Review
Noisem
Agony Defined

A389 (2013) Jon E.

Noisem – Agony Defined cover artwork
Noisem – Agony Defined — A389, 2013

For all of the hype and bluster that was the so called "thrash revival" a few years later few bands can make a viable claim that they remain, let alone stick out (save for Municipal Waste). Even the standard bearers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) have clearly lost the energy the once had (Slayer) or lost the plot entirely (Metallica and Megadeth). 

One may ask what this has to do with Noisem. Honestly little when it's all said and done. Noisem are fairly young and dont make any pretentions of saving or reviving anything. Instead of all of the other crap that came with the thrash revival (or any other revival), Noisem play songs that you wish the originals would still write. Better than just that alone the band seem to do it rather effortlessly. 

For a solid 30 minutes Noisem play somewhere in between Slayers' finest moments and early Morbid Angel. That is to say the record is fast, unrelenting, filled with hooks and guitars that squeal from the netherworlds gates. Everything in the record feels quite modern and classicist all at once. This is the best new thing, rather what it is is something fantastic something that doesn't sit in a place or time and just is. 

If you are a fan of death metal Noisem should be your new favorite. This is a band that takes the greatest hits of Slayer and mixes them into a noxious audio stew for metal fans everywhere to take in. This may be the best album that Slayer missed out on writing themselves (and sadly will never get close to doing now).

7.5 / 10Jon E. • February 17, 2014

Noisem – Agony Defined cover artwork
Noisem – Agony Defined — A389, 2013

Related features

Noisem

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • April 14, 2020

Noisem

One Question Interviews • August 15, 2014

Related news

Noisem Cease to Exist

Posted in Records on January 19, 2019

Noisem tour and recording plans

Posted in Tours on August 9, 2016

Noisem join Relapse

Posted in Labels on June 26, 2016

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

Recently-posted album reviews

The Cure

Songs of a Lost World
Capitol, Fiction, Lost Music, Polydor/Universal (2024)

It's been sixteen years since The Cure released their last album. I don't know if anyone really knew what to expect, but it's one of the most influential bands in history so expectations were high. The Verdict? Those expectations were met. It'd be silly to say Songs of a Lost World is a "return to form" as the band and … Read more

City Mouse

So Far Out
Brassneck Records, It's Alive (2024)

There are few bands that hit with the mix of raw emotion and musical talent as a live City Mouse show. There are even fewer bands that can capture that live feeling on a record. It’s been a long 7 years since Get Right, but So Far Out keeps it moving as if no time has passed. Of course, the … Read more

Machine Girl

MG Ultra
Future Classic (2024)

Ideally, I would be a bit more interested in art. In visual art- paintings, sketches, MS Paint monstrosities- whatever. I wish I knew more about the meaning of a brush stroke or even had the desire to know more about the meaning of a brush stroke. I spend a lot of time listening to music and, subsequently, I see a … Read more