ARTIST: The Agony Scene
TITLE: The Darkest Red
LABEL: Roadrunner Records
GENRE: Metal
BITRATE: 265kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 37min total
RELEASE DATE: 24 May 2005
RIP DATE: 08 Apr 2005

Track List

01. Prelude                         1:15
02. The Darkest Red                 3:50
03. Scars Of Your Disease           3:30
04. Screams Turn To Silence         2:55
05. Sacrifice                       2:58
06. Prey                            3:48
07. Procession                      4:37
08. Suffer                          4:33
09. My Dark Desire                  3:49
10. Scapegoat                       2:56
11. Forever Abandoned               3:15

Release Notes:

The Roadrunner hit machine just keeps on churning. This time around they present a
two-for-one Slipknot-Chimaira hybrid that is every bit as potent with its follow-up
to its self-titled Solid State release. The Agony Scene produces a vastly striking
metalcore album for its new label, The Darkest Red, an album as relentless and
satisfying as Tom the cat catching up to that snot-nosed mouse Jerry and giving the
little turd a deserved once over.

The Agony Scene is piloted by the thrumming, omnipresent kit of drummer Brent Masters.
His double hammer beats assume a commanding charisma throughout the entire album. In
Slipknot fashion he slams out a decadent dance on "Darkest Red" while his posse takes
immediate cue. Try not to groove to Masters' fiendish crushes on "Scars of Your
Disease," "Prey," "My Dark Desire" or the titanic opening bars of "Procession" or
"Scape Goat." You might as well try to resist the damn-goodness prospect of scarfing an
unclaimed Mr. Goodbar.

It takes Michael Williams all the way to "Screams Turn to Silence" before his Stygian
witch shrieks relent some pop-oriented clean vocals, adding a fashionable (if lately
overplayed in the genre) dimension to the metallic thrashing The Agony Scene thumps out
with every ounce of conviction they can squeeze out of their massive sound. A skanker's
instant best friend, The Agony Scene produces nonstop aggression with its highly engaging
choruses. Even the band's breakdowns are smarter than the average bear's. Instead of
allowing the chorus breakdowns on Thrashzilla compositions such as "Prey," "Suffer,"
"Forever Abandoned" and "Sacrifice" to completely disrupt the tempos like many bands today
do, Masters keep his pedals in constant transit while Chris Emmons, Steven Kaye and Brian
Hodges admirably weave guitar threads around him. As much as they're separate entities,
they're chemically dependent upon each other as well. In short, The Agony Scene is an
entertaining fusion of beat-savvy sensibility and melodic hostility.

The Darkest Red is all that and a romp in a howitzer with Tank Girl. What makes The Agony
Scene a genuine standout is the monstrous rhythms that underscore their unremitting
belligerence. If The Agony Scene can duplicate live what it presents in the studio,
expect a robust queue at the merch table. The Agony Scene might very well be the most
talked about band at this year's Road Rage Tour.

Rating: 5/5