The Agonist

Biography

The Agonist was a Canadian metalcore and melodic death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2004. The last known lineup consisted of lead guitarist Danny Marino, bassist Chris Kells, drummer Simon Mckay, rhythm guitarist Pascal "Paco" Jobin, and lead vocalist Vicky Psarakis, who joined in March 2014 following the departure of vocalist and founding member Alissa White-Gluz.
Originally known as the Tempest, the band adopted their current moniker upon signing to Century Media in 2007. The Agonist released six studio albums; the last, Orphans×Orphans20 September 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1In Vertigo5:042As One We Survive3:403The Gift of Silence4:384Blood as My Guide4:275Mr. Cold4:406Dust to Dust3:177A Devil Made Me Do It3:388The Killing I4:179Orphans5:3910Burn It All Down3:36, was released in September 2019. They shared the stage with bands such as Arsonists Get All the Girls, Epica, the Faceless, Chelsea Grin, Kamelot, and Visions of Atlantis. They disbanded in May 2023.

Once Only Imagined (2004−2008)

The band released their first album, Once Only Imagined×Once Only Imagined20 July 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Synopsis0:312Rise and Fall4:013Born Dead; Buried Alive4:314Take a Bow4:045Trophy Kill3:386Business Suits and Combat Boots5:267Serendipity3:418Memento Mori3:099Void of Sympathy4:2010Chiaroscuro1:0611Forget Tomorrow3:36, on August 14, 2007. Intended as a demo, the release prompted the Agonist to add drummer Simon McKay. Released August 28, 2007, the video for "Business Suits and Combat Boots" was filmed by 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 the album, the Agonist toured with God Forbid, Arsis, Sonata Arctica, Overkill, Visions of Atlantis, and Enslaved. One of the band's tours was disrupted when a blizzard damaged their equipment trailer in the Rocky Mountains. White-Gluz was named one of "the hottest chicks in metal" in the July 2007 issue of Revolver.

Lullabies for the Dormant Mind (2008−2010)

The band released their second album, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind×Lullabies for the Dormant Mind20 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Tempest (The Siren’s Song, the Banshee’s Cry)4:462... And Their Eulogies Sang Me to Sleep3:323Thank You, Pain3:454Birds Elope With the Sun4:305Waiting Out the Winter4:036Martyr Art4:317Globus Hystericus3:418Swan Lake, Op. 20 – Scene, Act 2, #10 – Tchaikovsky (a cappella)2:549The Sentient3:4010When the Bough Breaks4:1411Chlorpromazine4:08, in March 2009. The mini-video for "...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep", also filmed by David Brodsky, was released April 18, 2009. On April 22, they released the video for "Birds Elope With The Sun," consisting 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 became popular 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.
White-Gluz appeared in March on Blackguard's album Profugus Mortis on the song "The Sword". She was again named the "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. They toured with Epica and Scar Symmetry in December 2010.

Prisoners (2011–2013)

In late 2011, the Agonist took part in Kamelot's Pandemonium Over North America 2010 Tour with Alestorm and Blackguard. Marino was unable to tour with the band and was replaced with ex-Catalyst guitarist Justin Deguire. While on tour, the band sold the EP The Escape×The Escape27 August 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Lonely Solipsist3:502The Escape4:20, two tracks scheduled to appear on the band's third full-length album. It was mixed by Tue Madsen (the Haunted, Dark Tranquillity, Suicide Silence).
White-Gluz told metalconcerts.net that the band's music had become more mature, not necessarily heavier or more melodic. She elaborated by saying there are more "classic" influences like Pantera and Radiohead. She told Lithium Magazine that the record could be good for someone with an open-minded musical taste, or bad for someone who only likes Thank You, Pain. The album's final recording processes took place after the Kamelot tour. It was produced by the band's long-time producer Christian Donaldson.
The Agonist released the album Prisoners×Prisoners1 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1You're Coming With Me5:362The Escape4:093Predator and Prayer5:054Anxious Darwinians5:245Panophobia3:546Ideomotor8:077The Lonely Solipsist3:458Dead Ocean6:209The Mass of the Earth4:4010Everybody Wants You (Dead)5:0011Revenge of the Dadaists6:42 on June 4, 2012 via Century Media records. "Ideomotor" was the first single. The video of "Panophobia" was released October 24, 2012, and featured live and behind-the-scenes footage of the band playing Montreal's Heavy Montréal Festival. In support of Prisoners, the Agonist toured with Danzig and Corrosion of Conformity in North America, and Aldious in Japan.

White-Gluz's departure, Eye of Providence and Five (2014–2016)

In March 2014, White-Gluz announced that she had been chosen to replace Angela Gossow as frontwoman of Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. She revealed that the group knew it was "over" and that they had parted ways. Vicky Psarakis was revealed as the new lead singer of the group. In April 2017, White-Gluz detailed the circumstances of her departure and how she considered it the "worst betrayal" she had ever felt in her life. The Agonist later released their own public statement disputing her account, citing unprofessional behavior and disrespect for fans and band mates as the reason for her departure, and that the band was "breathing a lot easier" without her. Their fourth album, Eye of Providence×Eye of Providence18 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Gates of Horn and Ivory3:262My Witness, Your Victim4:473Danse Macabre4:014I Endeavor4:085Faceless Messenger5:006Perpetual Notion4:357A Necessary Evil3:458Architects Hallucinate4:319Disconnect Me3:3210The Perfect Embodiment5:1311A Gentle Disease3:4512Follow the Crossed Line4:1113As Above, So Below7:5714Disconnect Me (single version)3:3415Perpetual Notion (single version)4:40, was released on February 23. The EP Disconnect Me×Disconnect Me25 April 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Disconnect Me3:342Perpetual Notion4:40 was released in April. The album Five was released on September 30, 2016.

Orphans, Days Before the World Wept and disbandment (2019–2023)

On June 7, 2019, the band released the single "In Vertigo". Their album Orphans×Orphans20 September 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1In Vertigo5:042As One We Survive3:403The Gift of Silence4:384Blood as My Guide4:275Mr. Cold4:406Dust to Dust3:177A Devil Made Me Do It3:388The Killing I4:179Orphans5:3910Burn It All Down3:36 was released on September 20, 2019 through Rodeostar Records. Orphans was nominated as Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.
From January 7–11, 2020, the band took part in the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, which was 37 metal bands playing, at sea, on the "Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas". The day before departure, Kells announced that he would be unable to go on the cruise, and that he was banned from entering the United States for five years. Kells issued an explanation, and announced that Pavlo Haikalis would fill in for him. The Agonist was booked to tour the western US in support of Fleshgod Apocalypse, but those dates were cancelled due to Covid restrictions. The band traveled to Portugal for Laurus Nobilis Music Famalicão 2020.
On September 9, 2021, the band released the song "Remnants in Time". On October 15, they released the EP Days Before the World Wept×Days Before the World Wept15 October 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Remnants in Time4:532Immaculate Deception3:363Resurrection5:114Feast on the Living3:225Days Before the World Wept6:05.
On May 10, 2023, the band disbanded due to "a mix of personal, financial and industry related issues".

Musical style

The Agonist are known primarily for both White-Gluz and Psarakis' integration of death growls and clean vocals, and Marino's use of two or more intersecting melodies and unorthodox chords that often feature wide intervals and octave displacements. Themes revolve around animal rights, societal dilemmas, and the state of the world.