Dziś Francja kojarzy się głównie ze świetnym black metalem, lecz w zamierzchłych czasach nie brakowało tam zespołów potrafiących grać death/thrash w dobrym stylu. Pierwsze skojarzenie? Zapewne Massacra. I słusznie, bo to bardzo dobry zespół był. Lecz w 1986 roku powstaje Agressor. Inny, równie dobry zespół.
W roku 1990 ukazuje się ich debiut Neverending Destiny, który jest dziś reliktem czasów, w których granica między thrash a deathem bywała czasem jeszcze umowna. Album wypełniony jest po brzegi szybkim, konkretnym łojeniem, w którym każdy instrument spełnia w sposób zadowalający swoją rolę, a utwory zostały napisane tak, by nie nużyć i nadawać się do częstego dawkowania. W 1992 na światło dzienne wypuszczone zostaje Towards Beyond, które udowadnia, że zespół przez dwa lata się rozwinął. Utwory są mniej chaotyczne i jeszcze lepiej napisane. Nie brakuje tu ponownie szybkiego łojenia i agresji. Pod koniec albumu wjeżdża Future Past / Eldest Things. Najpierw mamy wieśniackie intro, by po chwili przejść do monumentalnego rozwinięcia. Dodano dawkę patosu dzięki wolnemu, klimatycznemu wejściu instrumentów. Gitary grają jedne z najlepszych partii w swojej wczesnej karierze. Agressor znów kazał dwa lata czekać. W 1994 premierę ma Symposium of Rebirth. Tutaj mamy wymieszanie starego z nowym. Z jednej strony jest progresywny, dziwaczny otwieracz, a z drugiej strony mamy Apocalyptic Prophecies, które ma już więcej wspólnego z death/thrashem. Niestety ten album ma nieco brzydsze brzmienie i wpleciono instrumentale, które wybijają z rytmu. O zawodzie nie ma mowy, ale w moim odczuciu jest nieco słabiej. Z późniejszych albumów słyszałem jedynie próbki. Średnie brzmienie i okropne okładki odstraszają. Debiut i dwójka to jednak świetne, lecz niestety zapomniane granie.
Skład:
Michel Dumas - Guitars ex-Abyssals, ex-Imbecilator, ex-Mutilated, ex-The Seven Gates, ex-Mutilator
Alex Colin-Tocquaine - Vocals, Guitars (1986-1996, 1999-present) ex-Imbecilator, T.T.T. (Tribute to Thrash) (live), ex-Loudblast, ex-Metral, ex-Undead Prophecies, ex-Witches, ex-E-Force (live), ex-Anorexia Nervosa (live), ex-Mutilated (live), ex-Bloodthorn, ex-Mutilator (live), ex-Gods of Hate, ex-Kataclism
Joël Guigou - Bass (1990-1996, 1999-present) Outburst, ex-Hellfire
▼ Byli muzycy
J.M. "Momo" Libeer - Bass, Vocals (backing) (1986-1988) ex-Kataclism
Jean-Luc "Destroy" Falsini (R.I.P. 2020) - Drums (1986-1988)
Laurent Luret - Bass (1988-1990)
Thierry Pinck - Drums (1988-1990) ex-Loudblast
Patrick Gibelin - Guitars (1990-1992) ex-Outburst
Alberto Santamans - Drums (1991-?)
Stéphane Guégan - Drums (1991-1996) (R.I.P. 2018) ex-Death Power
Manu Ragot - Guitars (1994)
Gorgor - Drums (2000-2003, 2011-2014) ex-Addicted, ex-Bestial, ex-Devilium, ex-Phazm, Mehr, ex-Belëf, ex-Imperial Sodomy, ex-Svart Crown (live), ex-General Bizarre, ex-R.O.A.D.
