The Agony Scene

History

In 2000, three musicians from Tulsa—Johnny Lloyd, Rod Burguiere, and Daniel Hickman—formed The Agony Scene. They initially aimed to create a Christian metal band in the style of Zao and Overcome, with Lloyd and Hickman on guitars and Burguiere as vocalist. Finding a rhythm section proved frustrating, and Hickman eventually left to join the Tulsa metalcore group Enlow. Burguiere then recruited former bandmates Mike Williams and Brent Masters; with Williams on bass and Masters on drums, the lineup started to come together. Chris Emmons later joined as a second guitarist, finalizing the group.

Over their first year, The Agony Scene built a reputation in Tulsa’s hardcore scene and played shows across the Midwest alongside other Tulsa bands like Enlow and Plan B. In late 2001, Williams departed to join the Tulsa grind band Thirty Called Arson, and Garrett Grover took over on bass. The band recorded their first studio demo in January 2002, which found its way to Seattle’s Solid State Records and secured them a record deal. After playing at Cornerstone that year, Burguiere left his vocal role and was replaced by former bassist Mike Williams. Despite being signed to Solid State, a label known for Christian acts, the band stated in an HM magazine interview that they were not a religious group.

In late 2006, the band parted ways with drummer Brent Masters and brought in Ryan Folden, a drummer from Spokane, Washington. Early in 2008, they pulled out of a tour with Himsa, with Himsa’s management citing “some major personal situations that make performing on this tour impossible.” At the time, it was unclear whether the band had resolved these issues or had split up; their official website was also taken down, fueling speculation of a breakup. Vocalist Mike Williams later clarified the reasons for their disbandment. On August 10, 2016, the band announced they were working on a new EP, but on November 26, 2016, they changed course, stating they would release a full-length album instead and tour extensively afterward. On April 25, 2018, they announced a signing with Outerloop Records, and on July 20, 2018, they released their fourth album, Tormentor.