Misery (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
Misery are a death metal band from Brisbane
, Australia. Since forming in 1991, the band has released four albums and an EP. The band split in 2005, but has reformed once more for an East Coast Australian tour in support of its final album On Demon Wings in 2009.
Soon after the album's release, Misery's reputation as a heavy act was immediately established, and the band undertook its first national tour in support of Pungent Stench
. Goulding was fired from the group not long after the tour, to be replaced by former Mausoleum vocalist Moises Contreras. Goulding would later go on to front Sydney band Sulkus, Wagga Wagga death metal group Manticore, and Sydney nu-metal outfit Art Imitates Crime. In 1994, the band released the Insidious EP with Contreras on vocals; its accompanying video clip Torn was banned from television airplay. Supports with Deicide
and Morbid Angel
, and an appearance at the Big Day Out
festival soon followed. Contreras' stay with the band would also be short-lived, and after his departure Robinson decided to take up the band's vocal duties himself. Contreras would go on to form melodic death metallers Sakkuth
.
In 1997 Misery signed to Sydney metal label Warhead Records
and released their second album Revel In Blasphemy, which is regarded by many as Misery's heaviest recorded work. More touring followed, with the band playing Metal for the Brain
. Another album's worth of material was set for release by 1998, but due to Warhead Records ceasing operation at the time, third album Curses would not see release until 2000 through Venomous Records.
Throughout the 2000s, the members of Misery began to busy themselves with other projects. Edgar played in a group called Soundsurgery, while Kananghinis formed punk rock group Greensteam, and Robinson recorded a demo with doom metallers Cardinal Sin. All the members of Misery also began a Motorhead cover group called White Line Fever, which they would play sets of at their own shows. After a tour of New Zealand in 2001, Kananghinis left Misery to focus on Greensteam full-time. The band continued as a three-piece until 2005, when Robinson left Australia to live in the United States. Misery's fourth and final album On Demon Wings was released through Brisbane label Obsidian Records in 2007. In 2005 Edgar formed The Dead, but left in 2008 after one album, and later formed a new band with Dwyer called Laceration Mantra. Misery regrouped in March 2009 for an East Coast tour in support of On Demon Wings with Adelaide doom metal group Mournful Congregation
.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia. Since forming in 1991, the band has released four albums and an EP. The band split in 2005, but has reformed once more for an East Coast Australian tour in support of its final album On Demon Wings in 2009.
Background
The group was formed in 1991 by bassist Damon Robinson and guitarist Scott Edgar, who had both been members of earlier Brisbane groups Guardian, Northwinds, Savage, A.I.M. and Black Magic. The band's first line-up featured Robinson, Edgar, drummer Anthony Dwyer, Northwinds guitarist Brad Allen, and vocalist Darren Goulding. Allen was soon replaced by Laszlo Khaninghinis, and the band recorded two demos in 1992 - Sorting of the Insects and Astern Diabolus before releasing their first album A Necessary Evil in 1993.Soon after the album's release, Misery's reputation as a heavy act was immediately established, and the band undertook its first national tour in support of Pungent Stench
Pungent Stench
Pungent Stench was a darkly humorous death metal band from Vienna, Austria, which formed in 1988. Their last known lineup consists of Martin Schirenc , El Gore , and Alex Wank...
. Goulding was fired from the group not long after the tour, to be replaced by former Mausoleum vocalist Moises Contreras. Goulding would later go on to front Sydney band Sulkus, Wagga Wagga death metal group Manticore, and Sydney nu-metal outfit Art Imitates Crime. In 1994, the band released the Insidious EP with Contreras on vocals; its accompanying video clip Torn was banned from television airplay. Supports with Deicide
Deicide (band)
Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...
and Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
, and an appearance at the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
festival soon followed. Contreras' stay with the band would also be short-lived, and after his departure Robinson decided to take up the band's vocal duties himself. Contreras would go on to form melodic death metallers Sakkuth
Sakkuth
Sakkuth is a band based in Brisbane in Queensland. They describe themselves as "melodic metal". They have been active in the Brisbane heavy metal scene and around Australia for nearly 10 years.-The beginning:...
.
In 1997 Misery signed to Sydney metal label Warhead Records
Warhead Records
Warhead Records was an independent record label based in Sydney, Australia that specialised in releasing albums by Australian heavy metal bands. It was formed in 1992 by British migrant Brad Sims and Julie Martin who began by selling demo tapes of local bands at heavy metal shows at Sydney's...
and released their second album Revel In Blasphemy, which is regarded by many as Misery's heaviest recorded work. More touring followed, with the band playing Metal for the Brain
Metal for the Brain
Metal for the Brain was Australia's largest heavy metal music festival. The event was held in Canberra annually, usually towards the end of the year, and featured Australian bands almost exclusively...
. Another album's worth of material was set for release by 1998, but due to Warhead Records ceasing operation at the time, third album Curses would not see release until 2000 through Venomous Records.
Throughout the 2000s, the members of Misery began to busy themselves with other projects. Edgar played in a group called Soundsurgery, while Kananghinis formed punk rock group Greensteam, and Robinson recorded a demo with doom metallers Cardinal Sin. All the members of Misery also began a Motorhead cover group called White Line Fever, which they would play sets of at their own shows. After a tour of New Zealand in 2001, Kananghinis left Misery to focus on Greensteam full-time. The band continued as a three-piece until 2005, when Robinson left Australia to live in the United States. Misery's fourth and final album On Demon Wings was released through Brisbane label Obsidian Records in 2007. In 2005 Edgar formed The Dead, but left in 2008 after one album, and later formed a new band with Dwyer called Laceration Mantra. Misery regrouped in March 2009 for an East Coast tour in support of On Demon Wings with Adelaide doom metal group Mournful Congregation
Mournful Congregation
Mournful Congregation is a funeral doom metal band from Loxton, South Australia, Australia which was founded in 1993, and has included members of Chalice....
.
Former members
- Brad Allen - Guitar (1991)
- Laszlo Kananghinis - Guitar (1991–2001)
- Darren Goulding - Vocals (1991–1993)
- Moises Contreras - Vocals (1994)
Discography
- A Necessary Evil (1993) Velvet Urge
- Insidious (1994) Valve
- Revel In Blasphemy (1997) Warhead
- Curses (2000) Venomous
- On Demon Wings (2007) Obsidian