Agorapocalypse
Encyclopedia
Agorapocalypse is the fourth full-length studio album
by American grindcore
band Agoraphobic Nosebleed
(ANb). It was released through Relapse Records
on April 14, 2009 in the United States, and April 20 internationally. The album was recorded by ANb's guitarist Scott Hull
at his Visceral Sound studios; Hull also wrote the drum parts using Toontrack's Drumkit from Hell
in his digital audio workstation
. This is also the band's first record to feature new vocalist Katherine Katz. Agorapocalypses cover artwork was designed by German illustrator Florian Bertmer
.
, who had previously designed ANb's Bestial Machinery (Discography Volume 1)
and the inner-sleeve illustration for the group's 1999 split with Converge
, The Poacher Diaries
. Bertmer, vocalist J. Randall, and guitarist Scott Hull
discussed the themes of the album art by phone and agreed to give it an "old-school thrashcore
vibe", because of ANb's new musical direction. Agorapocalypses design was also inspired by the Mad Marc Rude illustration for the Misfits' Earth A.D., which Bertmer defined as "insanely detailed". Bertmer also explained that "[he] tried to incorporate as many iconic characters to give the whole piece a claustrophobic appearance."
Bertmer initially created an outline black-and-white ink drawing measuring 14 inches (35.6 cm) square; he spent about two weeks sketching and one week drawing, then colored it on a computer. He stylized depictions of "nuclear war, drug use
, police brutality
, and a greedy businessman—the art is less shocking to the senses by its vivid colors and comic-like appearance." The green head in the middle of Agorapocalypses cover art is based on a photo of Bertmer himself.
, on April 14 in North America and April 20 internationally. The album was issued on CD, a limited edition LP packaged with a 12 inches (30.5 cm) square full-color, 28-page booklet, and a mailorder-only longbox
CD set limited to 1,000 copies that includes a 18 by 24 in (45.7 by 61 cm) full-color poster, four-piece pin set and 5 by 2.25 in (12.7 by 5.7 cm) embroidered patch. According to Nielsen SoundScan
, Agorapocalypse sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and peaked at number 41 on the Billboard
's Top Heatseekers
chart.
magazine defined Agorapocalypse as "shockingly straight-ahead", while About.com
summarized the album by saying "Agorapocalypse might lack a bit of the deviant vibe of ANb's past work, but there's still thrash, grind and a liberal dose of madness."
Unlike ANb's previous releases, on Agorapocalypse the group slowed down its sound to a thrashcore style of the 1980s. With this shift in sound, Cosmo Lee of Pitchfork Media
was more critical stating that "Agorapocalypse is disappointingly listenable. Song lengths are up, exceeding two and three minutes, and the songwriting has diversified. Instead of simply beating listeners into a pulp, songs now speed up, slow down, and breathe."
.
Japan bonus tracks
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Agoraphobic Nosebleed is a grindcore band formed in 1994 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Its line-up has changed often during the years, leaving the only permanent member Scott Hull , also a guitarist in Pig Destroyer...
(ANb). It was released through Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
on April 14, 2009 in the United States, and April 20 internationally. The album was recorded by ANb's guitarist Scott Hull
Scott Hull
Scott Hull is an American heavy metal musician, and the current guitarist and producer for Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Japanese Torture Comedy Hour. He has been part of many other projects including the controversial band Anal Cunt . Aside from his music works, he currently works as a...
at his Visceral Sound studios; Hull also wrote the drum parts using Toontrack's Drumkit from Hell
Drumkit from Hell
Drumkit from Hell is a sample based drum software synthesizer developed by Toontrack. It features heavy sounds well suited for heavy metal music....
in his digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
. This is also the band's first record to feature new vocalist Katherine Katz. Agorapocalypses cover artwork was designed by German illustrator Florian Bertmer
Florian Bertmer
Florian Bertmer is a German illustrator from the hardcore punk, grindcore and metal scene. He has done artwork for Converge, Napalm Death, The Hope Conspiracy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pig Destroyer, Doomriders and others...
.
Artwork
The cover art for Agorapocalypse was drawn by German illustrator Florian BertmerFlorian Bertmer
Florian Bertmer is a German illustrator from the hardcore punk, grindcore and metal scene. He has done artwork for Converge, Napalm Death, The Hope Conspiracy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pig Destroyer, Doomriders and others...
, who had previously designed ANb's Bestial Machinery (Discography Volume 1)
Bestial Machinery (Discography Volume 1)
Bestial Machinery is a double-CD anthology by the American grindcore band Agoraphobic Nosebleed. The double CD contains all of the material the group recorded prior to their Relapse Records full length album Honky Reduction, much of which was only released on vinyl 7" EPs or compilations.Although...
and the inner-sleeve illustration for the group's 1999 split with Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
, The Poacher Diaries
The Poacher Diaries
The Poacher Diaries is a split album released by the bands Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Converge in 1999. It was remastered by Scott Hull in 2006 and re-released by Relapse Records.- Track listing :Agoraphobic Nosebleed# "Mantis" – 1:26...
