Words by: Amanda Marano

Dead Girls Academy is back with another killer single and music video, “Agonize.” Overflowing with their rock and roll chaos and booming vocals, they sing “Did I Agonize / It’s the pain I’m concealing / The beauty inside your lies / I Agonize.” Filled to the brim with full instrumentation, the guitar and drums guide the song — while bursts of dark blue and purple hues dance within the video.

Filmed by director Scott Hansen [Motionless In White, A Day To Remember] — “Agonize” is the band’s third music video from their new album Doves In Glass Houses, which peels back the layers of a compelling, emotional and dramatic life led by Dead Girls Academy vocalist, Michael Orlando. The compilation tackles the overcoming of demons and finding redemption in Orlando’s life. Orlando shares, “We literally shut down the Hard Rock Café on the Las Vegas Strip. Scott had the vision of using a movie projector on my face and body, projecting occultist type images throughout. I’m known for publicly airing my dirty laundry through my lyrics,” admits Orlando, “but with this song I really wanted to take those bottled up feelings from a toxic relationship and get them off my chest, once and for all.”

On the visual imagery behind Dead Girls Academy, Orlando adds, “I wanted to venture back into my goth roots and create something close to my heart. I used to be bullied nonstop about the way I dressed and the makeup I wore. It was a constant battle! There were so many industry people and fellow artists that gave me a hard time about my stage name, ‘Michael Vampire,’ and the fact I tried to keep a mystique about myself. Nowadays, things have drastically changed for the better. You have artists like YUNGBLUD, Palaye Royale, Ghostemane and even Machine Gun Kelly wearing makeup proudly! I felt it was time to bring back the old me with a 2020 twist and I am very thankful I did. I finally feel like myself again!”

In 2019, Dead Girls Academy — completed by guitarist Craig Pirtle and drummer Zachary Moore — teamed up with three vastly different producers to create Doves In Glass Houses, including Malcolm Springer [Matchbox 20, Fear Factory], Kris Crummett [Dance Gavin Dance, Sleeping With Sirens], and Nick Sampson [We Came As Romans, POLYPHIA]. Orlando adds, “We recorded a majority of the album at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, CA [NO DOUBT, Linkin Park, Evanescence].“

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