Album of the Week: Misery Signals - Controller

     Recently Heavyblogisheavy had a post discussing the best of progressive metalcore, and I was gratified to see that one of my favourite albums not only of that genre but of any genre made their list. The band in question isn't exactly underground, but they're not mainstream either, and this album is most definitely one that rewards multiple listenings, so I see no reason why Controller by Misery Signals shouldn't be this week's Album of the Week.

     I've been a Misery Signals fan since Of Malice and the Magnum Heart, having discovered their song "The Year Summer Ended in June" on a sampler disc that came with something else (Atreyu's The Curse, I think, but don't hold me to that). I really dig all of their work, but for me, the best selection from their catalogue BY FAR is 2008's Controller.

     I guess I'd call Controller metalcore, or even progressive metalcore as Heavyblogisheavy does, but to me it's got so much more meat than that. It's aggressive without that being the only emotional state conveyed. It's technical, but under the surface rather that in a showy or flashy way. It's dense, as I've said many times before, but it's not extreme, fringe-genre stuff by any means.

     All of Misery Signals' stuff has these qualities, but Controller represents the band firing on all cylinders. Musically, vocally, even production-wise (Devin Townsend produced this one.. yeah, that Devin Townsend) this album is spot-on, and it deserves a little of your listening time this week. Give it a couple of spins and I'm confident it'll hook you like it hooked me.

Misery Signals - Difference of Vengeance and Wrongs

     I just saw a teaser trailer today for what appears for be an original-lineup tour celebrating the tenth anniversary of Misery Signals' debut LP Of Malice and the Magnum Heart. In addition to sounding like a good show, this also presents the perfect opportunity to feature something off this underrated disc for the Misery Signals latecomers.

     Closing track "Difference of Vengeance and Wrongs" is my pick for today, because it showcases Misery Signals' "beauty and the beast" duality, oscillating between heavier choruses and prettier verses. The band's gotten a little techier and a little proggier since Malice, but the aggression and density that have always been hallmarks of Misery Signals' sound are plainly in evidence even at this early stage of the band's career. Grab some tickets for this one if you can.

Song of the Day: Devin Townsend - Grace

     There's absolutely no denying that Devin Townsend is stupidly talented. I've always been more of a fan of his production work than his personal musical output -- his production credits include Darkest Hour's Undoing Ruin and Deliver Us as well as Misery Signals' Of Malice and the Magnum Heart and Controller, just to name some of my faves -- but Devin can play a lick or two on the guitar too, and carry a decent tune, and keep a beat...