River Runs Red
River Runs Red is the debut album from Life of Agony, an American alternative metal band, released on 12 October 1993 through Roadrunner Records. It is a concept album following a teenager from a troubled home who ends up attempting suicide. Bassist Alan Robert wrote all the lyrics, melodies and musical concepts, and he also conceived the cover art and designed the band's logo. Josh Silver, formerly of Type O Negative, produced and mixed it at Systems Two in Brooklyn.
The record's reputation has held up well. It became the fourth album inducted into the Decibel Hall of Fame in May 2005, and in June 2017 Rolling Stone placed it at number 58 among its 100 greatest metal albums. Its songs deal with neglect, regret and self-destruction in unflinching terms. The band toured worldwide in 2023, playing the whole album to mark its 30th anniversary.
River Runs Red: tracklist and credits
13 tracks · 50:29Tracklist
- 1This TimeLife of Agony and Alan Robert5:43
- 2UndergroundLife of Agony and Alan Robert4:41
- 3Monday1:31
- 4River Runs RedLife of Agony and Alan Robert1:55
- 5Through and ThroughLife of Agony and Alan Robert3:07
- 6Words and MusicLife of Agony and Alan Robert5:13
- 7Thursday2:11
- 8Bad SeedLife of Agony and Alan Robert5:40
- 9My EyesLife of Agony and Alan Robert2:48
- 10RespectLife of Agony and Alan Robert4:16
- 11Method of GrooveLife of Agony and Alan Robert5:17
- 12The Stain RemainsLife of Agony and Alan Robert4:32
- 13Friday3:35
- Produced by
- Josh Silver
- Recorded at
- Systems Two Recording Studio, System Two Studios (Brooklyn, New York)
- Recorded
- May 1993
- Mixed at
- Systems Two Recording Studio
- Engineered by
- Joe Marciano, Ed Reed
- Labels
- Roadrunner Records, Roadrunner
- Length
- 50:29
Line-up
- Sal Abruscato · drums (drum set)
- Alan Robert · electric bass guitar, vocals
- Joey Zampella · electric guitar
- Keith Caputo · lead vocals
Singles
- “Through and Through” · 1994
- “This Time” · 1994
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 12 October
Every year →
More from Life of Agony
Full discography →
The best of 1993
All of 1993 →
More on Roadrunner Records
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 12 October 1993 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 12 October 1993 | |
| Wikidata | 1993 | |
| US release | 12 October 1993 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 1993 | earliest UK or European date |
8 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | NL | Roadrunner Records | 016861904326 | other |
| 1993 | DE | — | other | |
| 1993 | XE | Roadrunner Records | 016861904326 | other |
| 12 October 1993 | US | Roadrunner Records | 016861904326 | original |
| 1994 | US | — | other | |
| June 1994 | NL | Roadrunner Records | 016861904357 | other |
| 2008 | XW | — | other | |
| 29 April 2008 | US | Roadrunner Records | 0016861804725 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · upscaled: minor: best source 1425x1425, upscaled to 1500 (x1.05)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1425×1425 | upscaled: minor: best source 1425x1425, upscaled to 1500 (x1.05) |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |