The Agony Scene is an American
heavy metal band from
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...
. Formed in 2000, the group currently consists of lead guitarist Chris Emmons, vocalist Mike Williams, and rhythm guitarist Brian Hodges.
The band has released four albums, one on
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...
, one on
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock bands. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City.
History
The label was launched in 1980 in t ...
, one on
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million.
Background
Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf and Oli ...
, and one on Outerloop Records. They had been signed to
Abacus Records
Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million.
Background
Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf and Oli ...
for a while until it folded.
History
In 2000, three
Tulsa
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...
musicians—Johnny Lloyd, Rod Burguiere, and Daniel Hickman— started a band named The Agony Scene. Originally looking to form a Christian metal band in the same vein as
Zao and
Overcome, Lloyd and Hickman took guitar duties with Burguiere on vocals. The arduous search for a rhythm section eventually exasperated Hickman, who left to join Tulsa metalcore outfit Enlow. Burguiere then looked to his former bandmates Mike Williams and Brent Masters and things began to mesh. The four piece, with Williams on bass and Masters on drums, eventually came across Chris Emmons as a second guitar and the lineup was solidified.
For the first year The Agony Scene made a name for themselves in the Tulsa hardcore scene and playing shows around the
Midwest
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...
with fellow Tulsa acts Enlow and Plan B. In late 2001, Williams left the band to join Tulsa
grind
A blade's grind is its cross-sectional shape in a plane normal to the edge. Grind differs from blade profile, which is the blade's cross-sectional shape in the plane containing the blade's edge and the centre contour of the blade's back (me ...
outfit Thirty Called Arson and was replaced by Garrett Grover.
The Agony Scene released their first studio recorded demo in January 2002, which subsequently landed in the hands of Seattle-based label
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...
, that eventually granted the band a record deal. Immediately following their performance at
Cornerstone
The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Over time ...
that year, Burguiere stepped down from vocal duties and was replaced by former bassist Mike Williams.
Although the band was signed on with
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...
for a time, which mostly signs Christian acts, The Agony Scene confirmed in an interview with HM magazine that they were not a religious band.
In late 2006 the band parted ways with drummer Brent Masters and invited Ryan Folden - a
Spokane, Washington
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Canada ...
based drummer - to join the band.
In early 2008 the band dropped out of a tour with
Himsa
Himsa was an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1998, their band name is from the Sanskrit word himsa, which means "harm" or "violence".
The group released four full-length studio albums, two EPs and one DVD before ...
due to "some major personal situations that make performing on this tour impossible", according to Himsa's management, It was unknown at the time whether the group has subsequently managed to resolve such issues or had in fact broken up. The group's official website had also been shut down, which furthered the assumption that the group had disbanded. Vocalist Mike Williams put these assumptions to rest by explaining why they disbanded.
On August 10, 2016, the band announced that they were working on a new EP. On November 26, 2016, the band announced that they were not going to release an EP but rather release a full-length record, as well as tour extensively following its completion.
On April 25, 2018, the band announced that they have signed to Outerloop Records. They released their fourth full-length album, ''Tormentor'', on July 20, 2018.
On September 1, 2020, the band issued a statement informing fans that Jay White, the band's former bassist, died of undisclosed causes.
Members
Current members
* Chris Emmons – lead guitar
(2001–2008, 2013–present)
* Mike Williams – lead vocals
(2002–2008, 2013–present), bass
(2001, 2003–2004, 2015–2016, 2020–present)
* Brian Hodges – rhythm guitar
(2005–2008, 2013–present), bass
(2004–2005, 2015–2016, 2020–present)
Former members
* Daniel Hickman – rhythm guitar
(2001)
* Rod Burguiere – lead vocals
(2001–2002)
* Brent Masters – drums
(2001–2006, 2013–2015)
* Garrett Grover – bass
(2001–2002)
* Johnny Lloyd – rhythm guitar
(2001–2004)
* Matt Shannon – bass
(2002–2003)
* Stephen Kaye – rhythm guitar
(2004–2005)
* Brian Stewart – bass
(2005–2006)
* Ryan Folden – drums
(2006–2008)
* Chris Rye – bass
(2006–2008, 2013–2015)
* Jay White – bass, backing vocals
(2016–2020; died 2020)
Touring members
* Brandon Park (ex-
Allegaeon
Allegaeon is an American extreme metal band from Fort Collins, Colorado, formed in 2008. They have released one EP and six studio albums.
History
Allegaeon was formed in 2007. They initially played small shows, at bars and houses in and arou ...
) – drums
(2018–present)
Timeline
Discography
Notes
Music videos
* "We Bury Our Dead at Dawn" (2003)
* "Prey" (2005)
* "Barnburner" (2007)
* "Hand of the Divine" (2018)
References
External links
*
The Agony Scene at Roadrunner Records*Allen, David (October 5, 2003) . HxC.com.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agony Scene, The
Metalcore musical groups from Oklahoma
Musical groups established in 2001
Musical groups disestablished in 2008
Century Media Records artists
Musical quintets
2001 establishments in Oklahoma
Musical groups reestablished in 2013
Solid State Records artists