UMUR "Rituals Of Power" is the 6th full-length studio album by US deathgrind act Misery Index. The album was released through Season of Mist in March 2019. It´s the successor to "The Killing Gods" from 2014 and features the same quartet lineup who recorded the predecessor.

Stylistically the material on "Rituals Of Power" continue the technically well played, brutal, and aggressive deathgrind style of the predecessor(s). Misery Index are one of the more varied artists in the genre, in the respect that while they can certainly blast away in the most intense way possible, they are equally comfortable taking the pace down and playing more mid-paced heavy sections. "Rituals Of Power" isn´t an instantly catchy release, but given a few spins more recognisable riffs, rhythms, and vocal phrases appear. A few more memorable parts wouldn´t have hurt though and it is in the songwriting department Misery Index can still improve. There´s enough intensity and power here to tilt an elephant, but the tracks just aren´t that memorable.

The musicianship is on an impressive high level, and "Rituals Of Power" also features a loud, raw, and brutal, yet detailed and clear sounding production job, so it´s a high quality release in most departments. If only the tracks had stood out more the album could have reached an even higher level of excellence. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Coffin Up the Nails" is a compilation release by US deathgrind/death metal act Misery Index. The compilation was released through Repulsive Echo Records in July 2021. It´s the follow-up release to the band´s 6th full-length studio album "Rituals of Power" from 2019, although a couple of singles were released in the intermediate years in "Zombie Prescription" (2019) and "When Glory Beckons" (2021). Both single tracks are featured on "Coffin Up the Nails".

"Coffin Up the Nails" is a rarities type of compilation album, featuring cover tracks, remixed/alternate versions of tracks, and some instrumental demo tracks. The six cover tracks by Bolt Thrower, Snapcase, M.O.D., Nailbomb, Sepultura, and Ministry, are all powerful and well performed. I´d especially mention "Zombie Prescription" by Snapcase and "Man of Your Dreams" by M.O.D. as some really great cover versions where Misery Index manage to put their own spin on the songs, but all covers on the album are worth a listen. I´m not sure I needed three instrumental demo versions of "Ghosts of Catalonia", "Thrown into the Sun", and "Traitors", or the remixed/alternate mix versions of "I Disavow", "Siberian", and "Conquistadores", but even those tracks are still of a good quality and I´m well entertained while they are playing.

The sound production varies a bit from track to track, which is of course only natural as the material come from different releases, years, and recording studios. All tracks feature at least decent sounding productions, and some (like the cover tracks), feature very well sounding production values. "Coffin Up the Nails" is a bit hard to rate, as there are some really strong cover tracks featured on the compilation, but also some less interesting tracks. It is overall a quality release though compiling some of the rarity tracks from 2008 up until now, continuing the tradition of rarity compilation releases initiated with the "Pulling Out the Nails" compilation from 2009 (featuring rarity tracks from the early part of the band´s career). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Pulling Out the Nails" is a compilation release by US death metal act Misery Index. The compilation was released through Anarchos Records in February 2010. It´s a rarities type of compilation release featuring material from various EPs, singles, and splits released between 2001 and 2008. The 2011 Hammerheart Records reissue features a bonus DVD including the band´s live performance from Berlin, Germany, 5th November 2010.

The music is relentlessly brutal deathgrind with the occasional heavier groove laden part thrown in. It´s all delivered by skilled musicians and there are several breakneck speed riffs and rhythms throughout the album. The vocals are predominantly relatively intelligible and rather aggressive growling. Since the material is compiled from various releases and recorded over a period of 7-8 years the sound production is of varying quality. Some tracks are really well produced while others feature more raw and murky sounding productions. None are badly produced though and considering that this is a compilation release with material from a great deal of different releases, there is a relatively good consistency both when it comes to the sound production and when it comes to the songwriting quality.

Featuring 30 tracks and a full playing time of 77:11 minutes "Pulling Out the Nails" is a bit of a hardcore fan item, and even for the most ardent deathgrind listener a release that long in this style can be a bit of a challenge to get through. When that is said Misery Index are among the elite artists of the genre and they pull it off pretty well, because of their brilliant playing skills and professional songwriting approach. The tracks are relatively varied within the boundaries of the genre and considering the length of the release it´s actually not often my attention wanders. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "The Killing Gods" is the 5th full-length studio album by US death metal act Misery Index. The album was released through Season of Mist in May 2014. It´s been a couple of years since the release of "Heirs To Thievery (2010)", but Misery Index have kept busy with a label change from Relapse Records to Season of Mist, touring, the "Siberian / Thus the Beast Decapitated (2011)" split, and the "Live in Munich (2013)" live album. And there´s also been a lineup change since the preceeding studio album as guitarist John "Sparky" Voyles has been replaced by Darin Morris.

With Misery Index you always know that you are going to get technically well played and fiercely aggressive brutal death metal with nods toward deathgrind, and while that´s also the case on "The Killing Gods", which generally is an album that takes no prisoners, I still think Misery Index have developed their sound in a slightly more melodic direction here. The new melodic sensibility is in large part due to new guitarist Darin Morris, who plays some delightfully melodic leads, but there are also melodic guitar themes and short atmospheric sections featured on the album that, compared to earlier releases by the band, bring a fresh sound to "The Killing Gods". It´s just a spice though, so don´t fear that Misery Index aren´t going to beat you up like they normally do. "The Killing Gods" features beating up guarantee.

Musically these guys are a tight nit unit. Fast precision playing, aggressive intelligible growling, Sharp rhythmic assault, and relentessly aggressive riffing, which alternate between death, grind, and thrashy styled playing. To my ears drummer Adam Jarvis needs a special mention for his powerful and varied playing, and even though the drums and bass aren´t as well produced and dominant in the soundscape as they were on "Heirs To Thievery (2010)", it´s still obvious that the two guys playing them are top class musicians. Regarding the sound production in general, I think it´s a notch down in quality from the sound production on the predecessor, but "The Killing Gods" is still a very well produced and powerful sounding album.

If tracks like the title track and "The Weakener" don´t make you want to go on an adrenaline fueled rampage I´m sure nothing will. Ultimately the strength of "The Killing Gods" is how well the band are able to balance their fierce aggression and brutality with touches of melody and catchy hooks (the opening five tracks even form a concept, which is a relatively sophisticated move in music this brutal). In that discipline Misery Index are number 1. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Stooge The Dissent EP served as my introduction to the recording career of Misery Index. I first saw them at a gig they played in Oshawa, Ontario. In spite of the sparse attendance, they put on a great show, and managed to win a fan. I quickly grabbed a CD copy of this release off them, as this is what they were promoting at the time.

It’s a brief recording, so my description of it is as well. The EP is mostly built on tracks forming a piece titled (as one should guess) “Dissent”. The exception is “Defector (Thinning The Herd)”.

“Sheep and Wolves” kicks off the EP at a slow pace with a slice of sludge, but the pace picks up on “Exception to the Ruled” brings more aggressive playing and more varied tempo. The third track, “The Imperial Ambition”, is probably the most straightforward but still entertaining track here, and drummer Kevin Talley shines with his strong blasting ability and double bass work. Pretty much from the third track on there are no surprises, featuring a consistent, no-nonsense blend of death metal, hardcore, and a bit of grind.

I regret not buying the vinyl edition of this EP. I haven’t heard it, but it contains a cover of Minor Threat’s “Screaming at a Wall” that is not on the CD.

Nice EP, and easy to please fans of high-tempo metal looking for a quick fix.