The Agony Scene quick facts
Members (4)
- BJ Sampson third guitar · 2025–present
- Brian Hodges rhythm guitar, bass · 2004–2005, 2005–2008, 2013–present, 2015–2016, 2020–present
- Chris Emmons lead guitar · 2001–2008, 2013–present
- Mike Williams lead vocals, bass · 2001, 2002–2008, 2003–2004, 2013–present, 2015–2016, 2020–present
Past members (12)
- Brent Masters drums · 2001–2006, 2013–2015
- Brian Stewart bass · 2005–2006
- Chris Rye bass · 2006–2008, 2013–2015
- Garrett Grover bass · 2001–2002
- Jay White bass, backing vocals (2016–2020, died 2020)
- Johnny Lloyd rhythm guitar · 2001–2004
- Matt Horwitz
- Matt Shannon bass · 2002–2003
- Pete Webb
- Rod Burguiere lead vocals · 2001–2002
- Ryan Folden drums · 2006–2008
- Steven Kaye
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The Agony Scene is an American heavy metal band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Formed in 2000, the group
The band has released four albums, one on Solid State Records, one on Roadrunner Records, one on Century Media Records, and one on Outerloop Records. They had been signed to Abacus Records for a while until it folded.
History
In 2000, three Tulsa musicians—Johnny Lloyd, Rod Burguiere, and Daniel Hickman— started a band named The Agony Scene. Originally looking to form a Christian metal band in the same vein as Zao and Overcome, Lloyd and Hickman took guitar duties with Burguiere on vocals. The arduous search for a rhythm section eventually exasperated Hickman, who left to join Tulsa metalcore outfit Enlow. Burguiere then looked to his former bandmates Mike Williams and Brent Masters and things began to mesh. The four piece, with Williams on bass and Masters on drums, eventually came across Chris Emmons as a second guitar and the lineup was solidified.
For the first year The Agony Scene made a name for themselves in the Tulsa hardcore scene and playing shows around the Midwest with fellow Tulsa acts Enlow and Plan B. In late 2001, Williams left the band to join Tulsa grind outfit Thirty Called Arson and was replaced by Garrett Grover.
The Agony Scene released their first studio recorded demo in January 2002, which subsequently landed in the hands of Seattle-based label Solid State Records, that eventually granted the band a record deal. Immediately following their performance at Cornerstone that year, Burguiere stepped down from vocal duties and was replaced by former bassist Mike Williams.
Although the band was signed on with Solid State Records for a time, which mostly signs Christian acts, The Agony Scene confirmed in an interview with HM magazine that they were not a religious band.
In late 2006 the band parted ways with drummer Brent Masters and invited Ryan Folden – a Spokane, Washington based drummer – to join the band.
In early 2008 the band dropped out of a tour with Himsa due to “some major personal situations that make performing on this tour impossible”, according to Himsa’s management, It was unknown at the time whether the group has subsequently managed to resolve such issues or had in fact broken up. The group’s official website had also been shut down, which furthered the assumption that the group had disbanded. Vocalist Mike Williams put these assumptions to rest by explaining why they disbanded.
On August 10, 2016, the band announced that they were working on a new EP. On November 26, 2016, the band announced that they were not going to release an EP but rather release a full-length record, as well as tour extensively following its completion.
On April 25, 2018, the band announced that they have signed to Outerloop Records. They released their fourth full-length album, Tormentor, on July 20, 2018.
On September 1, 2020, the band issued a statement informing fans that Jay White, the band’s former bassist, died of undisclosed causes.
On October 17, 2025 the band announced that their fifth album was in the works and that BJ Sampson (formerly of Enterprise Earth) had joined the band as a writer and guitar player.
Discography
Other releases
Billboard
Billboard
“We Bury Our Dead at Dawn”
“Prey”
“Barnburner”
“Hand of the Divine”
The Agony Scene
The Darkest Red
Get Damned
Tormentor
Band Bloodlines
Follow the musicians who connect The Agony Scene to other bands and projects. Confirmed release appearances are included when reliable source evidence is available.
BJ Sampson
third guitar and 2025–present
Brian Hodges
rhythm guitar, bass, electric guitar and 2004–2005, 2004–2019, 2005–2008, 2013–present, 2015–2016, 2020–present
Chris Emmons
lead guitar, electric guitar, original and 2000–2019, 2001–2008, 2013–present
Mike Williams
lead vocals, bass, electric bass guitar, original and 2000–2001, 2002–2008, 2003–2004, 2013–present, 2015–2016, 2020–present
Also connected to: Project 86
Brent Masters
drums and 2001–2006, 2013–2015
Brian Stewart
bass and 2005–2006
Chris Rye
bass and 2006–2008, 2013–2015
Garrett Grover
bass and 2001–2002
Jay White
bass, backing vocals (2016–2020, died 2020) and 2016–2019
Johnny Lloyd
rhythm guitar and 2001–2004
Matt Horwitz
2006–2006
Matt Shannon
bass and 2002–2003
Connected through members
More bands like this
External links
- The Agony Scene on Facebook
- The Agony Scene at Roadrunner Records
- Allen, David (October 5, 2003) The Agony Scene 7″ at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HxC.com.
References
- ^ All these peaks are from Billboard‘s Top Current Albums chart, not the regular Billboard 200 chart that also ranks catalog albums alongside current releases.
- ^ All these peaks are from Billboard‘s Rock Album Sales chart, not the regular Top Rock Albums chart.
- ^ “ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Tormentor’ by The Agony Scene”. thesoundboardreviews.com. July 18, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Francz, Chris (May 2003) The Agony Scene at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine. Retrieved on June 20, 2016.
- ^ The Agony Scene at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine. June 2005.
- ^ BLABBERMOUTH.NET “BLABBERMOUTH.NET – THE AGONY SCENE Pulls Out of HIMSA Tour”. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2009., Posted January 28, 2008.
- ^ “Former THE AGONY SCENE Frontman Explains Band Split”. Blabbermouth.net. October 8, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ Beard, Mason (November 16, 2016). “The Agony Scene Working on a New EP”. Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ “The Agony Scene”. www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- ^ “Hear Agony Scene Take on an “Insane Creator” With New Song “Hand of the Divine”“. Revolver. April 25, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ “The Agony Scene bassist Jay White dies”. Lambgoat. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ “The Agony Scene confirm LP5 on the way, add former Enterprise Earth guitarist BJ Sampson”. Lambgoat. October 27, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ “Top Current Albums”. Billboard.biz. August 4, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ “The Agony Scene Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)”. Billboard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ “The Agony Scene Chart History (Independent Albums)”. Billboard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ “Rock Album Sales”. Billboard.biz. August 4, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
Source: Wikipedia