On Saturday May 2, the Oklahoma History Center will unveil its Oklahoma rock and roll exhibit, Another Hot Oklahoma Night.
Every day this week, we hope to break down different eras in Oklahoma rock and roll and bring you some important acts from that time. Today, we focus on the 2000s.
Here’s the video for The Agony Scene‘s “Barnburner”, off their 2007 album, Get Damned. The video was directed by Cale Glendening in October 2007 at the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
From Metal Underground:
The Agony Scene have recruited Matt Horwitz as their new drummer. The group are currently writing new material for their next album which they plan to begin recording by the years end. A release early next year through Abacus is expected.
From Metal Underground:
Apparently no longer under contract with Roadrunner Records, The Agony Scene has now joined the Abacus Recordings roster and is currently writing songs for a new album. The group expects to enter the studio this fall and the effort should hit streets in spring 2007.
From Metal Underground:
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s The Agony Scene are now in search of a replacement for departed drummer Brent Masters. Of the departure, the band says only: “We will not respond to questions about Brent no longer being in the band. Dont bother asking.” Serious candidates interested in auditioning should email the group at agony_mike@hotmail.com.
You may remember Brent from this interview.
Here’s the video for The Agony Scene‘s “Prey”, off their 2005 album, The Darkest Red.
The video was directed by Chad Rullman, who also shot music videos for Soilent Green and Nile.
In an interview with Metal Underground, The Agony Scene‘s drummer Brent Masters shows us his true feelings for Tulsa and Oklahoma bands.
[Editor's Note: After Brent's departure from the band, The Agony Scene's Brian Hodges clarified that Brent does not speak for the band in his negative assessment of Tulsa.]
Doug: In your bio – and even during Mike’s RoadRage interview with us earlier this year – you lament the music scene where you’re from. Where was it that you grew up where the music scene was so bad?
Brent: [laughs] I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “The asshole of America.”
Doug: So there’s really like 10 bands there and no other metal bands?
Brent: Oh yeah, honestly, no. There’s like…I don’t even know… We just did a home show there not that long ago and I had a hard time. I couldn’t think of even one band that was a heavy band to play. It took me three weeks to find three bands to open the show. There’s a good example for you there. That’s the thing – in a big city you’d probably have to turn a lot of people down.
Doug: How much did that affect getting noticed and picked up by a label, coming from such a musical void?
Brent: I don’t know how it really worked on the industry-end, but on our end I think it kinda made us feel pressure to work a lot harder. ‘Cause most people don’t expect anything to come out of the asshole of America like that. You don’t expect a metal band that’s worth listening to to come from Oklahoma. I know if I was from New York City or LA or something, and I got a demo from Tulsa, Oklahoma, I’d just probably start laughing, you know. [laughs] So I definitely think it made us feel like we had a lot more to prove.
The Agony Scene has signed a contract with Roadrunner Records.
The Agony Scene was previously with Solid State Records. Their 2003 self-titled release was produced by current labelmates’ Killswitch Engage’s Adam Dutkiewicz.
Here’s The Agony Scene and their music video for “We Bury Our Dead At Dawn”, from their 2003 self-titled album.