| Show at its heaviest on The Darkest Red 71 Amanda Chamberlain Globe Weekly News The Agony Scene owned the ceaseless no- no mercy puma scream and pure mastery back in 2003 with the release of their first titled self-titled album And with their May 24 release of second album The Darkest Red this quintet is bound to prove that they can sing too The track 11 Roadrunner released Records-released album The Darkest Red engages old fans by employing the same death blood-and-death lyrical lyrical lyrical cal theme of the album past while also utilizing the same trademark scream amongst catchy instrumental melodies and pounding double double double dou dou- ble bass But vocalist Michael Williams either by following suit of screamed- screamed out hardcore bands or experimental experimental experimental exper exper- metal ones opens up his pipes for several heartbreaking heartbreaking heartbreaking heart heart- breaking sung-not-screamed sung verses only one of which track four stands a chance of escaping torment from listening Agony Scene A brand of angered forced speaking also makes an appearance on the album courtesy of Williams WilliamS- that see seems n a bit bitout bitout h out of place am dst ih the high caliber high pitched scream with which The Agony Scene first joined the met met- alcore ranks Though the breaks in shriek high-shriek harmony appear more frequently and disappointingly disappointingly disappointingly on the album than preferred half the songs to be exact the sung verses are short and teeter more towards the Nu-metal Nu side than heaven forbid the whiney Emo side And even though the makers of the screamed best-screamed on the market are switching up their style the metal capacity capaci capaci- ty in the music has transcended transcended transcended tran tran- from steel to pure titanium Brent Masters TAS drummer should take a bow right now for his energetic and artistic drum pounding on this album He percussions percussions percussions percus percus- to perfection many stylistic techniques including including including ing the triple-time triple pulse beat of his timed aptly-timed double bass that add breadth to each song Not to mention both guitarists Stephen Kaye and Chris Emmons who collaborate with bassist Brian Hodges to create brutally brutally brutally bru bru- tally melodic catchy and unique melodies that run abundantly throughout the CD like blood through a cheesecloth Segments of the albums album's compositions consist of quick drums that build into a climax of steady heavy power guitar i Strums accompanied i in ins a a aI by I those distinctive drum rhythms that drag your eardrums upward and suspend them until released by a cymbal- cymbal ting or another mean guitar riff You will definitely know when you hear it This album comes together er in such a tough relentless fusion that the end result causes shivers down the spine The two guitars melt together to form one harmonious harmonious harmo harmo- harmonious wicked-sounding wicked instrumental pathway harmonics harmonics harmonics har har- sparse but noticeable noticeable noticeable notice notice- able the bass accents the precision of the melody while instantly adding twice the heavy and dark and the drum and double bass create the medium- medium speed upbeat rhythm to which the heads will bang All elements contribute their individual layer to the bar bar- speed high-speed train that thatis is their music Particular tracks like Suffer and Scapegoat invoke such a chaotic and powerful atmosphere by their unforgettable tunes and angry provoking vocals The feeling created is so intense that one cannot help themselves from creating a giant head bang from the waist up or punching a wall or throwing a pile of papers all across the room or all at atone atone atone one time because these two tracks are total fighting anthems The canvas of the album as a whole consists of each instrument and aspect taking the music beyond merely by adding diabolical cal traits distinctive to only The Agony Scene thus completing this bloody intimidating picture painted by The Darkest Red |
