The
band was born in the spring of 2001, by Vocalist/bassist Jason
Netherton along with Vocalist/guitarist Mike Harrison as a studio
project, with drums performed by drummer Kevin Talley. "Overthrow"
their debut CD-demo was unleashed in September of 2001 on the band's
own Anarchos Records, where it quickly drew praise and interest from
underground circles with its five song blast-thrash attack that met
all expectations, and then some. The CD was subsequently released in
2002 in Japan on Howling Bull/Ritual Records, and in Europe on
Fadeless Records. A limited edition vinyl put out on Goodlife
Recordings soon followed.
The band was then shifted to a full time project with the addition
of Sparky Voyles on guitar. Subsequently, the band's second release
was a split EP with Pittsburgh's Commit Suicide on
Willowtip
records. This cd featured two new songs plus a cover of Disrupt, and
came out in the summer of 2002.
Following the recording of their second EP in March of 2002, Mike
Harrison and Kevin Talley left the band to pursue other projects,
and with the addition of Matt Byers on drums, Misery Index embarked
on their first US tour in the summer of 2002 with Canadian's
Kataklysm.
Following this, 2003 saw the release of a split EP with Arizona's
Structure of Lies, and the recording of Misery Index's debut album
for Nuclear Blast, entitled "Retaliate". With the addition of Bruce
Greig on second guitar, Misery Index toured extensively to promote
the debut album, "Retaliate," which was released on August 26, 2003.
Subsequently, in 2004 the band embarked on several US and European
tours to support "Retaliate", along with recording a video for "The
Great Depression" and releasing the bands first DVD, which features
a full live set from Greece, on their own Anarchos Records label
imprint.
With the addition of Adam Jarvis on drums in August of 2004, the
band performed sets at the Wacken, Brutal Assault, and Party San
festivals, which followed the recording of the "Dissent" EP in the
summer of 2004. "Dissent" represented a new birth for Misery Index,
further refining the sounds of 'Retaliate'. Misery Index toured
throughout the winter of 04 and the spring of 05 extensively to
support the release, including runs with Napalm Death,
Suffocation,
Behemoth,
Neuraxis,
Rotten Sound, Magrudergrind, and an appearance
at Germany's Up From The Ground festival. Additionally, joining the
band on second guitar and vocals was Mark Kloeppel, who rounded out
the sound of the band in fine form when he joined in February of
2005, giving the band its present lineup as it stands today.
In late summer of 2005 Misery Index recorded its first material with
the new, finalized lineup, 2 tracks (an early version of
"Conquistadores," and a cover of Naplam Death's "Walls of
Confinement") for a split 7" with Japanese grinders Bathtub Shitter.
Over the winter of 2005/2006, Misery Index wrote the "Discordia"
album which was to be recorded subsequently at Hairy Breakfast
studio in Atlanta, Georgia, with Daath's Eyal Levi. The record was
released in May of 2006 following a full 7 week European tour as
direct support for Fear Factory, as well as a May tour with
Phobia
and Disfear in the US and Canada. Later that summer, Misery Index
embarked on the Steers and Beers tour alongside Animosity, Job For a
Cowboy, From a Second Story Window, and Cattle Decapitation.
Rounding out the year were US/Canadian tours with Intronaut,
Fucks
the Facts, Yakuza, and Neuraxis, as well filming a video for the
track "Conquistadores" which was aired on Headbanger's Ball the
following February.
Prior to returning to Europe twice in 2007, Misery Index recorded
the "Hang Em High" 7" in Phoenix, Arizona, which became the tour 7"
for the Euro run with Origin and
Necrophagist. Later that summer,
Misery Index returned for festival appearances at
Hellfest (FR),
Eisenwahn (D) and Tuska (FIN), as well as stops on the Never Say
Die! tour with Converge. the band continued its run into Europe with
a headlining tour of Eastern Europe that brought the band to far
flung places like Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Croatia.
In late 2007 and early 2008, the band is deep in writing mode for
the next full length on
Relapse Records, tentatively due out in Sept
of 2008. But until then, the band has recorded 3 blistering new
tracks in St. Louis with G. Sprock, for a split release with
Switzerland's Mumakill, due out in January on
Power It Up Records,
Germany. |