Misery Signals

By the time its 2006 album Mirrors came out, Milwaukee-based group Misery Signals had started to stick out a bit on the circuit of excruciatingly self-serious post-hardcore acts, thanks to its focus on the stark and technical. Its 2008 disc, Controller, showed off the same capabilities, but also hit a plateau. The incessant riffing, kick-drumming, and coal-gargling vocals are all part of the appeal, except that the drama and mystery wear off about half a song in. The band still makes space for gentler interludes and tricky guitar and drum parts, but a lot of ponderous drudgery keeps songs like “Homecoming” from unfolding into anything especially distinctive. 

Updated 05/06/2010