Misery's Omen

Although I was at first - almost spontaneously, from the moment of its initial impact - drawn to Misery's Omen's music, I found it difficult in the days following my earliest listens to adequately sum up to myself, in my mind, just what it was that I found so compelling in their songs. Was it the idiosyncratic, otherworldly riffing, the expressive soloing, the strange/eerie vocals of crazed frontman Arganoth, the instrumental skill on display, the welcome warm bass tone and additional level of the bass's interaction with the guitar? Could it be... the drumming? All joking aside, I believe the reason that I had so much trouble with drawing a circle around this band's music and its effect on me was simply because I enjoyed it too much... it was difficult to be "critical" (or at least pretend to be, which is often the same thing) in light of my enthusiasm for the material. Now that I have given myself a week or so of straight listening to this, my admiration for this band's originality has not faded... however I do feel adequately prepared to attempt to discuss their music. So... I am not trying to imply that my enjoyment of their songs is slipping away - quite the opposite, in fact. I think I have reached a certain point where my high regard for their abilities has been tempered by a more workable, manageable familiarity with the music.

Misery's Omen bear all the signs of a musical isolation, seemingly springing forth without a single locatable (overriding) genre influence to attempt a creation of a metal art that is, I hope, something that is equally aesthetically and emotionally satisfying for them. I would hate to think they were pressing themselves towards an original stance or take on extra-genre specifics based on some kind of vain search for notoriety in the surfeited, bloated, pathetically lackluster worldwide scene. I would rather think of them evolving their own sound because of a lack of contrasts around them, much like the (supposed) history of Tasmania's Psycroptic. I can not point to many of their direct influences, which is such a rarity in this type of music... not least of all because metal is such a self-referential, conservative form of art, where every step forward into the darkness of chaos or true original self-reflection is taken while firmly tied to the bands that have come before. It is a momentarily pleasing image to see (even if it is illusory or self-created), in one's mind, a band like this casting the safety ropes behind them and advancing courageously. There are so few rewards for true originality in metal! If the bizarrely genre lyrics of a camp science fiction theme like "Desolate Winds of Mars" do not convince you that this band is on their own path and just doesn't care, perhaps something like the painfully emotional vocal performance throughout the album will, especially when it comes to screams like the piercing one at 4:11 in this song or the strange interlude at 4:53 in "Mortalia's Abyss"... this is not a band that holds back.

So, to try to describe their music succinctly, I believe I can point to early Scandinavian black metal as a distinct influence, although I would be tested if asked to provide exact names. Darkthrone? Gorgoroth? Who knows? This is not a black metal band, though. They use the vocabulary and riffing symbolism/overt messages of that style to express their own ideas, but they are equally comfortable using doom metal clichés or trad metal forms like the bridge at 1:55 in "Mortalia's Abyss" that seems like a crawling, too-obvious nod to the opening three-note knell of Black Sabbath's first. It fits the rest of the material perfectly but its appearance throws one for a loop in light of the two songs that appear before it in the playing order. This segment is of course breached and pierced by a return to lightspeed black metal, but... one almost gets the feeling in the course of this song that these high energy elements were launched into with something approaching reticence... or disapproval. The sedate, lush instrumental "Ashes Smoulder" perhaps echoes a kraut rock stimulus, but I am as certain of that as I am convinced the following track "Antarctic Ice-Chasms" is aiming me towards Neurosis's "The Word as Law". I can't tell for sure, and that's part of this band's beauty. A form of rock that does not appear here (thankfully), however, is modern death... or any kind of really obvious reference to anything that has happened in that scene over the last 12 years. This is interesting (at least to me) in itself by its absence. There is also a buoyant, bouncing, Voivod-like concentration here on bright, twisted riffing in order to create a chiaroscuro effect in relation to the grim monochrome of northern melodicism or perversely simple (technically, not emotionally) black doom segments. An example of this technique would be the three segment first riff on the album, which is used as a launching mechanism to propel the band into Norway. Energetic, accelerating, then Immortal-speed... Misery's Omen are "progressive" to the last.

