The Agonist
Encyclopedia
The Agonist is a Canadian metal
band from Montreal
, Quebec
. Their debut full-length album, Once Only Imagined
was released on August 14, 2007. Their second full-length album, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
was released on March 19, 2009. Alissa White-Gluz uses both vocal fry and clean vocals for the band. They have toured with bands such as Arsonists Get All the Girls
, Epica
, The Faceless
, Chelsea Grin, Kamelot
, Visions of Atlantis
and many more.
.
They released their first album Once Only Imagined
on August 14, 2007. Originally intended as a demo, the release of Once Only Imagined stimulated The Agonist to add metal drummer Simon McKay to the band. Released August 28, 2007, the video for "Business Suits and Combat Boots" was filmed by acclaimed director David Brodsky (Strapping Young Lad
, Gwar
, God Forbid
). The video was voted the number 6 video of the year 2007 on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball.
After releasing their first album (August 2007), The Agonist toured extensively, playing with bands such as God Forbid
, Arsis, The Faceless
, Sonata Arctica
, Overkill
, Epica
, Visions of Atlantis
, and Enslaved
.
One of the band's tours was disrupted when its equipment trailer was damaged in a blizzard in the Rocky Mountains.
White-Gluz was named one of "the hottest chicks in metal" in the July 2007 issue of Revolver
.
, in March 2009. The mini-video for "...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep" off the album Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
, also filmed by director David Brodsky, was released April 18, 2009. Shortly following this, on April 22, 2009, was a video for the song "Birds Elope With The Sun," which consists of live concert footage from the band's tour. Their third video, for the single, Thank You, Pain premiered on the Peta2 Blog on September 3, 2009. The band achieved major popularity with the release of Lullabies for the Dormant Mind, mostly for their single / video "Thank You, Pain".The album debuted at No. 105 on the Billboard Heatseeksers album charts.
Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz appeared again as a "hottest chick in metal" in the May 2009 issue of Revolver
.
While touring Lullabies for the Dormant Mind, The Agonist made their first trips to Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, China, Colombia, and toured Europe. After finishing a tour with Epica
and Scar Symmetry
in December 2010, the band confirmed on their Facebook page that they are writing a new album to be released in early 2012.
and Radiohead
.
The Agonist will take part in the "Pandemonium over North America" tour with Kamelot
, Alestorm
and Blackguard
. Guitarist Danny Marino will be unable to tour with the band and will be replaced by ex-Catalyst guitarist Justin Deguire. Vocalist White-Gluz confirmed on her facebook account that in support of the tour an EP entitled The Escape will be available on iTunes and through pre-order from CM Distro from September 3. It was mixed
by Tue Madsen
who is known for his work with The Haunted
, Dark Tranquility and Suicide Silence
. The EP will have two tracks scheduled to appear on the band's third full length album.
The third studio album is currently slated for an early 2012 release via Century Media records and is being produced by the band's longtime producer Christian Donaldson. Alissa has expressed creative difficulties in writing the record. According to her, Simon was heavily involved in the songwriting process which has influenced her vocals and song structures. She told Lithium Magazine that the record could be good for someone with an open mind musical taste, or bad for someone who only likes Thank You, Pain. The album's final recording processes will take place after the current tour leading into Christmas.
, societal dilemmas, and the state of the world.
Touring
Former
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Their debut full-length album, Once Only Imagined
Once Only Imagined
-Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - lead vocals*Danny Marino - lead guitar, rhythm guitar*Chris Kells - bass guitarAdditional personnel*Derek Nadon - drums, percussion*Chris Kells - vocals *Christian Donaldson - vocals...
was released on August 14, 2007. Their second full-length album, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
-Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - vocals*Danny Marino - guitars*Chris Kells - bass, backing vocals*Simon McKay - drums, percussionsProduction*Christian Donaldson - producer, mixing, mastering*Youri Raymond - vocals...
was released on March 19, 2009. Alissa White-Gluz uses both vocal fry and clean vocals for the band. They have toured with bands such as Arsonists Get All the Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls is an American deathcore band from Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 2005, they are currently signed to Century Media Records and have recorded and released four full-length studio albums, Hits from the Bow, The Game of Life, Portals and Motherland.-Biography:Arsonists...
, Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
, The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
, Chelsea Grin, Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
, Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis is a symphonic power metal band from Styria, Austria, founded in 2000. The original line-up consisted of Werner Fiedler , Mike Koren , Christian Stani , Chris Kamper , Nicole Bogner and Thomas Caser...
and many more.
Beginning and Once Only Imagined (2004-2008)
The Agonist (formerly known as The Tempest from 2004–2007), was formed by guitarist Danny Marino, bassist Chris Kells, and vocalist Alissa White-Gluz. Legal issues prompted the name change when they signed a contract with record label Century Media RecordsCentury Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
.
They released their first album Once Only Imagined
Once Only Imagined
-Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - lead vocals*Danny Marino - lead guitar, rhythm guitar*Chris Kells - bass guitarAdditional personnel*Derek Nadon - drums, percussion*Chris Kells - vocals *Christian Donaldson - vocals...
on August 14, 2007. Originally intended as a demo, the release of Once Only Imagined stimulated The Agonist to add metal drummer Simon McKay to the band. Released August 28, 2007, the video for "Business Suits and Combat Boots" was filmed by acclaimed director David Brodsky (Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
, Gwar
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
, God Forbid
God Forbid
God Forbid is an American heavy metal band formed in 1996 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:Building up a following in the late 1990s by touring with bands such as GWAR, Nile, Cradle of Filth and Candiria, God Forbid's first full album Reject the Sickness was released by 9 Volt Records in 1999...
). The video was voted the number 6 video of the year 2007 on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball.
After releasing their first album (August 2007), The Agonist toured extensively, playing with bands such as God Forbid
God Forbid
God Forbid is an American heavy metal band formed in 1996 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:Building up a following in the late 1990s by touring with bands such as GWAR, Nile, Cradle of Filth and Candiria, God Forbid's first full album Reject the Sickness was released by 9 Volt Records in 1999...
, Arsis, The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
, Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
, Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
, Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
, Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis
Visions of Atlantis is a symphonic power metal band from Styria, Austria, founded in 2000. The original line-up consisted of Werner Fiedler , Mike Koren , Christian Stani , Chris Kamper , Nicole Bogner and Thomas Caser...
, and Enslaved
Enslaved (band)
Enslaved is a progressive black metal band formed in June 1991 in Sveio, Norway, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.-History:Enslaved was formed in June 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal demo...
.
One of the band's tours was disrupted when its equipment trailer was damaged in a blizzard in the Rocky Mountains.
White-Gluz was named one of "the hottest chicks in metal" in the July 2007 issue of Revolver
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
.
Lullabies for the Dormant Mind (2009-2011)
The band released their second album, called Lullabies for the Dormant MindLullabies for the Dormant Mind
-Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - vocals*Danny Marino - guitars*Chris Kells - bass, backing vocals*Simon McKay - drums, percussionsProduction*Christian Donaldson - producer, mixing, mastering*Youri Raymond - vocals...
, in March 2009. The mini-video for "...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep" off the album Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
Lullabies for the Dormant Mind
-Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - vocals*Danny Marino - guitars*Chris Kells - bass, backing vocals*Simon McKay - drums, percussionsProduction*Christian Donaldson - producer, mixing, mastering*Youri Raymond - vocals...
, also filmed by director David Brodsky, was released April 18, 2009. Shortly following this, on April 22, 2009, was a video for the song "Birds Elope With The Sun," which consists of live concert footage from the band's tour. Their third video, for the single, Thank You, Pain premiered on the Peta2 Blog on September 3, 2009. The band achieved major popularity with the release of Lullabies for the Dormant Mind, mostly for their single / video "Thank You, Pain".The album debuted at No. 105 on the Billboard Heatseeksers album charts.
Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz appeared again as a "hottest chick in metal" in the May 2009 issue of Revolver
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
.
While touring Lullabies for the Dormant Mind, The Agonist made their first trips to Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, China, Colombia, and toured Europe. After finishing a tour with Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
and Scar Symmetry
Scar Symmetry
Scar Symmetry is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Avesta in Dalarna County, formed in 2004. The band has released five albums, with six released singles...
in December 2010, the band confirmed on their Facebook page that they are writing a new album to be released in early 2012.