. Bertmer, vocalist J. Randall, and guitarist Scott Hull
Scott Hull
Scott Hull is an American heavy metal musician, and the current guitarist and producer for Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Japanese Torture Comedy Hour. He has been part of many other projects including the controversial band Anal Cunt . Aside from his music works, he currently works as a...
discussed the themes of the album art by phone and agreed to give it an "old-school thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
vibe", because of ANb's new musical direction. Agorapocalypses design was also inspired by the Mad Marc Rude illustration for the Misfits' Earth A.D., which Bertmer defined as "insanely detailed". Bertmer also explained that "[he] tried to incorporate as many iconic characters to give the whole piece a claustrophobic appearance."
Bertmer initially created an outline black-and-white ink drawing measuring 14 inches (35.6 cm) square; he spent about two weeks sketching and one week drawing, then colored it on a computer. He stylized depictions of "nuclear war, drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
, and a greedy businessman—the art is less shocking to the senses by its vivid colors and comic-like appearance." The green head in the middle of Agorapocalypses cover art is based on a photo of Bertmer himself.
Release
To promote Agorapocalypse, ANb made the album available for streaming in its entirety at "www.agorapocalypse.com" on April 13. Agorapocalypse was released through Relapse RecordsRelapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
, on April 14 in North America and April 20 internationally. The album was issued on CD, a limited edition LP packaged with a 12 inches (30.5 cm) square full-color, 28-page booklet, and a mailorder-only longbox
Longbox
A longbox is a form of exterior paperboard packaging for musical compact discs in widespread use in the 1980s and early 1990s in North America.- Background :...
CD set limited to 1,000 copies that includes a 18 by 24 in (45.7 by 61 cm) full-color poster, four-piece pin set and 5 by 2.25 in (12.7 by 5.7 cm) embroidered patch. According to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
, Agorapocalypse sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and peaked at number 41 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart.
Reception
Greg Pratt of Exclaim!Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
magazine defined Agorapocalypse as "shockingly straight-ahead", while About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
summarized the album by saying "Agorapocalypse might lack a bit of the deviant vibe of ANb's past work, but there's still thrash, grind and a liberal dose of madness."
Unlike ANb's previous releases, on Agorapocalypse the group slowed down its sound to a thrashcore style of the 1980s. With this shift in sound, Cosmo Lee of Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
was more critical stating that "Agorapocalypse is disappointingly listenable. Song lengths are up, exceeding two and three minutes, and the songwriting has diversified. Instead of simply beating listeners into a pulp, songs now speed up, slow down, and breathe."
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Scott HullScott Hull
Scott Hull is an American heavy metal musician, and the current guitarist and producer for Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Japanese Torture Comedy Hour. He has been part of many other projects including the controversial band Anal Cunt . Aside from his music works, he currently works as a...
.
- "Timelord Zero (Chronovore)" – 3:22
- "Agorapocalypse Now" – 2:25
- "Timelord One (Loneliness of the Long Distance Drug Runner)" – 0:56
- "Dick to Mouth Resuscitation" – 1:16
- "Moral Distortion" – 2:00
- "Hung from the Rising Sun" – 2:10
- "First National Stem Cell and Clone" – 3:19
- "Question of Integrity" – 2:30
- "Timelord Two (Paradoxical Reaction)" – 3:03
- "Trauma Queen" – 1:51
- "White on White Crime" – 3:19
- "Druggernaut Jug Fuck" – 2:23
- "Ex-Cop" – 0:59
- "Flamingo Snuff" – 2:20
Japan bonus tracks
- "Crypto-Zoology" – 0:45
- "Werewolf Women of the U.S." – 0:09
- "Dis-Order of Species" – 1:34
- "Un-Natural Selection" – 1:04
Personnel
- Katherine Katz – vocals
- Jay Randall – vocals
- Richard Johnson – vocals
- Scott HullScott HullScott Hull is an American heavy metal musician, and the current guitarist and producer for Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Japanese Torture Comedy Hour. He has been part of many other projects including the controversial band Anal Cunt . Aside from his music works, he currently works as a...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, engineer, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Matthew F. Jacobson – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Florian BertmerFlorian BertmerFlorian Bertmer is a German illustrator from the hardcore punk, grindcore and metal scene. He has done artwork for Converge, Napalm Death, The Hope Conspiracy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pig Destroyer, Doomriders and others...
– artwork