I would like to briefly highlight the fact that this is a genuine three-piece band here, a group where its members share equally in the music and perform, instrumentally, in ways that complement each other and add significantly to the total yield of meaning within the music... something that is very rare. The bass playing especially is admirable, and I believe the production throughout these songs is at least attempting to place the bass on an equal level with the guitar. It helps that the guitar sound, from the black metal influence, is not too deep or overpowering in low tones. This leaves a comfortable midrange space for the bass to fill with its colorful timbre and that adds so much to the music here... at least for me. Another strength of this band is their intent to create memorable, individual songs with well-explored themes and interesting, moving sequences of linked motifs. That is also a rarity today. I come away from each listening feeling that Misery's Omen know exactly where they want to take their style in the future, and that is a result of sturdy, poignant, thought-out creations. This is just an excellent collection of works from an outstanding band.

UA

Erebus Magazine
http://erebuszine.blogspot.com

I have a REALLY soft spot for anything Damon Good is involved in. My favorites being Portal, Mournful Congregation, Stargazer and the subject of today's swollen appendage, Misery's Omen. The material on this fucker is almost a decade old and still is aeons ahead of our time. To think that stuff this great was coming out back then and I wasn't aware of it still boggles my mind. It took 5 years for it to make my lap melt in ecstasy and still today 5 years after that, its seldom mentioned.

Ive brainstormed for far too long just to think of a reference point to pin these guys down with and I come up empty. The closest thing I can really come to is Symbolic era Death with a much proggier and disharmonious leaning, and dwelling in a puddle of gelling and moldy blood, guts and precambrian juices for centuries. I like putting on this album when I want to feel like I'm steering a vehicle down a densely forested mountainside at 165mph with no brakes. Its chaotic, vicious, unnerving and has a constantly unconstant gallop. No instrument, element, style or behavior here is prevalent other than what I've already mentioned.

This collection of two demos takes confident strides among earth melting doom moments and without hesitation bursts into infernal moments of bombastic treachery. The strength of this band is the blatant confidence with which they unholster vivid yet dreary weaponry. Some moments bear strong similarities to a more melodic Swedish sort of band but usually they play more discordant and atonal riffs. The bass playing is remarkably unique and used so effectively to elevate these songs to a much more musical level, also furthering the putrid stench this ep will always leave lingering in your skull. The only problem I've ever had with this EP is that its a little too short. This is worth tracking down if you want to hear something completely original and accomplished as it is terribly underappreciated.

from http://hearholeaholics.blogspot.com/

A dictionary definition of the phrase “Misery’s Omen” would look something like this: A prophetic sign of emotional distress or despair. Though depending on your philosophical outlook you may not believe in prophecy, but the name of this band definitely tells you what to expect with the music. With this collection of previously released, but extremely limited material Misery’s Omen takes you on a journey of pure misery and pain.

The music is what I can only term as dark metal, a combination of some doom, death and black metal. Very similar to German tormentors Bethlehem’s earlier work say their first 3 at least (I’ve only heard those 3 except for newer more industrial work) Misery’s Omen take the reigns as the fore runners in this style with their very intelligent and unique , yet simple, memorable riffing, solid baselines and tastefully mixed drumming. If you are expecting a non-stop barrage of blast beats in this you aren’t going to get it. The solos seem to be intended as contrast to the vocals, which I will get to momentarily, and are very melodic and overall slow to mid-paced. The music varies from real slow, melodic and atmospheric to a faster mid speed that still keeps the melody and atmosphere, but adds a harshness not there in the slower parts.

The vocals sound extremely tormented. I once heard early Bethlehem vocals described as “sounding as if the guy was on fire;” I wish I would have coined that phrase, but I definitely have to at least use it here. Though sometimes his growls are a little more standard overall these vocals are anything but. I would have to compare them to early Bethlehem or Lord Imperial of Krieg, but even more tormented than either of those masters. Arganoth Doom’s vocals have the capabilities of giving even some of the most twisted minds nightmares (check out ‘Desolate Winds of Mars’ around 4’10”). The production on this CD is very crisp, which helps the music really portray the beleaguered atmosphere intended by the band.

This is definitely not music for the weak hearted and probably most metalheads who are content with the extremely popular metal of today (In Flames, Hammerfall, etc), but if you are one of those adventurous souls who will submit themselves to the extreme underground or one who just loves music that can instantly change the atmosphere of a room for the darker than this CD and band is for you.