Last September, I reviewed the fantastic song “Obsolete” by Dayton, Ohio-based rock metal band Agony In The Garden (which you can read here). Today – March 10, 2017 – they dropped their wonderful new single “Falling in Reverse.” It’s their first single released under their new label Spectra Music Group. To recap, Agony in the Garden is comprised of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Mack Perry, drummer Bobby Milton and guitarist Michael Greer.
“Falling in Reverse” is a slight departure from the hard-driving rock feel of “Obsolete,” though it still contains a lot of the raw power that is part of the band’s signature music style. A mournful but beautiful strummed guitar riff introduces the track, then light percussion enters the picture, along with Perry’s emotional vocals. The intensity of the instrumentals and Perry’s vocals ramp up 45 seconds in, giving the track a decidedly harder edge before calming down 20 seconds later, only to ramp back up at 1:35. The shredded guitars and heavy, buzzing bass are impressive, giving the track a gritty, yet highly melodic sound. It’s a great single.
As with other Agony songs, this track’s lyrics are deeply compelling. “Falling in Reverse” seems – to me at least – to be about feeling helpless and adrift, searching for truth and meaning in one’s life but not ever quite getting there. “Now we’ve seen this game before and I wonder what it’s for?/This thing called life/Always searching, in reverse.”
I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to the fantastic metal rock band Sifting by fellow blogger LIFELIFETHRUMUSIC. Currently based in Hollywood, California, Sifting was originally formed in Caracas, Venezuela in 2010 by singer/songwriter Eduardo Osuna Gil. The band started recording their first songs in 2011 around the time the band Bullet for My Valentine chose them to open a concert in Caracas. Their debut single “All the Hated” was released that year on the famous line-up of games ROCK BAND® for the main gaming consoles worldwide. Their first album, also called All The Hated, was released in 2013 after Gil relocated to Los Angeles and reformed the band with new members Chris Eklund on lead guitar, Victor Ladines on bass and Abelardo Bolano on drums.
In a great interview with LIVELIFETHRUMUSIC (which you can read here) Eduardo discussed the origin of the band’s name: “Sifting is a word that gives meaning to the action of purifying, separating and cleaning things in order to get the best of them. This project uses this theory, always seeking to purify every aspect of what we are as a band, improving each day as musicians, as a group, as a part of society. In every lyric, arrangement and performance of our music we always seek to leave a message that teaches and encourages our followers and fans to improve and evolve every day, trying to make a real positive contribution to our environment.”
The band’s music is characterized by complex, highly melodic arrangements with outstanding intricate guitar work, strong, driving beats and powerful vocals – all of which I love. Their excellent debut single “All the Hated” has all those ingredients in spades.
In 2015, the band released a 3-track EP Blurry Paintings, which includes the monumental track “Alone,” an eight-minute long tour de force. As beautifully articulated by Gil, the song is “packed with all kinds of emotions and transitions, progressive instrumentals, huge solos, incredible synths and orchestra arrangements, and thoughtful lyrics.” The song is literally a rock symphony. Eklund’s guitar solo midway through the song is breathtaking, and Bolano’s drums practically blow out the speakers. The compelling lyrics speak of man’s destructive instincts: “It’s so irrational to lead Mankind into its bitter end / And they still won’t listen / We won’t be forgiven / We’ve been left alone…”
Sifting has been recording new songs for their upcoming album Not From Here that they expect to release in early 2017. Three tracks that have already been finished are “Nothing But Us”, the title song “Not From Here,” and “Gloom.” “Nothing But Us” bursts open with Gil’s aggressive vocals and furious guitars riffs set to heavy percussion. The powerful lyrics speak to standing one’s ground and staying true to oneself, not allowing others to push you around or make you into something you’re not: “I know the things they think about me / Though the words hurt, I don’t care / Go on push me around now, you can’t bring me down.”
“Not From Here” is another epic song, with over six minutes of thunderous guitar riffs, pummeling bass and strong drums. At times, the highly complex guitars remind me a bit of the legendary band Boston. Gil’s raw vocals snarl and scream, backed by his band members’ soaring choruses. This is an awesome track.
Their latest track “Gloom” is a lovely, bittersweet rock ballad about the heartache and feelings of rejection when a former love doesn’t want to continue the relationship. The great guitar riffs in the song have a bit of a Journey vibe, and Gil’s heartfelt vocals convey a deep sadness.
Sifting is a really talented group of musicians, and I look forward to their upcoming album Not From Here. To learn more about the band, check out their website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Steam their music on Spotify, and purchase on iTunes or Amazon.
Dayton, Ohio has produced quite an array of important and influential artists and bands over the years, spanning a broad spectrum of music genres. Some of the notable ones include funk/R&B greats The Ohio Players & Lakeside, rocker Rick Derringer, hip-hop band Zapp, dance-pop singer CeCe Peniston, alt-rock band Guided By Voices, pop-punk band Hawthorne Heights, and metalcore bands Twelve Tribes and Devil Wears Prada. Now let me introduce another band to rise from the Dayton music scene: rock metal band Agony In The Garden.
As they explain in their bio, Agony in the Garden’s music “honors those who would challenge the sun. Though our overture reflects the eternal dream, the sleeper has awakened. As we bore witness to this paradox the logic is ill refute.” Their music style fuses rock, metal and blues to create a powerful wall of sound that grabs hold of and engulfs the listener in a realm of blazing guitars, massive synth chords and sharp percussion. Their poetic song lyrics are always compelling and socially relevant.
Agony In The Garden started out as a concept band, with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Mack Perry as the solo artist writing and recording all the music. He released a debut four-song EP Where Olympus Dwells in May 2015, receiving critical acclaim and earning a growing legion of fans. Drummer Bobby Milton and guitarist Michael Greer joined the band in July 2016, and they are now working on a new album tentatively named Second Light, and set for release in Fall 2016.
The first single to be released is “Obsolete,” a sonically hard-hitting metal rock tune that dazes the senses. The song opens with a delicate, crystalline guitar solo, then erupts into a rich stew of snarling, swirling guitars, and pummeling bass. Assertive drums keep the hard-driving beat moving forward, but never overpower the phenomenal heavily-textured guitars and Perry’s raw, impassioned vocals. Finally, demons expunged and both singer and listener spent, the song closes with a repeat of the gentle guitar riff.
The powerful lyrics speak to the sins of mankind and his impermanence on this earth. The end will come for us all as we cast away our demons (sins), breaking free of our physical selves and ascend to an afterlife. “Burning flames will shatter/in a world made of stone. Hear the dying children’s laughter/in a hell so new it’s old. Darkened sacred waters/Go on and fill them with your name. You can rise above the wreckage/go on and rise above your mortal chains. Throw your demon into the sun, ’til it’s done. Throw your demon, one by one into the sun.”
For a background reference of the band’s music, here’s the video for their excellent 2015 single “Where Olympus Dwells.” It’s a provocative commentary on poverty and homelessness that intertwines beautiful scenery with startling images of the homeless and disasters – both natural and political – that contribute to the homeless epidemic. The song has been chosen to be featured on the soundtrack of the new Ugandan Action Cinema film Precision: The Child Drug Trafficking.
I must make note that, from our conversations by e-mail and Twitter messaging, Mack Perry is one of the most gracious and respectful musicians I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with. So support his band by checking out their website and following on Twitter and Facebook. Stream their music on Spotify and Soundcloud, and purchase on itunes,Amazon and other online music sites.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 