Agenbite Misery has finally taken the plunge.
After two demos and a multitude of singles, the trio composed of Sam Graff (guitar/vocals/keyboards), Cam Netland (bass/vocals), and Adam Richards (drums/vocals) unveiled their first album, Remorse of Conscience, in 2026.
Telemachean Echoes begins with dissonance and chaos, but quickly offers us a raw aggression worthy of the biggest names in Grind before returning to a heavier, groovier sound, then explodes one last time as it joins Cascara Sagrada, which proudly displays its dark Sludge touches. There are also a few more ethereal passages that sometimes turn into moments of anguish before returning to fury, then to unexpected, jerky riffs where screams sometimes join in, accentuating the growing unease before giving way to the very long A Charitable View Of Temporary Sanity, which offers us a moment of relaxation. However, saturation returns to bring heaviness and oppression, but then gives way to a vocal sample during a moment of gentleness that fortunately does not last and fades away so that abrasive riffs and screams resurface, alternating between calm and rage throughout the song before moving on to Whatness Of Allhorse, which is strangely very catchy on the rhythm section side, adorned with retro synths while the growls take over in turn. The mix gradually thickens and transforms once again into a sizzling, roaring cloud, becoming almost epic on the finale, which joins Bellwether And Swine, where the smoking stoner roots are fully expressed before giving way to a frantic rhythm that gives rise to various roars before slowing down again, some of which are particularly piercing. The pace varies, but the oppression remains the same, changing however for Circe, which features more virulent passages that counterbalance the haunting slow moments and allows itself a few heady leads before succumbing to cold and brutal Black Metal, finally granting us a theatrical respite with the two minutes of The Twice-Charred Paths Of Musing Disciples, where keyboards and ethereal sounds are the order of the day. The transition to Mnesterophonia is very natural, brought about by the keyboards, then the bass, drums, guitar, vocal sample, and finally the eruption of this little world that coordinates to bury us under its infernal saturation, regurgitating its harmonics from time to time, fueling the trio’s experimental imbroglio until it reaches the noisy part that lasts and lasts before granting us its last riffs, then slowly fading away.
I discovered Agenbite Misery with Remorse of Conscience, and the least we can say is that it’s ambitious! At once dark, distressing, and extremely rich, it doesn’t hesitate to let the three members forcefully lead us where they want, mastering every noise with a bang.
80/100