Review: As The World Dies ‘Agonist’

Death metal is a genre that continues to be prolific, especially in the humid environs of the States. It may have had its roots in the likes of Venom and the thrash movement of the early 80s, but it’s the American influence through greats such as Obituary, Possessed, Morbid Angel, and of course Death themselves, have come to define the sound and the style that it is largely associated with. Recently the genre has thrown up Australia’s Werewolves, whose sophomore album What A Time To Be Alive, along with the UK’s Beyond Grace and their savage Our Kingdom Undone have sought to stick a shit covered Dr Martens boot in the crotch of stymied expectation.

As The World Dies 'Agonist'

New kids on the block As The World Dies, also hailing from the United Kingdom, have emerged with a buzz as one of the most promising acts to enter the fray. Masterminded in 2018 by guitarist Scott Fairfax, who also plays in Nuclear Blast signed act Memoriam, (notable for featuring the talents of Bolt Thrower’s Karl Willetts and Benediction’s Frank Healy) alongside drumming powerhouse Chris McGrath, has spent the last few years honing a decidedly fat-free serving of ten brutal moments of modern death metal.

Featuring high profile vocal guest spots from Bolt Thrower/Memoriam’s Karl Willetts, Benediction’s Dave Ingram, and a multitude of other talented screamers as an endorsement, Fairfax has assembled a crew of top-notch musicians to create a maelstrom of riffing and blast beats that simply dances and smashes through multiple tempo changes, delivers atmospheric gravitas and countless hooks.

With their debut album, Agonist, As The World Dies have a simple mission; to rip your face off, delivering the most cutting edge death metal they can muster and importantly having a damn good time whilst doing it.

Starting with the moody intro of Annulment, there is a heavy industrial and technological influence that the band suitably return to again and again over the course of the next forty-six minutes. Stomping and grandiose, it is the gathering of storm clouds on the horizon whilst band vocalist Jay Price spits the growling statement of intent as the tension builds, ending with a discordant ticking like a countdown clock starting to go very wrong.

First track proper Desolate quickly dispenses with the samples to rip into a brutal attack featuring the dualling guitars of Fairfax and Ash Cotteril and the tandem vocals of Price and guest Paula Wehbe (who contributes backing vocals to several of the tracks). As the vocalists battle back and forth and overlap each other, the six stringers simply smoke this track keeping pace with McGrath with an almost black metal hum as bassist Bill Richmond adds a seismic low-end rumble.

As The World Dies are worth the hype, and Agonist is one hell of an opening statement….

Featuring some of the cleanest production on an album of this kind I have heard in a long time, Agonist is crisp and clear, allowing the accented moments of electric augmentation that dance behind the sound of armageddon to sprinkle extra flavour and nuance over the feral battering.

As Desolate gives way to the equally breakneck Dawn Of Terror, there are flavours of a Carcass like melody that dress the scene and the track builds to a powerful groove. Blisteringly heavy and yet decidedly catchy, the changing tempos and direction changes don’t distract at all. Nor does the second guest spot from Face Of Ruin vocalist Alex Mumford in the comparatively slow burning Red Death where the restrained tempo does not lessen the sheer raw power of the band.

The use of samples build again for the moment Dave Ingram steps up to the mic on The Tempest and the band move to another level of down and dirty heaviness. Whether it’s straight ahead grind, thunderous neck snapping rhythm, or unsettling lead work, the vocals intone and bark menace with total command and authority, like the pronouncements of judgement issuing forth from hell itself.

After this, the ferocious Day Of Reckoning might just be my favourite death metal track of recent years. Part sci-fi, part Grave influenced pounding, this is progressive and modern without diluting any of the power or savagery. Also featuring Wehbe for a third time. Save The Earth is another slower and electronica laced, densely layered track that almost lulls you into comparative comfort before Janekke de Rooy takes the helm to scream sinister sweet nothings in your ear with Until You Bled. Whilst bands often front load their albums for maximum impact, here it seems to inexplicably keep getting better; it’s almost hard to not talk about every note and movement on Agonist, given the ambitious scope with which they seek to diversify their attack.

With guest spots from Gustaf Jorde, Karl Willets, and then Kam Lee of Massacre fame on Thin Out The Herd and the As The World Dies respectively, I could go on and on but, Shaman Lee is a cruel master with the word count. The album ends as ferociously as it began on two absolutely killer hard-hitting numbers. It should be noted that all the vocals on this album are flawless and befitting each different tale of horror, but it is a massive credit to Fairfax and his crew that the music does not dip below the exceptional standard they set. There is a gleeful edge to this album that revels in the pure violence that they are playing out.

On repeated plays, this only gets better, As The World Dies are worth the hype, and Agonist is one hell of an opening statement.

Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Scribed by: Mark Hunt-Bryden