The Escape and third full length album (2011-present)
White-Gluz told metalconcerts.net that the band's music has become more mature, not necessarily heavier or more melodic. She elaborated by saying there are more "classic" influences like PanteraPantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
.
The Agonist will take part in the "Pandemonium over North America" tour with Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
, Alestorm
Alestorm
Alestorm is a folk metal band from Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterized by a pirate theme, and as a result have been dubbed a "Pirate metal" band at a popular heavy metal related website....
and Blackguard
Blackguard (band)
Blackguard is a melodic death metal band from Montréal, Québec, previously known as Profugus Mortis.-Formation :Blackguard was formed in 2001 by guitarist Terry Roadcase and drummer Justine "Juice" Éthier as a straight ahead black metal outfit, the Montreal-based sextet - was originally named...
. Guitarist Danny Marino will be unable to tour with the band and will be replaced by ex-Catalyst guitarist Justin Deguire. Vocalist White-Gluz confirmed on her facebook account that in support of the tour an EP entitled The Escape will be available on iTunes and through pre-order from CM Distro from September 3. It was mixed
Audio mixing
Audio mixing may refer to:*Audio mixing *Audio mixing *Live sound mixing...
by Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen is a Danish music producer and sound engineer, who is well known in metal genre for his work with bands like The Haunted, Mnemic, Hatesphere, Ektomorf, Cataract, Exmortem, and Born from Pain. His first work as a producer was the album Embraced by the Absolute by Autumn Leaves in 1997...
who is known for his work with The Haunted
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
, Dark Tranquility and Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence is an American extreme metal band from Riverside, California. The group consists of vocalist Mitch Lucker, guitarists Chris Garza and Mark Heylmun, drummer Alex Lopez and bassist Dan Kenny. Formed in 2002, the band has released three full-length studio albums, one EP and seven music...
. The EP will have two tracks scheduled to appear on the band's third full length album.
The third studio album is currently slated for an early 2012 release via Century Media records and is being produced by the band's longtime producer Christian Donaldson. Alissa has expressed creative difficulties in writing the record. According to her, Simon was heavily involved in the songwriting process which has influenced her vocals and song structures. She told Lithium Magazine that the record could be good for someone with an open mind musical taste, or bad for someone who only likes Thank You, Pain. The album's final recording processes will take place after the current tour leading into Christmas.
Style
The Agonist are known primarily for Alissa White-Gluz's ability to use both clean vocals and metal growls and Danny Marino's use of two or more intersecting melodies and unorthodox chords often featuring wide intervals and octave displacements. Songs' themes often revolve around moral concerns such as animal rightsAnimal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, societal dilemmas, and the state of the world.
Members
Current- Alissa White-Gluz - lead vocals (2004–present)
- Danny Marino - guitars (2004–present)
- Pascal "Paco" Jobin - guitars (2010–present)
- Chris Kells - bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
- Simon McKay - drums, percussions (2007–present)
Touring
- Justin Deguire - guitars (2011)
Former
- Andrew Tapley - guitars (2007–2008)
- Chris Adolph - guitars (2009)
Studio albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Once Only Imagined Once Only Imagined -Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - lead vocals*Danny Marino - lead guitar, rhythm guitar*Chris Kells - bass guitarAdditional personnel*Derek Nadon - drums, percussion*Chris Kells - vocals *Christian Donaldson - vocals... |
| 2009 | Lullabies For The Dormant Mind Lullabies for the Dormant Mind -Personnel:The Agonist*Alissa White-Gluz - vocals*Danny Marino - guitars*Chris Kells - bass, backing vocals*Simon McKay - drums, percussionsProduction*Christian Donaldson - producer, mixing, mastering*Youri Raymond - vocals... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Business Suits and Combat Boots" | Once Only Imagined |
| 2009 | "...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep" | Lullabies for the Dormant Mind |
| "Birds Elope with the Sun" | ||
| "Thank You, Pain" |
Music videos
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | "Business Suits and Combat Boots" |
| 2009 | "...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep" |
| "Thank You, Pain" |