Misery Index – The Killing Gods
Yet another band that enjoys a lengthy career/discography and I wander into their latest album like the lost and confused old guy at the mall. Perhaps such a vantage point is a good thing when reviewing a longstanding bands new music, for I can enter with no preconceived notions or thoughts of, “this will NEVER be as good as their demo” elitism that sadly does creep in from time to time and attempt to close my mind. It rhymes. Word.
13 years behind them and The Killing Gods is Misery Index’s 5th full-length album. Deathly potent grind is the platform for this material, but what instantly grabs me is the searing catchiness, or dare I say “traditional metal” influenced guitar harmonies? Yes. It’s all in there. The twin leads and undeniably memorable motion and notes in the riffs keep me going back with the desire to have these songs stick. And they do! Misery Index lays on the speed with precision and a feeling of life ending violence, but they are not slaves to the grind so to speak. Tracks like Conjuring the Cull are solely mid-paced and metal to the core with sophisticated leads and again… those powerful melodies that will remain long this album concludes. Mid-ranged, though discernible death vocals may center on a dimensionless intensity, but the lyrical placement is usually well-considered and the overall delivery simply fits perfectly. The vocals serve and important purpose effectively, but I found myself mainly concentrating on the music as it always felt more meaningful and endlessly intense in all the right ways.
The Killing Gods is a no bullshit type of album that will appeal to fans of bands like Nasum, Dying Fetus and Squash Bowels, though Misery Index maintain a far more diverse songwriting open-mindedness. Meaty and pristinely produced grind with true substance exploding from their metal core, Misery Index have unearthed a scorcher and though this is within a genre that I really need to be in the mood for, one cannot deny the quality at hand. -Marty
Season of Mist
Worm Gear 