Agonizer

Infobox musical artist
Name = Agonizer
Background = group_or_band
Years_active = 1998 - present
Origin = Pyhäjärvi, Finland
Genre = Melodic Heavy Metal
Label = Spinefarm Records
URL = [http://www.agonizer.org www.agonizer.org]
Current_members = Pasi "Modi" Kärkkäinen
J-P "Jazzo" Perälä
Jussi "Tuzah" Tikka
Joni "Jonez" Laine
Patrik Laine
Atte Palokangas
Past_members = Olli Solitanner
Lasse Löytynoja
Toni Qvick
Mika Heinonen

Agonizer is a Heavy Metal band from Pyhäjärvi, Finland.

History

Agonizer formed in 1998 with the six-man line-up of Olli Solitanner on vocals, Mika Heinonen playing the keyboard and providing back-up vocals, J-P Perälä and Lasse Löytynoja on guitar, Jussi Tikka on bass and Toni Qvick playing the drums, recording their first demo 'Eternal Night' at Studio Jambo in Iisalmi.

The demo was received well by Finnish music magazines, and Agonizer followed it up in 1999 with "Last Sign of Light", recorded at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, a studio noted for its favour by Children of Bodom. Shortly after recording, vocalist Olli Solitanner left the band, and was replaced by Pasi Kärkkäinen, who lent a distinctly different singing style to the music. The band liked his style enough to return to Astia Studios to re-record the vocals for "Last Sign of Light". Shortly after this, they played alongside Children of Bodom, Amorphis and Sonata Arctica at several gigs.

In 2001, Agonizer recorded their third demo, "Lord of Lies", again at Astia Studios. This demo was also well-received, but it was not until the next year that Century Records in Germany called the band. After negotiating for six months, Agonizer emerged without a contract.

Agonizer released "Anthems of Agony", a compilation of songs from their previous demos, in 2002. That summer, guitarist Lasse Löytynoja left and Joni Laine stepped in to take his place. Again, the band found a new element to their music. By 2003, their fourth demo, entitled "Cain" was released. It won 'Demo of the Month' award in Finnish music magazine 'Rumba', and received airplay in England, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Peru, The Netherlands, Lithuania, and Spain.

"World of Fools", their fifth demo EP, was released in March 2004, again to positive reviews.

Agonizer were selected to play at the first Finnish Metal Expo, where they reached the finals of a contest to play alongside three other bands after being chosen from a total line-up of 148 bands. However, the expo also heralded the departure of their drummer, Toni Qvick, after what were cited as being 'long-standing differences'. His position was filled by Atte Palokangas.

Not so long after Finnish Metal Expo, Mika Heinonen left the band. Band first considered to go on without a keyboardist, but finally informed that Joni's younger brother Patrik had taken the place.

In April 2007, Agonizer signed a recording contract with Spinefarm Records. Later on (August 2007) debut album "Birth / The End" was released with release gig ("Heavy Metal Underground +1400") held at Pyhäsalmi Mine, in world record depth (Guinness World Records - Deepest concert underground) of 1410 m.

Band members

Current members

* Pasi "Modi" Kärkkäinen - lead vocals (1999-present)
* J-P "Jazzo" Perälä - guitar, backing vocals (1998-present)
* Joni "Jonez" Laine - guitar, backing vocals (2002-present)
* Jussi "Tuzah" Tikka - bass, backing vocals (1998-present)
* Patrik Laine - keyboard (2005-present)
* Atte Palokangas - drums (2004-present)

Former members

* Olli Solitanner - lead vocals (1998-1999)
* Lasse Löytynoja - guitar (1998-2002)
* Mika Heinonen - keyboards (1998-2004)
* Toni Qvick - drums (1998-2004)

Discography

* "Eternal Night" EP (1998)
* "Last Sign of Light" EP (1999)
* "Lord of Lies" EP (2001)
* "Anthems of Agony" EP (2002)
* "Cain" EP (2003)
* "World of Fools" EP (2004)
* "Birth / The End " (2007)

External links

* [http://agonizer.org/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/agonizer MySpace page]