Review by JD on September 2, 2013.

Canadian metal has been flourishing like crazy - showing the world that we rock hard and do it right. One of those amazing Canadian acts is Saskatoon’s most brutal export, a band that is the epitome of Death Metal – Agony Spawn.

Sounding like a great conflagration of Death Metal’s elite with a totally fresh take on it all, Agony Spawn does not pull any punches. With rapid attacking riffs, blasting bass and drums not to mention venomously spat vocals that cut deeper that any sword, the band hits like a runaway locomotive on a steep grade and never stops for nothing or no one. They do not let up for one moment, and runs you over in a fully blood soaked frenzy. Now that I have wet your metal appetite, read on.

Out of the four amazingly heavy and well written tracks that they offer up on this EP I have to say my favorite of all is 'Endless Suffering'. I could hear the whole Death influence and yet it was much more than that. Brutal harmonies and insanely good drums carry you on its musical ride, while the lyrics hack and slash their way through your mind and leave you sweat-soaked and wanting more with your hand frozen with the horn sign held high. You reach out and hit the play button again.

I loved their other EP ("Metal Vitality") and how it was done but this new one seems to have the full power that the other almost had, and shows the band ready to go onto the world stage at any moment. They need to be signed, so that the world can experience what Canada will know soon… true ‘Agony’ has been 'Spawned'.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Review by Adam M on January 5, 2010.

This album packs a punch to the bone and comes out with the band firing on all cylinders and maintaining this momentum throughout. The sound is crisp and tight with excellent drumming forming the backbone of the rest of the performances. There is a ferociousness to be found that is almost unmatched in metal and makes for a consistently exciting affair. The band seems to be really passionate about the material played and makes for an outstanding combination of Death and Black Metal. I find the Death portion of the band to stick out more scathingly than the Black and think fans of the style will find plenty to enjoy from this work.

The opener 'Daimonos' sets the tone for the crushing music to be found and the album never really lets up save for the final track 'Lucifer' which is good, but slightly slower than the rest of what’s to be found here. The pacing of the album is very fast for the most part and keeps you hooked with its intensity which never lets up. This is one of my favourite albums of the year for sure and occupies a fairly distinctive place among metal’s elite as there is a very one of a kind style to be found here.

"Evangelion" is a splendid collection of metal that is refined and balanced to a point of greatness and highly unequalled by anything else out there. I highly recommend this to not only Death Metal and perhaps Black Metal fans, but also metal fans in general looking for something incredibly well performed and conceived. The consistency of the work means there is very little to fault with it outside of perhaps slightly anti-climactic end to the album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10