A typical product of the mid-2000s metallic deathcore movement, Montreal, Canada's the Agonist are composed of vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, guitarist Danny Marino, bassist Chris Kells, and drummer Simon McKay. Formed in early 2007, the quartet originally went by the name of the Tempest, but quickly made the switch while recording its debut album, Once Only Imagined, for release through Century Media. The label then sent them out on tour with labelmates God Forbid and operatic power metallers Epica.