Testimony Of Apocalypse: “Agony in the Garden” Album Review
I love it when Christian metal bands can shred and blast while screaming out scripture-based lyrics. This is what we get from three-piece thrash metal band, Testimony of Apocalypse. Their third release, Agony in the Garden, comes to us from Roxx Records and is self-produced. Here’s what the band had to say on Bandcamp about the album’s theme:
“We chose Agony in the Garden as the heart of this album because it captures one of the most profoundly human and yet divine moments in Scripture. In Gethsemane, Jesus faced sorrow, betrayal and the crushing weight of what was to come. It was a place of struggle, but also of surrender.”
Agony in the Garden Album Review:
Tracks: 10
Length: 43:55
Release Date: October 31, 2025
Label: Roxx Records
It seems appropriate for the band to start the album, themed to Jesus’ time in the garden, with Adam and Eve’s betrayal in the Garden of Eden. Aptly titled, “Innocence Lost (Agony in the Garden I),” the song is focused on Eve taking that fateful bite out of the forbidden fruit. This song blends hair metal, thrash metal and post-hardcore into this song. I really enjoyed the chord progression on the electric guitars as they power the song through.
We journey from the Garden of Eden to the opening verses of John 1 in “Born Not of Blood.” I loved the complementary deep guttural growls with the clean vocals. For all tracks except track 7, the band brought on Cameron Nealey (of Diseased and Depraved) to shred on this album. Throughout the release, there are multiple times that Nealey’s guitar work is highlighted. For this song, the shrill and shred of the solo reminds me of what we would hear from Patrick Judge of The Showdown. Given the current climate, we often hear the accusations of Christian metal being satanic, but literally this song is pulling lyrics and inspiration from John 1. Love it!
As mentioned before, the guitar work is highlighted and the next song, “I Surrender” starts with a Nealey solo. At this point, it seems like there is no slowdown in this band. It goes from song to song with passion and energy. We are treated to those deep guttural growls and the high screams from Derek Corzine. This dynamic contrast created by the back-and-forth between the two vocalists really elevates the energy of the song.
“Refraction” is unique because it’s a slow burn track that eventually ignites. It still has that metal attitude with the distorted guitars and driving bass to keep it moving. It seems that each song has had a solo featuring Cameron. While he is talented, I think there can be too much of a good thing. I fear that the bass and drums can get lost when there’s too much focus on one area of the song.
Throughout Agony in the Garden, there are three songs that return to the garden. In the middle of the album, “To Face the Coming Storm (Agony in the Garden II),” is focused on Jesus pleading with His Father to avoid the cross. Lyrically, I appreciate how descriptive the lyrics are and they are so obviously inspired by scripture.
Speaking of using the Bible correctly, that leads nicely into the next song, “Lost Species on the Earth.” The introduction has a very familiar tone to it. It sounds similar to that of the clean vocal style of Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter). I thought this was the first song that really showcased Paul Graham on the drums. The double bass adds some gruff to the song and helps drive the song. The lines,
“Past emotions are drawn to the surface. Blaming the Creator. For the hurting within. Resentment unfolds and the hatred begins. Embrace the rot, let virtue die. As sin becomes your final cry.”
These lines have a sense of boldness when speaking about how people who have been hurt by the church and how they use that hurt to justify why they’ve either left the church or leaned into progressive Christianity.
The next song “Cross the River” is the only song on the album featuring a different lead guitarist This song features Ryan Roebuck from Motivik as lead shredder. The intro is structured to immediately get listeners headbanging. The grunging riffs of Nick Pacitti get the song moving, along with the clean vocals. Lyrically this has to be my favorite. The song is written about forgiving those who have caused you pain and to release that pain and resentment. Speaking as a person who has walked through this, I definitely see the benefit of forgiving those who have wronged you and not allowing that pain and resentment to fester. For me, I’m glad I crossed the river.
Something I appreciate about most Christian metal bands is that they don’t hold back lyrically. This song, “Settle Your Eternal Destination,” begs the question: “Do you know where you’re going when you die?: The lyrics,
“When you take your last breath eternity begins, where you spend existence entirely depends what you did with Jesus Christ.”
Along with the boldness and passion of the lyrics, this is another song that features the dueling guitars. There is something to appreciate when bands seem to showcase both guitarists and allow them to battle in the songs. You can hear the bass chugging along and is driven and played with passion. This seems to be a song meant for the bass.
At some point, the album has to take a bit of a break. We get that slowdown with “To Say Farewell.” While I describe it as a slowdown, it still packs a punch. There is a sense of familiar openings between this song and the first track, “Innocence Lost.” “To Say Farewell” offers a slowed down version with extra distortion than what we hear in “Innocence Lost.” I like the clean vocals on this song as it serves a break of deep guttural that we got throughout the album so far. Now as we’ve been moving through this album, it sounds like the message has been about moving closer towards Christ and this song serves as the baptism song. The lyrics are just resonating with those who have made that decision to follow after Jesus and see their lives forever changed. The influence for these lyrics come from 1 Corinthians 5:17 where we become a new creation, because the old has passed and the new is here.
The album wraps up with “Lost to the Flame (Agony in the Garden III).” The album starts in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve biting into the forbidden fruit and the album returns to the Garden in the last song. In this song, it’s a reflection on Satan scheming against God and his desire to separate the creation from the Creator. It is appropriate that the album has this message about drawing ourselves closer to God and recognizing Jesus as Christ and it ends with a message about the final battle. No matter what is said and what is told, Satan will NOT win the final battle. Cameron Nealey has shown throughout the album that he can shred and so why not hear him shred to close out the album. I thought the lines
“To be bound to the shadows in torment he sighs. Agony in the garden of fire where the darkness resides. His kingdom in ashes lost to the flame.”
How much more metal can you get in a song about Satan losing the final battle!
Overall, I thought Agony In The Garden was a decent album. It seems that every song featured a lengthy guitar solo, which is not a total negative, but it does diminish the specialty of having a guitar solo. There were a couple other songs where the bass and drums were highlighted and you can pick out the skillful abilities of Paul on drums and Derek on bass. Lyrically, I found the album to pull from the Scriptures and allow the inspiration to show the story. There were songs of betrayal and struggle to songs of triumph and rejoicing. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Testimony of Apocalypse and if thrash metal is something that you like and you’re looking for more than look no more than Testimony of Apocalypse!
