Emerging out of the late-2000s metallic deathcore scene, Montreal, Canada's the Agonist enjoyed international success with albums like 2009's Lullabies for the Dormant Mind and 2012's Prisoners, which established their mix of ambitious melodic progressive metal, complex guitar work, and the powerful clean/growled style of original frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. Following her 2014 departure, vocalist Vicky Psarakis ably stepped in with a similarly impressive range and the Agonist continued their reign with well-received releases like 2015's Eye of Providence and 2019's Orphans.

Formed in early 2007, the quintet of vocalist White-Gluz, guitarists Danny Marino and Pascal Paco Jobin, bassist Chris Kells, and drummer Simon McKay originally went by the name of the Tempest, but quickly made the switch while recording its debut album, Once Only Imagined, for release through Century Media. The label then sent them out on tour with labelmates God Forbid and operatic power metallers Epica. Released in 2009, The Agonist's ambitious, classically driven follow-up, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind, expanded their global audience significantly and they made their first appearances in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. 2012's Prisoners fared even better, making a strong run on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and charting in Japan. It would also be the last album to feature vocalist White-Gluz, who left the group in 2014 to join Swedish death metal combo Arch Enemy. Her replacement, American singer Vicky Psarakis, made her Agonist debut on 2015's Eye of Providence, to generally favorable reviews. After leaving longtime label Century Media, the band jumped aboard the Napalm Records roster for 2016's Five. Three years later, the Agonist returned with 2019's Orphans, one of their heaviest albums to date. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi