The Middle by Agency Panic

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 Agency Panic - @Agency_Panic on Twitter - is from Ireland.  I've been familiar with this band's music for years, and they are nothing less than amazing.  Their music is a mix between progressive metal (mostly), hard rock and heavy metal.

"The Middle" starts with a mystical guitar filled with delay and reverb, plus bends as part of this melody.  Soon after a couple vamps, a humming bass comes and goes...adding more anxiety.  The drums come in smoothly with a kick that accentuates the bass so nicely.  Voices can now be heard talking in the distance...distorted similar to the sound of a walkie-talkie.  I can feel that something intense and dark is coming.

All of a sudden, the band is full on...loud, angry, clear distorted guitars crush the listener with a crunch and leads that smooth it all out.  The bass rumbles while the vocals are emotionally screaming notes in desperation.

Amazingly, the band brings it down after the mosh pit is in full force, and the bass leads the way with beautiful tone and rhythm, reminding everyone that this situation is not over yet.  There is something around the corner, but what is it?

WHAM!  It's back, and the vocals are layered with purposeful harmony.  "Step from the darkness into the light | As movement slowed and we bent time".  That lyric just kills me.

In a nutshell, the guitars are crunch and mean...and somehow smooth and booming.  The drums and thunderous, steady and pounded.  The bass is both rumbling, smoothly authentic and active.  The vocals are emotional, on-point, and delivered with incredible performance.  The band as a whole is tight, even with triplet hits that lead into the chorus.

I have the utmost respect for this band and how they carefully craft their music.

Please check out their music following this SongWhip link that leads you to your favorite streamer!

https://songwhip.com/agencypanic/the-middle

This song can be heard on the "Fight the Storm" playlist.

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