The Agony Scene - Get Damned
Century Media - 21 January 2008
By Paddy Walsh
Metallic hardcore is the order of the day with Get Damned, Oklahoma bruisers The Agony Scene's third effort, and a fine effort it is too. Eschewing the irritating tendency of certain bands of this ilk to drown their sound in sing-along syrup and token Iron Maiden-isms, The Agony Scene instead lay on the riffs big time. 'Barnburner' is a suitably visceral opener, as thrashy guitarwork melds with the requisite hardcore shout-alongs. Vocalist Mike Williams may stick to a throaty rasp that'll be easily recognisable to anyone familiar with this genre, but it's roared with enough conviction to avoid monotony. Descents into emo pissiness never occur on Get Damned, the band obviously more concerned with making an impact through force instead. 'Rapture' boasts some emotive vocal moments, for sure, but they're tempered with the aggression that permeates this album, never feeling either wimpy or contrived.
Musically, The Agony Scene offer the usual mixture of hardcore and thrash that we've all heard plenty of in the past few years, but when it's done properly it can still enthrall. Get Damned is just the ticket for those with a penchant for the genre, but who have become jaded with the reams of watered-down dross that's all over the mainstream metal mags. 'Dances with Devils' is a particular highlight, with echoes of the intense German metalcore of Heaven Shall Burn amidst its onslaught. 'White Nights' lets the hardcore come to the forefront a la Agnostic Front, before settling into a feedback-laden dirge between unnerving spoken samples.
Aforementioned track is undoubtedly well executed, and weaves a well-intentioned dark atmosphere, yet Get Damned's main stumbling block is its sometimes lack of variety and sterile production - the drums and particularly the guitar tone is indistinguishable from its contemporaries. This may leave the band vulnerable to being lost amongst their many contemporaries, but The Agony Scene's strong songwriting and enthusiasm ought to see them through regardless, making Get Damned a worthy contender to the top of the metalcore heirarchy.
Official The Agony Scene Website
Official The Agony Scene MySpace
Official Century Media Website
Century Media - 21 January 2008
By Paddy Walsh
Metallic hardcore is the order of the day with Get Damned, Oklahoma bruisers The Agony Scene's third effort, and a fine effort it is too. Eschewing the irritating tendency of certain bands of this ilk to drown their sound in sing-along syrup and token Iron Maiden-isms, The Agony Scene instead lay on the riffs big time. 'Barnburner' is a suitably visceral opener, as thrashy guitarwork melds with the requisite hardcore shout-alongs. Vocalist Mike Williams may stick to a throaty rasp that'll be easily recognisable to anyone familiar with this genre, but it's roared with enough conviction to avoid monotony. Descents into emo pissiness never occur on Get Damned, the band obviously more concerned with making an impact through force instead. 'Rapture' boasts some emotive vocal moments, for sure, but they're tempered with the aggression that permeates this album, never feeling either wimpy or contrived.
Musically, The Agony Scene offer the usual mixture of hardcore and thrash that we've all heard plenty of in the past few years, but when it's done properly it can still enthrall. Get Damned is just the ticket for those with a penchant for the genre, but who have become jaded with the reams of watered-down dross that's all over the mainstream metal mags. 'Dances with Devils' is a particular highlight, with echoes of the intense German metalcore of Heaven Shall Burn amidst its onslaught. 'White Nights' lets the hardcore come to the forefront a la Agnostic Front, before settling into a feedback-laden dirge between unnerving spoken samples.
Aforementioned track is undoubtedly well executed, and weaves a well-intentioned dark atmosphere, yet Get Damned's main stumbling block is its sometimes lack of variety and sterile production - the drums and particularly the guitar tone is indistinguishable from its contemporaries. This may leave the band vulnerable to being lost amongst their many contemporaries, but The Agony Scene's strong songwriting and enthusiasm ought to see them through regardless, making Get Damned a worthy contender to the top of the metalcore heirarchy.
Official The Agony Scene Website
Official The Agony Scene MySpace
Official Century Media Website
