Augusta metal act DieAgnostic is back for one more mosh.

The band, which formed in 1993 and broke up in 2001, on Saturday will headline Bloodfest XV at Sky City, 1157 Broad St.

Bloodfest is a Halloween show originally designed to give the then-fledgling DieAgnostic a forum for its heavy sounds. Like DieAgnostic, Bloodfest has taken a little time off. The event wasn't staged last year.

DieAgnostic began rehearsing for the Bloodfest date in May. Mark Greubel, the band's drummer, said the quartet was surprised to learn that duplicating the complex riffs and shifting time signatures that made DieAgnostic a fan favorite in its prime required more than knocking the rust off a few familiar tunes.

"Yeah, those first few practices were entertaining," he said. "It was a real eye-opener. We discovered pretty quickly that we had been a pretty tight little band."

Mr. Greubel said it was interesting to discover how musicians now in their 30s chose to approach DieAgnostic's extreme music.

"We're all more mature as musicians now," he said. "Because I hadn't played in a few years, I was out of practice. But I was surprised to find that I, we all, were much more tasteful in our playing."

The band that once operated on aspirations of success in the music industry now gathers and shreds for a very different reason -- nostalgia.

"We're not afraid to admit it," said Blaine Prescott, the band's guitarist. "It's what makes this strong. We walk out of practice with big, glowing grins."

DieAgnostic also felt it was important to play again while the power and passion of metal was still within reach. Channeling the adolescent discontent at metal's core becomes more difficult as members grow up, start families and find careers.

"I'm 34 now," said singer Chris Whitaker. "And the truth is, I do wonder how much longer I can do this."

"Yeah," Mr. Greubel said. "It's hard to be that angry behind a stroller."

Still, they are excited about mustering the metal.

"This will be like the high school reunion we always wanted to have," bass player Tim Bargeron said. "The one we would actually agree to go to."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.