Misery Index with stuff to shake your booty
Misery Index is the newborn band of former Dying Fetus frontman, vocalist, lyricist, and bassist Jason Netherton, guitarist and vocalist Mike Harrison and former Dying Fetus/MOD/Suffocation drummer Kevin Talley. Misery Index combines the most
intense elements of grindcore insanity with a distinct metal approach, pushing the limits of this timeless genre into a regressive spiral of corrupting breakdowns and technical ferocity. The imagery and lyrical concepts are also very critical to the band, and one can expect that in the true nature of the genre, Misery Index will catapult their ideology to the forefront and shove the sickness and hypocrisy of this planet right back in the face of all who so quietly accept the status quo. The next Misery Index recording can be heard on the WillowTip Records split CD with Commit Suicide to be released Spring, 2002. Look for a full length album to be released from the band in mid-summer/Fall 2002, with a full live assault to commence throughout the year.
interview with Sparky at 4-9-2002
Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Misery Index began in the spring of 2001 with Jason Netherton (bs/vox), Kevin Talley (dr) and Mike Harrison (gtr/vox). They composed and recorded the ’Overthrow’ ep, which was released on the band's own Anarchos Records in Sept. 2001. I joined the band that month as well. A split cd with Commit Suicide came out on Willowtip Records in July 2002. Also, there are licensed versions of ’Overthorw’ with extra audio and video tracks available through Ritual/Howling Bull (Japan) and Fadeless (Europe) along with a 12’ vinyl version available soon from Goodlife. The band just finished it's first tour in America with Kataklysm, Divine Empire, and Beyond the Embrace. We will be signing to Nuclear Blast very shortly and will have a full-length out in spring of 2003.
Why was Misery Index (MI) created? What is your goal?
After Jason left Dying Fetus, he still wanted to write and record music. So, he got together with long time friend and DF contributor Mike, and they, along with Kevin, composed and recorded ’Overthrow’. We want to create some good aggressive, brutal, grinding metal, and drink a few beers along the way ha ha.
Your mentioned as ex members of Dying Fetus (DF). Still like to be called like that? See MI as an improved DF band or something completely different?
While we see M.I. as totally separate, we know that fans of DF will want to check us out due to our association with that band. That's fine with us, but we don't have any intention of being DF Part 2. In time, as we write, record, and tour, we hope to be recognized for our accomplishments in M.I. on a separate level than the stuff we did with DF.
Do you think the band will be picked up earlier when you mention the exbands?
We already have received a lot of interest due to being in DF, as well as he other bands we've been involved with, such as Suffocation and M.O.D. But, we don't want use all that as a crutch.
Don't you think it is a high pressure for the band to have such members? Too big expectations?
We are are own harshest critics, so we will be much harder on ourselves, and have higher expectations, than any listener might be. That being said, we can't control what someone who is interested in us might expect, so each person will have to make up their own mind on whether they are into what we are doing.
Describe the musical feeling of MI to non metal heads?
Aggressive, fast, heavy, technical, emotion-filled grinding metal. Stuff to shake your booty to ha ha ha!
Is it difficult to invent a new kind of extreme metal? Or is this not important? Or just make brutal stuff?
We strive to write good songs and don't really see ourselves trying to invent anything. We also don't really see ourselves as being in a competiton to be the fastest or most brutal or whatever. Of course, there will be the technical guitars, screeching vocals, and blast beats, so we want to concentrate on mixing all the ingredients together to create memorable songs in a death/grind context.
You say that the imagery and lyrical concept is very critical to the band. In what way? How do you want to see the imagery?
Jason's lyrics display concern about many ills in the world at large, without being preachy. It's just a way to say, take a look around and see what is happening. As the listener reads the lyrics and applies them to their own individual life situation, the imagery will come from their own life experience. In this way, each person can relate and have their own vision of what Jason is saying.
And why are the lyrics important? Do you really think that fans puzzle the lyrics to see if they agree?
As with any music, the lyrics are there as a complement to the music. Some people will tell us how much they appreciate the lyrics, while other will say they just listen to the music. As long as someone enjoys what we have to offer, we don't worry whether or not they share the same views.
Who is your fav character of the Muppet show? And why?
ANIMAL!!!! Ha ha ha, because he is fucking brutal!!!!
You also talk about the sickness and hypocrisy of this planet. Mention some examples and why you are against them?
Corporations that say they don't want to pollute the environment, then they just keep dumping and when they are caught, they just pay a fine. Or, governments that call for peace, but fund covert wars through third parties. While this type of hypocrisy has existed for many years, a lot of people are unaware of this type of thing as they go through their day-to-day lives. The only way to begin to fix the problems in the world are to first be able to recognize them. So, maybe if someone reads our yrics, then it will spur them to learn more about what is happening, and perhaps make an effort to get things moving in a better direction.
Don't you agree that the primal purpose of a band is to have fun and entertain people who can't play instruments (like me)?
Absolutely! I wouldn't have been jamming this long if it wasn't still fun. The best part of the whole musical experience for me is to be able to jam with my friends and hopefully other people will get into it as well and have fun themselves.
How is your pleasure to play in the band shown on stage?
I head bang, thrash around, get lost in the music, feel the energy of the band and the people there to check us out. It makes all the writing songs and practice and driving around in a van for 1000's of miles (kilometers?) worth it. Fucking Raaaaaawwwwkkkk!!!!!
What is the first thing you do after doing a gig? Drink? Vomit? Seeking groupies? Or something else?
Put my guitar away ha ha! Seriously, it really depends on the night. Not too many groupies for us, so that's usually not an option. There is usually beer in the picture, though, I can assure you of that!
From what bands do you get excited? Are there also some non metal bands?
Slayer, Suffocation, Iron Maiden, Bad Brains, Hatebreed, newer stuff like Converge, All Else Failed, Caliban, really to many bands to name. I like non-metal stuff like the Police, Steely Dan, the Cars, the Oranges Band (my bro's band, on Lookout Records--had to get a plug in ha ha!). I've always had friends that listen to all kinds of music, so I have a really open minded view towards everything musical.
How did you came to the dutch label Fadeless? And why did you choose for them? Also offerings from other labels?
Wilko from Fadeless contacted us a few months back about releasing ’Overthrow’ in Europe. He had just worked out an arrangement with Unique Leader to release some of their titles in Europe. We're friends with those guys, and know they wouldn't enter into an agreement unless the person they were dealing with was cool. So, we figured going with Wilko and Fadeless would be a really good opportunity for us. We had talked to several other labels, but Wilko really came through for us, and we're happy to be working with Fadeless.
What kind of compliments did you already got for the debut album? Are there also people who don't understand the music?
We've gotten many good reviews from 'zines, as well as getting a lot of notice from most of the larger underground metal labels. People we know from our days in DF have said they like some of the stuff better than the DF material, that it's more aggressive and straight to the point. We certainly appreciate all the good things that have been said, and we hope to continue to make great music for several years to come.
Anything you want to say about MI or the CD?
Be on the lookout for ’Overthrow’ in all it's various incarnations, as well as the split with Commit Suicide. There is a chance that we may do some shows in Europe this fall, so stay tuned to our website at www.misery-index.com for all the latest info.
Last rites?
Thanks to you Twan for the great questions, and thanks also to Wilko/Fadeless and all who have listened to our various bands and have helped us through the years. Look out for the new full-length out on Nuclear Blast in spring of 2003. METAL!!!!