-Agents of Oblivion-

In their short time together, the Houma, La.-based Agents have crafted a surreal, multifaceted, often surprisingly subtle sound and delivered it in an absorbing, self-titled debut album on Rotten Records. While big guitar riffs still abound with Agents, courtesy of Sanchez and Riggs, they are tempered by the relaxed pacing of drummer Jeff McCarty and played with an easy-going, Southern rock spirit on 'Endsmouth,' 'Slaveriot' or 'Ash of the Mind' that are big on melody and soul. And lots of acoustic guitaring and a dash of the traditional Cajun melange of country and blues here and there help provide a mellow balance.

Though still undeniably powerful, this is music that captivates instead of bludgeons, an album you can immerse yourself in and wrap your head around without worrying about it being beaten in.

'A lot of people work really hard and they don't want to come home to loud music that you can't even masturbate to,' Sanchez says. 'We want to play music that someone can come home to and drink a beer or smoke a big ole blunt and relax and enjoy, music you can make love to your wife to if you want to.' Thus, Agents of Oblivion offer a taste of honky-tonk blues on 'The Song That Crawls,' the sparse, acoustic-guitar-and-piano backed 'Wither' where Riggs' passionate vocals bring chills, and the loopy psychedelia of T Rex's 'Cosmic Dancer.' 'Big Black Backward' concludes the album with a freaky blend of country twang, crashing riffs, electronic splashes and sampled dialog of potty-mouthed kids killing a 'queer rabbit' that you probably won't want to have sex to.

Ironically, perhaps the most imposing moment on the Agents' debut comes with a rousing, electrified take on one of Acid Bath's rare beautiful moments, the haunting acoustic number 'Dead Girl.' It's the biggest curveball in an album full of breaking pitches.

'Water that moves is drinkable, water that doesn't stagnates and stinks. We like to keep moving,' Sanchez maintains. 'Music is supposed to take you somewhere. That's how we all like to feel and how we all like to play. If you like to feel that way, you'll like what we do.'

The tragic 1997 death of bassist Audie Pitre - killed with his parents in a car accident caused by a drunk driver who's now doing some serious prison time - effectively brought an end to Acid Bath. Agents of Oblivion fell together in the aftermath, with Riggs, Sanchez and Acid Bath drum dynamo Jimmy Kyle jamming around with other area musicians.