Agony is a Colombian

extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...

band formed in Bogotá in 1993 by Alfonso Pinzon and Ernesto Robayo.

History

The band was founded in 1993 by Alfonso Pinzon and Ernesto Robayo, two university friends who shared a common interest in heavy metal. They recruited two other members, guitarist Andrés Jaramillo and bassist Héctor Lozano. Ernesto Velasco was added last, after auditioning as lead singer. This configuration of the band recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1994, with seven songs. Robayo and Velasco both left by the end of 1994 and were replaced by Carlos Marín (guitar) and César Botero (vocals). This lineup recorded the concert album ''Live All the Time'' in 1995, the first live metal album ever recorded in Colombia. It featured covers of

Pantera Pantera () is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Arlington, Texas in 1981 by the Abbott brothers (guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul), and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, an ...

's "Strength Beyond Strength" and

Sepultura Sepultura (, "grave")Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 17. is a Brazilian heavy metal band formed in Belo Horizonte in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera.Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 16. They were a major force in the groove metal, thrash met ...

's "Propaganda". That year, Agony participated in the inaugural edition of the Bogotá rock festival

Rock al Parque Rock al Parque is a free rock music festival which has taken place in Bogotá, Colombia, since 1995. It typically gathers more than 50 bands and as many as 400,000 spectators. It is considered the largest rock festival in Colombia and one of ...

. Agony's first studio album, titled ''Millennium'', was released in 1996 and included new bassist Carlos Reyes. In 1999, the band relocated to Los Angeles, California. Shortly after, Reyes left and was briefly replaced by

Juanes Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born 9 August 1972), known professionally as Juanes, is a Colombian musician who was a member of the Rock music, rock band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. Since releasing his solo debut album ''Fíjate B ...

. Marín also exited the group around this time. Agony's second album, ''Reborn'', came out in 2002, after which Botero departed, and the group went on hiatus. In 2004, Jaramillo and Pinzón formed another metal band,

Dia de los Muertos The Day of the Dead () is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pa ...

. In 2006, Agony reissued ''Millennium'', and a year later, they headlined Rock al Parque for the fifth time. The band's third album, ''The Devil's Breath'', with

Cello Dias Marcelo "Cello" Dias is a Brazilian musician. He is the bass guitarist of Against All Will and the former bass guitarist of Soulfly. Biography The Mist Dias began his career in 1988 playing bass guitar for the Brazilian thrash metal band ...

on bass, was released in 2009. It was mixed by Canadian guitarist and producer

Logan Mader Logan Conrad Mader (born November 16, 1970) is a Canadian record producer and musician. He is a guitarist for melodic death metal band Once Human and a former lead guitarist for heavy metal band Machine Head. Mader is most famous for his time ...

Band members

Current * Alfonso Pinzón – drums * Andrés Jaramillo – guitar * Carlos Marín – guitar Past * Ernesto Robayo – guitar * Ernesto Velasco – vocals * Héctor Lozano – bass * Carlos Reyes – bass *

– bass *

– bass * César Botero – vocals

Discography

Studio albums * ''Millennium'' (1996) * ''Reborn'' (2002) * ''The Devil's Breath'' (2009) Other albums * ''Agony'' (demo, 1994) * ''Live All the Time'' (live, 1995)

References

External links

* {{Authority control Colombian heavy metal musical groups Colombian thrash metal musical groups Speed metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1992 Musical groups from Bogotá Combat Records artists English-language singers from Colombia