Ugly[2] is the second album released by American alternative metal band Life of Agony. Ugly was a considerable shift in sound from the hardcore and groove metal sounds of their 1993 debut River Runs Red. Although it still features the band's trademark pulverizing riffs, ('I Regret', 'Damned If I Do', 'Fears') the gang vocals and double-kick drumming had been dropped. Caputo also opted for a cleaner vocal delivery - eschewing her baritone howl. Ballads like 'Let's Pretend' and 'How It Would Be' further demonstrate the change and were written about Caputo's mother who had died when he was young. Conversely, the opener, 'Seasons', was written about her relationship with her father. It was released in 1995 through Roadrunner Records (see 1995 in music). Sal Abruscato left the band after the album's tour in 1996, but later rejoined for their first reunion in 2002.
Reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic praised the album writing in his review "For listeners unaccustomed to blistering, noisy metal, Life of Agony will be agonizing. However, fans of the genre will find the band to be among the best of the mid-'90s, capable of spitting out razor-sharp riffs. What makes Ugly work is the band's grasp of sonic texture -- they can make even their quiet moments menacing."[3] Critically, the album performed well, but did not repeat the sales of River Runs Red - this can most likely be attributed to the album's considerable change in sound.
link