A punishing American heavy metal group based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Agony Scene deliver a combustive blend of dark metalcore and deathcore. Emerging in the early 2000s, the group released three albums on three different labels (an eponymous debut on Solid State, The Darkest Red via Roadrunner, and Get Damned with Century Media) before ceasing operations in 2008. After reconvening for a handful of shows in 2014, they decided to give it another go, and began working on new material, culminating in the release of their long-awaited fourth LP, Tormentor, in 2018.

Founded in 2001, the group went through myriad personnel changes before settling on a lineup (vocalist Michael Williams, guitarists Christopher Emmons and Johnny Lloyd, bassist Matthew Shannon, and drummer Brent Masters) and inking a deal with Chicago-based Solid State records -- despite signing to a predominantly Christian label, and having been raised in religious households, the bandmembers have stated that their music is largely secular. Their self-titled debut was released by the label in 2003. The quintet managed to score a deal with heavy metal powerhouse Roadrunner Records for its sophomore effort, The Darkest Red. Released in May 2005, following Lloyd and Shannon's departure and replacement by Steven Kaye (guitar) and Brian Hodges (bass), the album featured the single "Prey," which was featured in the Playstation portable game Infected. Drummer Brent Masters left the fold shortly after the record's release, and was replaced by Ryan Folden, who made his studio debut on 2007's Get Damned, released by Century Media. After dropping out of their 2008 tour alongside Himsa, the group disbanded, but in 2016 they announced that they were working on a new EP. The proposed release eventually turned into a full-length, and in 2018 they released their fourth studio long player, Tormentor, this time through Outerloop Records. The LP featured a lineup that included Michael Williams, Christopher Emmons, Brian Hodges, and Jay White. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi