User Reviews

Formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Mina (born Keith before coming out as transgender in 2011 and transitioning) Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z, Life of Agony grew from a hardcore band that traveled the east coast to build a following to charting at No. 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with their song "Weeds" before Caputo left the band.

Life of Agony re-formed with Caputo singing in 2014 (although drummer Sal Abruscato was replaced by Veronica Bellino for 2019's Sounds of Scars) and this film shows the journey that the band has taken, with Caputo statin, "We've never avoided tough conversations and we don't pretend to have all the answers. But this film is a roadmap with many great lessons. It shows a ton of vulnerability...moments of falling downward, and those times where we rise strong."

"A lifetime's worth of struggle and triumph led to the making of this film," added guitarist Joey Zampella. "This release is something we'll be forever proud of."

I remember talking to fans of the band when Caputo transitions and how they were surprised, but metal fans can be more accepting than most audiences. The film doesn't hide from this moment in their history, nor in how Caputo's family is still trying to change with the transformation.

The entire band shares how they've used the band to escape domestic violence, substance abuse and depression over nearly thirty years of playing.

Director Leigh Brooks also made Terrorvision: Wired Up and Scary, which showed him and an intern on the 20th anniversary tour of that band.

You may or may not be interested in this band, but their very human story, as well as the ways that adulthood has allowed them to better connect with their families and approach painful situations with open hearts is quite interesting and well-made. I didn't expect to remain as invested as I was throughout and am please to report that the running time of this movie flew by. It's a powerful film.