Adramelech - Guitars (2000-2007) ex-Belëf
Romain Goulon - Drums (2003-2008) Arsebreed, Gorgeous, Isgherurd Morth, Mephistophelian, Romain Goulon Project, Sadist, Spectral, Spheric Universe Experience, ex-Disharmony, ex-Krysalyd, ex-Logon, ex-Necrophagist, ex-Raising the Veil, Apex, Stench Price, ex-Avgrum, ex-Benighted, ex-Death Structure, ex-Disavowed, ex-Kaoteon, ex-Monument of Misanthropy, ex-Blasphemer (live), ex-Taliandörögd (live), ex-Belëf, ex-Imperial Sodomy, ex-Scaveng'ours (live), ex-Leek Eyes, ex-Nufutic
Pierrick Valence - Guitars (2007-2014) ex-Phazm, Fireproof Orchestra, Helgisiðir, Skáld, ex-Addicted, ex-Scarve, ex-Burning Cloud, ex-General Bizarre, ex-Raymond Court Toujours, ex-Stenval, ex-Tormis
Kévin Paradis - Drums (2014-2018) Aronious, Benighted, Death Lab, Mithridatic, Ne Obliviscaris (live), ex-Dead Talking Mind, ex-The Arisen, ex-DeadlySins, ex-Deathawaits (live), ex-Melechesh (live), ex-Nader Sadek (live), ex-Seth (live), ex-Shining (live), ex-Svart Crown, ex-The Seven Gates, ex-Gods of Hate
Kevin Verlay - Guitars (2014-?) ex-Nibirus, Omega, ex-Mors Principium Est, ex-Aborted (live), ex-Dictated (live), ex-Svart Crown
Jean-Luc "Destroy" Falsini (R.I.P. 2020) - Drums (1986-1988)
Laurent Luret - Bass (1988-1990)
Thierry Pinck - Drums (1988-1990) ex-Loudblast
Patrick Gibelin - Guitars (1990-1992) ex-Outburst
Alberto Santamans - Drums (1991-?)
Stéphane Guégan - Drums (1991-1996) (R.I.P. 2018) ex-Death Power
Manu Ragot - Guitars (1994)
Gorgor - Drums (2000-2003, 2011-2014) ex-Addicted, ex-Bestial, ex-Devilium, ex-Phazm, Mehr, ex-Belëf, ex-Imperial Sodomy, ex-Svart Crown (live), ex-General Bizarre, ex-R.O.A.D.
Adramelech - Guitars (2000-2007) ex-Belëf
Romain Goulon - Drums (2003-2008) Arsebreed, Gorgeous, Isgherurd Morth, Mephistophelian, Romain Goulon Project, Sadist, Spectral, Spheric Universe Experience, ex-Disharmony, ex-Krysalyd, ex-Logon, ex-Necrophagist, ex-Raising the Veil, Apex, Stench Price, ex-Avgrum, ex-Benighted, ex-Death Structure, ex-Disavowed, ex-Kaoteon, ex-Monument of Misanthropy, ex-Blasphemer (live), ex-Taliandörögd (live), ex-Belëf, ex-Imperial Sodomy, ex-Scaveng'ours (live), ex-Leek Eyes, ex-Nufutic
Pierrick Valence - Guitars (2007-2014) ex-Phazm, Fireproof Orchestra, Helgisiðir, Skáld, ex-Addicted, ex-Scarve, ex-Burning Cloud, ex-General Bizarre, ex-Raymond Court Toujours, ex-Stenval, ex-Tormis
Kévin Paradis - Drums (2014-2018) Aronious, Benighted, Death Lab, Mithridatic, Ne Obliviscaris (live), ex-Dead Talking Mind, ex-The Arisen, ex-DeadlySins, ex-Deathawaits (live), ex-Melechesh (live), ex-Nader Sadek (live), ex-Seth (live), ex-Shining (live), ex-Svart Crown, ex-The Seven Gates, ex-Gods of Hate
Kevin Verlay - Guitars (2014-?) ex-Nibirus, Omega, ex-Mors Principium Est, ex-Aborted (live), ex-Dictated (live), ex-Svart Crown
▼ Muzycy koncertowi
César Vesvre - Drums (2017-present) Ruïm, Thagirion, Arkhon Infaustus (live), Thy Darkened Shade (live), ex-Darkall Slaves, ex-Death Decline, ex-Gorsed Noctis, ex-Nahbom (live), ex-Profanation (live)
Noël Laguniak - Drums ex-Epytaph, ex-Melem
Kai Hahto - Drums (1999) Darkwoods My Betrothed, Nightwish, Wintersun, ex-Cartilage, ex-Trees of Eternity, ex-Tuska20, ex-Vomiturition, ex-Wings, ex-Rotten Sound, ex-Swallow the Sun, ex-Joe Lynn Turner (live), ex-Paul Di'Anno (live), ex-Arthemesia, ex-Enochian Crescent, ex-Max on the Rox, ex-Misantropia
