MISERY LOVES CO. — Misery Loves Co. (review)

MISERY LOVES CO. — Misery Loves Co. album cover Album · 1994 · Industrial Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Misery Loves Co." is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Misery Loves Co.. The album was originally released through MNW Zone in October 1994, but was soon after picked up by Earache Records for a 1995 re-release, which helped the band spread their music to a wider audience and ultimately gave them a decent amount of commercial success. Misery Loves Co. formed in 1993 and released the "Private Hell" single prior to the release of the debut album.

In their heyday Misery Loves Co. were often put in the same catagory as contemporaries Fear Factory, but although both acts use industrial elements in their music, I ultimately don´t agree much with the comparison and I think Misery Loves Co. have a sound which is closer in style to acts like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails (early Marilyn Manson could be mentioned too). Stylistically the music on this album is relatively hard edged industrial metal with groove/alternative metal elements. Lead vocalist Patrik Wirén has an aggressive raw vocal delivery, but also sings clean vocals, so his vocals are nicely varied.

The lyrics are dark and filled with angst and despair, dealing with subjects like depression and abusive relationships, so "Misery Loves Co." is definitely not a happy release. The album opens with the most catchy track "My Mind Still Speaks", which is an instantly memorable hook laden composition. A heavy riff/rhythm verse with aggresive raw vocals, and a melodic/atmospheric chorus featuring melancholic clean vocals (that particular section reminds me a bit of Depeche Mode). There aren´t any other tracks on the album which are as instantly accessible and hook laden, and the repetitive industrial elements are already increased from track number 2 "Kiss Your Boots" and onwards. Although there is a lot of repetition on individual tracks "Misery Loves Co." is not a one-dimensional release, and most tracks on the album stand out and there is decent variation between tracks too. Both in dynamics and style.

The album features a well produced soundscape where hard edged sharp guitar riffs meet programmed drums and industrial effects/noises. This is a sound production made by professionals who arguably know exactly what they do. So upon conclusion "Misery Loves Co." is a pretty mature sounding debut album, and while it´s not exactly a seminal industrial metal release, it is one of the most commercially successful releases in the genre, and the inclusion of alternative rock/metal melodies and angsty lyrics do provide the album with an original sound (for the time). A 3-5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Death Is Not The End Doom Metal
GLOSSA
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Way Forward Sludge Metal
BLACK TUSK
Buy this album from MMA partners
Till Aska Atmospheric Sludge Metal
WALK THROUGH FIRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Oud Zeer Atmospheric Sludge Metal
ONTAARD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Oud Zeer Sludge Metal
THROWING BRICKS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Agremorta - Adrocitas (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 2 days ago
Agremorta - Ploratus Umbra (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 2 days ago
Agremorta - Vertex Membrana (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 2 days ago
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The Temple Of Curved Space (Official Track Stream)
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
adg211288· 2 days ago
In Sulfur - The Gate (OFFICIAL VIDEO) 2022
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 3 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed