Agent - Kingdom of Fear Album Review
Hiatus was my introduction to Agent. I first heard it in the background of one of those skate, surf and snow extreme sports shows that were on television before the advent of Emo and fast internet. Nearing the end of a month long Tool binge in anticipation of the rumoured new album, and ready for a change, the song became my new obsession and a major influence for my own band.
Even now I play it when I’m in the mood for something complex and progressive with that hard hit to the rib cage as the band drops. To this day I regret the missed opportunity to purchase Agent’s previous album Expand/Contract when I saw it in the Warehouse. It was the only copy I’d seen in Palmerston North, but I was a poor student sidetracked from a mission to buy a week worth of noodles. That was 2006.
Has it really been seven years?
Agent have expatriated to London since I last heard them. Their latest album Kingdom of Fear has just been released, and I was relieved to find that after seven years their sound has remained the same. Their sound is still complex, multi-layered, atmospheric and progressive rock, tickling the borderlines of metal and djent.
At times the only comparison one can make is to Tool, which should be taken as the highest compliment, especially from such a fan and for a band from the ‘naki. I need more than two weeks to properly dissect this complex album, and be assured, this CD will be staying in my stereo until the next Tool album.
In retrospect, relieved is not the right word to describe how I felt listening to Kingdom of Fear. English doesn’t really have a word to explain how I feel about this album. To properly relate my first reaction to Agent’s newest album, you need to picture a long haired and bearded bogan on a beanbag with a pair of those oversized, 70’s as, earmuff like headphones, eyes watering, closed and tilted to the ceiling, mouth agape after passing the only two words I could manage; “Fuck. Yeah.” Is eargasm in the dictionary yet?
Kingdom of Fear is out now and ripping undies everywhere. If there is one album you buy to celebrate New Zealand Music Month, make it this album. Highly recommended for fans of Decortica, Cult of Luna, Tool or anything that isn’t shit.
Latest Reviews
Tiny Ruins - Haunts EP Review
16 May 2013 // by tonymcdonald
Holes In My Pockets is the first song from the Tiny Ruins EP and sets the tone extremely well. I must stress that you really need to be in the correct mood for this song and thankfully, I was.
Read More...
Penknife Glides - Pleasure Thru Tears
14 May 2013 // by Petros
Straight out of 80’s and onto your stereo, Penknife Glides are back and bring you their newest release. Pleasure Thru Tears is a collection of songs written by the band between ’81 and ’85 as punk pulled itself to pieces and began its twenty year hibernation.
Read More...
The Phoenix Foundation - Fandango Album Review
12 May 2013 // by elchicko
No relation to the pro wrestler, The Phoenix Foundation bring us their newest collaboration of music Fandango. The first track Black Mould sets up the whole album, a hypnotic, lazy boy afternoon in the sun experience, preferably with a view of glistening snowy mountain tops, which fortunately is never to far away when you are in the South Island.
Read More...
Fire At Will - The Way Out Album Review
12 May 2013 // by Petros
Rising from the ashes of Auckland’s My Asylum and South Africa’s The Narrow, multinational Hard Rock act Fire at Will are taking New Zealand and South Africa by storm. Citing Lost Prophets and Breaking Benjamin as influences, their sound is a tight, hard hitting mix of the best parts of these two iconic bands.
Read More...
Hurricane Kids - Live It Up EP Review
11 May 2013 // by JohnS
School holidays for my family almost always involve a decent amount of time traveling via the car and I always use this time to introduce my boys to new music to expand their every growing playlists on their MP3 players. The latest EP from the Hurricane Kids looks as if it may be another enjoyable addition.
Read More...
The Hamma - Panzer Tank Album Review
11 May 2013 // by terry666
The Hamma play an old school energy driven raw rock n roll with a heavy metal edge. They formed around 1984 and their sound is very reminiscent of that era.
Read More...
TREi - Satellites LP Review
30 Apr 2013 // by Dilemma
I’ll be honest I didn’t even know NZ had Drum n Bass DJ’s let alone a whole industry and a producer who was on to his second album, but that’s why I love NZ, because of our diversity of amazing music. I’m going to put it out there pretty quick that I’m not usually a fan of the dirty drum n bass thing, but I was given the Album Satellites to take a listen to and I was highly impressed.
Read More...
Alizarin Lizard - Do You Just Want Me To Watch You? Album Review
29 Apr 2013 // by elchicko
The beautiful aspect of music is its charming way of bringing out nostalgic value to the listener. From the first chord, to the Damon Albarn strain radiating across the sound waves, the Lizards hit the right chord.
Read More...
If you have recently released something and want it reviewed Contact Us today for details...
Latest Interviews
muzic.net.nz Newsletters
Most Viewed Artists
Gigs Today
- Tenacious D
OPERA HOUSE WELLINGTON - Laura Collins
MUSSEL INN BUSH CAFE - Aldous Harding
DARK ROOM
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- BLURRED LINES
Robin Thicke feat. TI And Pharrell - GET LUCKY
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell - LET HER GO
Passenger - RADIOACTIVE
Imagine Dragons - AFRICA
Toto - ROYALS
Lorde - FEEL THIS MOMENT
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera - CAN'T HOLD US
Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton - MIRRORS
Justin Timberlake - SKINNY LOVE
Birdy
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
