About.com Rating



They've been around for a decade, but Southern California's Antagonist has flown under the radar. They self-released several EPs and a full-length before getting signed and releasing their debut in 2006. They've moved to Prosthetic Records for their latest effort.

Antagonist is a metalcore band, and Exist has all the standard metalcore elements, from frequent breakdowns to squealing guitars. However, they do branch out from the metalcore basics, inserting elements of thrash and even death metal.


One of the standout tracks on the album is "Failure On Repeat," which utilizes a lush orchestral arrangement and features melodic singing. It's a stark contrast to the aggressiveness and fury of much of the rest of the CD, and its placement right in the middle of the tracklisting is a perfect interlude. It really stands out.

There are so many metalcore bands that sound identical, but with Exist, Antagonist satisfies purists of the genre while still making their own way and trying some new things.

(released September 30, 2008 on Prosthetic Records)