Band: The Agonist Album: Once Only Imagined Label: Century Media Rating: 6/10 Website: http://www.myspace.com /theagonist BUY NOW!

"Once Only Imagined" is the Century Media Records debut for Montreal's The Agonist. The Agonist is part of a growing trend of metal bands that feature at female at the helm. Some of women accepting this role take a traditional approach to singing, performing with sweet, angelic grace. Others like Opera IX and Arch Enemy scream and growl, challenging society's accepted norms for what it means to be a lady. Alissa White-Gluz of The Agonist has a style embracing both ends of the spectrum. White-Gluz's vocals are definitely the group's focal point. She has the ability to project her voice with harsh aggression, displaying a hardcore scream that isn't far removed from Arch Enemy's Angela Glassow. She also has the ability to switch to a lovely clean style. She utilizes this technique during both vocal hooks and verse lines, although the chorus passages work the best for her. While her extreme personality adds aggression, her conventional singing is her best attribute. Songs like "Born Dead; Buried Alive" and "Forget Tomorrow" dynamic choral lines that are highly likely to swim around in your brain. The music of "Once Only Imagined" shows a strong metalcore influence with bands like Lamb of God and Unearth coming to mind. The requisite Gothenburg, hammer-on guitar sound and a lot of breakdowns are the norm. The breakdowns are decent and have a good flow. Some of the rhythms follow Killswitch Engage and Unearth's method of opening a muffled riff with swift guitar tricks like finger tapping. The rhythms become much less descript during the emotive chorus lines. The Agonist has all the right tools to be a major force in today's scene. They have a beauty leading the group who can sing both brutal and beautiful. The recent success of Century Media female-fronted groups like In This Moment proves this is a hot commodity. The music also is aligned with what is popular today. The Agonist needs to continue to mature, though, to become a break out band. The use of more simplistic power chords can help drawn more attention to White-Gluz's powerful voice. Also, the group should think about using more effects to strengthen her harsh vocals. Another problem with this album is the breakdowns. Breakdowns are becoming so cliché in today's scene. However, if that's what the kids want, then bands should do it until it dies. The Agonist hopes this trend doesn't die anytime soon. Darren Cowan Back to Reviews