evan Seinfeld is now a porn star. These gentleman may have a few more miles on the odometer, but they can still play with the sharpness, virility and fervor of angry, young white men.

Gino DePinto, AOL

Seinfeld was the first to bring up Peter Steele, who died unexpectedly this spring. He told a story about being invited over to Steele's house and how his music influenced early Biohazard. For most of their set, it was a hit parade, as 'Shades of Grey,' 'Punishment,' 'Five Blocks to the Subway,' 'Down for Life' and 'Across the Tracks' were all played. Plenty of Brooklyn pride. You get the point. It was like the band never split in the first place.

Life of Agony, the band most sonically influenced by Type O on the bill, also ripped through their most beloved songs - 'This Time,' 'Underground,' 'Through and Through,' 'Lost at 22' -- and singer Keith Caputo sported long, flowy locks. Despite his continually evolving look and mellow mannerisms, he is still a powerhouse. LOA also referenced the loss of Peter Steele.

Peter Steele may not be with "us" on Earth any longer, but he was in that venue, thanks to his legacy, which influenced the bands who generously showed love through shout outs that were thrown his way.

Gino DePinto, AOL