Tuesday 19 March 2013

Misery Index - Live In Munich (Album Review)


Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 15/2/2013
Label : Season of Mist

Live In Munich, album tracklisting:

1. Sleeping Giants
2. The Carrion Call
3. You Lose
4. The 7th Cavalry
5. The Spectator
6. The Great Depression
7. The Illuminaught
8. Traitors
9. Siberian (2012 remix)

Bio
MISERY INDEX have established a worldwide reputation as a relentless touring machine, decisively executing their punishing stage attacks with unparalleled, boundless energy. "Live in Munich" perfectly epitomizes this raw ferocity, providing a fitting tribute to the US band’s steep rise within the Metal scene. Their debut EP “Overthrow” was recorded in 2001 by vocalist and bassist Jason Netherton (ex-DYING FETUS) together with (then) guitarist and vocalist Mike Harrison and drummer Kevin Talley (ex-DYING FETUS). MISERY INDEX immediately charted a course to explore and push the limits of Death Metal and Grindcore, drawing influence from bands like MORBID ANGEL, NAPALM DEATH, TERRORIZER, BOLT THROWER and ENTOMBED. The project shifted to a full time band when guitarist Sparky Voyles (ex-DYING FETUS) joined. In 2003, MISERY INDEX unleashed their first full-length “Retaliate”, to exceptional reviews and numerous support tours and festivals in Europe and North America followed. After a number of line-up changes, second album “Discordia” was released in 2006 with even more persistent touring in its wake. Their third full-length, “Traitors” (2008) reaped raving reactions from both critics and fans and saw the band on the road again until 2009. Then MISERY INDEX dropped “Heirs to Thievery” (2010) like a bomb on the Death Metal masses, shattering all expectations. The album was both a commercial and critical success, elevating the band into headlining slots in both Europe and the United States. During that year long time guitarist Sparky Voyles was replaced by lead guitarist Darin Morris. A string of shows and festivals around the globe followed and on the Munich date of “Full of Hate Tour” alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE, BEHEMOTH and LEGION OF THE DAMNED, the band recorded their first live album. Captured professionally, this album will be released on numbered die-cut vinyl and digital download
Line - up
Jason Netherton: bass, vocals
Adam Jarvis: drums
Mark Kloeppel: guitar, vocals
Darin Morris: guitar


Review

Bands like Misery Index get as good at what they do by constantly tearing up asphalt all over the planet, playing show after show after show. Their new live album was recorded in Munich. You can easily find Munich on Google Earth - Just look for the Munich shaped crater where Misery Index played that one time In Germany. We're all about the geography round here.
As predicted, the whole affair is suitably face-melting. An extraordinarily tight unit live, Baltimore's favourite death/grind peddlers spit out riffs like they went off 5 weeks ago. The drumming is solid and you can feel the weight behind every connection, nothing is lost in the recording as is so often the case with these live efforts. Double bass is machine gun quality and CONSTANT. You'll need Kevlar on your ears.
'The Carrion Call' walks around like it owns the room, full of swagger and confidence. All groove-laden and delicious, it's living proof (excuse the pun) that death stylistics can easily display they're not just mindless output and a competition of who can play the fastest. This is full of feel.
'The Spectator' roars into existence and you can just imagine the circle pit that erupted upon it's commencement. It's not a difficult task considering said action was verbally commanded, and documented here. I certainly wouldn't have argued the point. My momma didn't raise no fool.
'Traitors' is a greedy neurologist's wet dream. The neck injuries it probably produced could put their kid through college twice over.  A true banger in every sense of the word, vicious and vile and downright furious. Full of bile and aggression, this combined with the technical mastery and speed on display is pretty lethal.
I really like live albums, although I'm the first to admit that they can be a mixed bag. More than their fair share sit deservedly within the catalogue of a group though; some go on to even attain more favourable status than many studio albums by the same band. I'm not saying that 'Live in Munich' will definitely achieve this, but hey: It'll come DAMN close.  A total ripper, grab yourself a copy ASAP.

Words by : Matt Fitton

As always show your support to the band. You can buy the record here and is available everywhere now.  Thanks to Gunnar @ Season of Mist.