Mirrors

Misery Signals

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ferret Records
• ASIN: B000GUJZ6E
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,355 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Few bands can turn adversity on its head the way Misery Signals has. Following the departure of founding vocalist, Jesse Zaraska, the band rebounded in style by finding the perfect replacement in Karl Schubach. Schubach was part of an open audition that had hopefuls recording their vocals on an instrumental track available on their myspace page. The fact that Schubach is a guitarist by trade and has never sang in a band before makes the story even more remarkable. Commenting on the new guy, guitarist Ryan Morgan comments "Karl has a monstrous voice perfect for what people have enjoyed from the band in the past." Re-loaded, the band hit the Cleveland recording studio of Producer Ben Schigel (Chimaira, ZAO) for a month this spring recording their second full-length Mirrors to be released this August on Ferret Music. The band is crafting an album which they claim is even heavier than their celebrated debut Of Malice And The Magnum Heart, but also more atmospheric and ambient as well. Speaking on the significance of the title of the forthcoming second album Mirrors Ryan explains "A lot of the songs ask questions about self and how people perceive themselves and the images that they present to others." Like new age metallic surgeons Misery Signals carves through the cluttered heavy music scene and images to plant their flag in the sands of time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Continue To Amaze, September 2, 2006

By	Shogun (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

Since their inception, Misery Signals have been one of the most talented up and coming bands in the heavy music scene. Even with only two official albums and an ep under their belts (although the members have scraped their teeth in such revered bands as 7 Angels 7 Plagues and Compromise), one listen to any material these guys have put forth is enough to make any doubter an instant believer. Granted they are lumped in with a fairly stagnant and overbearing scene at the moment, the music would be just as good even if metalcore weren't the 'in' thing.

"Face Yourself" breaks down the doors, opening with a gigantic wall of crushing sound. Notice new vocalist Karl Schubach's presence on the mic immediately. And this guy was just an open audition? A guitar player by trade you say? Hard to believe after his punishing screams ring up and down your body. But where most bands in metalcore fail by sub-coming to the urge of throwing in a power-filled emo chorus or outrageously bland lyrical topics, Misery Signals shines. The lyrics are powerful and going with the theme of the record, they are much about self-reflection and the image we project on our peers in society, and how we inevitably love to believe we are fine when we are really falling apart.

Don't think the magnificent musicianship of the last record has been lost a bit, because it hasn't. Misery Signals is able to maitain an umcomprisingly heavy atmosphere while stringing ambient and melodic breaks throughout almost every song. Ryan Morgan and Stu Ross still unleash manically heavy riffs and also the calmer sections that many other bands don't even dare attempt, and Kyle Johnson and Braden Morgan are still more than capable of filling in the complex and unrelenting rhythms that Misery Signals are known for. While overall "Mirrors" probably isn't particularly as heavy as its predecessor "Of Malice and the Magnum Heart", it is definitely more ambitious and stable at moments. The record seems to begin with an onslaught ("Face Yourself", "The Failsafe" and "Post Collapse), then slowly drift into a somewhat more sudbued section ("Migrate", "One Day I'll Stay Home" and "Something Was Always Missing, But It Never Was You") before eventually ending in fury just as it began.

"Mirrors" is just another example of how Misery Signals continue to prove they are one of the most competent bands to get lumped in with the metalcore scene. Although they are obviously light years ahead of most of the bands they are associated with, there's an obvious reason they've gotten the tag. If you like metal or hardcore that is heavy, intelligent, and yet extremely atmospheric and melodic, you need to jump on the Misery Signals bandwagon immediately. This is already easily one of 2006's best offerings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal, yet melodic, October 27, 2006

By	Fireblade156 (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

As it's been mentioned by other reviewers, this is an amazing album. I don't even remember how I stumbled onto Misery Signals, but I'm very glad I did. The best way I can describe this band is to say that they mix hardcore vocals (without cheesy HC lyrics), complex heavy, yet melodic riffs, and pummeling DB drumming to produce a progressive, Hopesfall meets hardcore type sound. Actually, the slight similarity to old Hopesfall is what really attracted me. The best part about Misery Signals is that they cannot be easily compared to anyone else!

If you're looking for something crushing, monstrous, yet simultaneously beautiful, pick this CD up. It's a breath of fresh air amongst other bands in the stagnating metalcore scene.

"One Day I'll Stay Home" and "The Failsafe" are worth the price of the CD alone. Amazing songs.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Follow Up, August 23, 2006

By	Greg (Bakersfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews

When Of Malice And The Magnum Heart came out a couple of years ago, I went to Best Buy and bought it. I loved it. Catchy riffs, great breakdowns, amazing melodies and vocals made it a favorite cd at the time. I don't remember how many times I've listened to it. And today, I went to the exact same Best Buy and bought the new Misery Signals cd.


It was really sad to see Jesse go. I was wondering how they were going to keep their sound because the combination of Jesse's throaty and raspy scream and the catchy riffs is what made the band. I quickly found out that they had not lost their edge when I heard the new singer, Karl, on the new song they put up on their myspace. While Karl doesn't use the same vocal style as Jesse, his vocals are great just like Jesse's. I think both of the singers are great. The band has kept their signature sound: catchy riffs that get stuck in your head combined with great breakdowns, and they don't stop. Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy is in the song One Day I'll Stay Home. For those of you who don't know, Patrick is a huge hardcore fan.

All in all, this cd is one of the top 10 metal/hardcore cds of 2006. I've waited 2 years for this cd and it was well worth the wait. If you enjoyed their previous full length, you should definitely get this cd. It's great and the catchy notes and riffs will get stuck in your head.