Girl at the Rock Shows

Being a band for ten years is quite a feat. Being a band for ten years when you started before you even graduated high school– I mean, come on. Agony Reigns has been a staple in the local metal scene for ten years. I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve had the honor of seeing them live, but I know that each time has been better than the last, and my heart broke in two when I saw their post that they would be playing their final show on Friday night. I had already been asked to cover a couple of other shows in town, but I knew that I had to be there to celebrate the insane and well-deserved accomplishments of this band, so I grabbed a friend, a friend’s daughter, and we went to one of my favorite venues in Minneapolis- The Underground Music Cafe & Event Space- to celebrate all things Agony Reigns.

Valeska Suratt got the night started with their signature brand of heaviness. This band was crisp and clean with a brutal sound that was perfect to get the audience in the mood for what was to come with the rest of the night. Although I call their sound heavy and brutal, something slightly emo about it made them stand out in such a great way. The way they blended dark guitars and booming drums with more high-pitched and highly emotive vocals was genius and unlike any other band I have heard in the local scene. I feel like it has been a while since I really got into the local metal scene, but seeing Valeska Suratt had me excited to dive headfirst back into this insane local scene.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Fargo over the past few years for various reasons, and it has always reminded me of my hometown of Des Moines, Iowa- a little sleepy and a lot boring- so I shouldn’t have been surprised by what happened next with Fargo-based No Divinity. This Fargo-based hardcore band took the stage and left no survivors. Although the band members seemed pretty young, this band has a great hardcore style behind their sound. It’s aggressive and in-your-face, but, more importantly, it makes sense. This band has great composition in their songs and knows just when to throwdown and when to back off. The rises and falls throughout their set may have been subtle to a passive listener, but to me, it was pure genius. I know I just spoke about diving headfirst back into the local metal scene, but after witnessing the power of No Divinity, I should also spend some time diving into whatever is happening in Fargo because they left me speechless.

Every band that played on Friday night brought a distinct sound to the night, but local group BEJALVIN absolutely had the most distinctive sound. BEJALVIN has taken the core of dubstep and mixed it with a brutal edge mosh style. Yes, it was as quirky as that description sounds, and although going into it, I thought I would hate it, I ended up being stuck throughout their quick performance. The duo had an endless amount of energy and tricks up their sleeve. At one point, a trumpet was being used. I mean, come on, quirky and a little gimmicky, yet the song that featured said trumpet wouldn’t have been the same without it. This just goes to prove the sheer creativity that this act has. I may have been caught off by BEJALVIN’s unique sound, but the rest of the audience was ready for it. They moshed and danced their way throughout the entire set with a sense of fury and passion matching what the band was giving from the stage. BEJALVIN is original, they are creative, and they made me super excited about local music again for the first time in a hot minute.

Closing out the night was the almighty Agony Reigns. As mentioned, I have been catching these kids live for nearly ten years. When they started, they were just wee little babies still in high school and still figuring out their sound and style. I’ve literally watched some of these boys grow up in the scene and come into their own. Their thrashy metal sound has been perfected over the years, and they have become a true force in the local metal scene. I honestly don’t know why they are calling it quits (probably to pursue other bands and endeavors), but I do know that they sounded the best on Friday night, and they left it all on the stage with a performance that all four of the members should be more than proud of.

I would tell you all about the songs they played and how insane the talent showcased in the spotlight was, but honestly, none of that matters because that’s not what the show on Friday night was about. The show was about paying homage to this band that started from nothing and became a force. Much like how the band left it all on the stage, the audience didn’t miss a single step as they moshed their way through the headlining set. It was as if everyone in the audience had something to prove, nothing to lose, and, at the end of the night, the proof was left on the damp floor of the venue. It was hot, it was steamy, and it was the perfect send-off for a perfect metal band.

I never saw the last episode of The Office because, in my mind, that meant that the show never ended (yeah, I’m that kind of person). So, it only made sense for me to skip out just before Agony Reign’s final song because, in my mind, that means this band isn’t done. I know that’s not how it works, and Friday night was the last time I would see Agony Reigns, but thinking that I never really saw the ending of this band gives me some sort of solace in an odd way. Agony Reigns reigned in this scene for ten years. Although Friday was my last time seeing them in this form, it wasn’t my last time seeing these highly talented musicians, and I honestly can not wait to see what’s next for all of them.

Line Up:

Valeska Suratt

No Divinity

BEJALVIN

Agony Reigns

Venue: Underground Music Venue

Smell-O-Meter: Sweat

Average Age of the Crowd: 19

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- 4

Mosh-ability- 11 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- A couple of bodies

Fights- 1

Pukers- 0

Passed Out Kids- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Valeska Suratt – 0

No Divinity – 0

BEJALVIN – 0

Agony Reigns – Maybe 12? Honestly I have no clue

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 9 out of 10

Show on Deck — Atmosphere & Friends / NO FUN! / Wag Chapelle / DJ Stage One

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