Bernard-Yves Quéruel - Guitars (2001) ex-S.M.F., Reicher, ex-ADX, ex-Witches
Samuel Santiago - Drums (2014-2015) Dépérir, ex-Black Crown Initiate, ex-Black March, ex-Brought by Pain, ex-First Fragment, ex-Gorod, ex-Line of Sight, ex-Melechesh, ex-Obvurt, ex-Arkhon Infaustus (live), ex-Beyond Creation (live), ex-Carnival in Coal (live), ex-Loudblast (live), ex-No Return (live), ex-Purgatoire (live), ex-Next on the List, ex-Zubrowska, ex-Fleshdoll, ex-Cruxifiction (live), ex-Señor Flores
Julien Helwin - Drums (2015-2016) Iron Flesh, Otargos, Withdrawn, ex-Diskarial, Siberian XP, ex-Annthennath, ex-Horncrowned, ex-Mithras (live), ex-Monument of Misanthropy (live), ex-Seth (live), ex-Malevolentia, ex-Dawn Chaos
Michel Dumas - Guitars (2016-?) ex-Abyssals, ex-Imbecilator, ex-Mutilated, ex-The Seven Gates, ex-Mutilator
SylverA - Guitars (2016) Ad Patres, Death Lab, Iron Flesh, Valsa Pintura, Aephanemer (live), ex-Fate of Fallacy, Rust in Peace, ex-Bemskiant, ex-Empyreal Vault, ex-Fall of Seraphs, ex-Heboïdophrenie, ex-Gorod (live), ex-Demented
Nathan Faure - Drums (2021) Skaphos, Be Witness (live), ex-Born Criminal, ex-Warside, ex-Purgatory Unleashed
Noël Laguniak - Drums ex-Epytaph, ex-Melem
Kai Hahto - Drums (1999) Darkwoods My Betrothed, Nightwish, Wintersun, ex-Cartilage, ex-Trees of Eternity, ex-Tuska20, ex-Vomiturition, ex-Wings, ex-Rotten Sound, ex-Swallow the Sun, ex-Joe Lynn Turner (live), ex-Paul Di'Anno (live), ex-Arthemesia, ex-Enochian Crescent, ex-Max on the Rox, ex-Misantropia
Bernard-Yves Quéruel - Guitars (2001) ex-S.M.F., Reicher, ex-ADX, ex-Witches
Samuel Santiago - Drums (2014-2015) Dépérir, ex-Black Crown Initiate, ex-Black March, ex-Brought by Pain, ex-First Fragment, ex-Gorod, ex-Line of Sight, ex-Melechesh, ex-Obvurt, ex-Arkhon Infaustus (live), ex-Beyond Creation (live), ex-Carnival in Coal (live), ex-Loudblast (live), ex-No Return (live), ex-Purgatoire (live), ex-Next on the List, ex-Zubrowska, ex-Fleshdoll, ex-Cruxifiction (live), ex-Señor Flores
Julien Helwin - Drums (2015-2016) Iron Flesh, Otargos, Withdrawn, ex-Diskarial, Siberian XP, ex-Annthennath, ex-Horncrowned, ex-Mithras (live), ex-Monument of Misanthropy (live), ex-Seth (live), ex-Malevolentia, ex-Dawn Chaos
Michel Dumas - Guitars (2016-?) ex-Abyssals, ex-Imbecilator, ex-Mutilated, ex-The Seven Gates, ex-Mutilator
SylverA - Guitars (2016) Ad Patres, Death Lab, Iron Flesh, Valsa Pintura, Aephanemer (live), ex-Fate of Fallacy, Rust in Peace, ex-Bemskiant, ex-Empyreal Vault, ex-Fall of Seraphs, ex-Heboïdophrenie, ex-Gorod (live), ex-Demented
Nathan Faure - Drums (2021) Skaphos, Be Witness (live), ex-Born Criminal, ex-Warside, ex-Purgatory Unleashed
1986 - The Merciless Onslaught [demo]
1987 - Rehearsal of Death [demo]
1987 - Satan's Sodomy [demo]
1988 - Mixed Rehearsal [demo]
1988 - Licensed to Thrash [split]
1989 - Orbital Distortion [demo]
1990 - Neverending Destiny
1992 - Towards Beyond
1993 - Satan's Sodomy [EP]
1994 - Symposium of Rebirth
1999 - Medieval Rites
2001 - The Spirit of Evil [EP]
2004 - The Merciless Onslaught [kompilacja]
2006 - Deathreat
2018 - Satan's Sodomy of Death (Demos) [kompilacja]
2018 - Rebirth [kompilacja]
2020 - The Order of Chaos [boxed set]
2021 - The Arrival [kompilacja]
MA: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Agressor/497
BC: https://agressorofficial.bandcamp.com/music