UMUR "Agents of Oblivion" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by US alternative rock/metal act Agents of Oblivion. The album was released through Rotten Records in January 2000. The band feature former Acid Bath members Dax Riggs (vocals, guitars) and Mike Sanchez (guitars). A band that disbanded in 1997 after the tragic death of bassist Audie Pitre in a car accident that same year. Agents of Oblivion released a demo in 1999, but this debut album is the only label release by the band as they disbanded shortly after the album was released.

The band play a slow building alternative rock/metal style dominated by the deep, warm and melancholic vocals by Dax Riggs, strumming acoustic guitars, subtle piano, heavy riffs and ditto beats. The lyrics feature dark psychadelic themes and are not easily understood, but let´s just establish that they are not happy. This is deeply melancholic and soul searching music. The band do speed things up and play more energetic a couple of times during the 61:43 minutes long playing time, but it´s the slow building and melancholic tracks like the absolutely brilliant "Phantom Green" and the opening track "Endsmouth" that stand strongest in the memory.

There are actually a few too many unremarkable tracks on the album and that of course drags my rating down. So while Agents of Oblivion certainly reach the excellent mark several times during the album´s playing time mediocrity shines through a couple of times too and the album simply proves too long in the end, when not all tracks are on an equally high quality level. The album is relatively well produced and if you can live with a few tracks that aren´t that memorable the album is still very enjoyable and quite original sounding too. I hear a few nods toward Alice in Chains, but it´s details and nothing too obvious. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.