Misery Index Dissent

I was very excited to see the new Misery Index EP in the package from Lambgoat, as I've been meaning to pick it up myself but just put it off. Being a fan of Misery Index since their inception, I'm usually better about staying on top of their new releases, and now I'm kicking myself for not checking out this 5-song EP sooner. Misery Index has once again come along and laid waste to their enemies (government and conformity), while also progressing musically. When former drummer Kevin Talley rejoined Misery Index, I predicted some great things to come. Dissent marks his recorded return, as well as the recorded debut of Bruce Greig, who joined on second guitar shortly after 2003's Retaliate was released (strangely enough, both Talley and Greig left the band after Dissent was recorded). These songs fall in line with the niche in the death-grind genre that this band has carved out for itself. There is no question that Dissent has compromised the sheer brutality of Misery Index. Everything about this release is brutal, and, at the same time, it is great to hear this band progressing as song writers. The progression in the music is apparent, and the biggest difference would have to be addition of some serious melody. Of course, in true Misery Index fashion, they make their melody brutal (see "Exception to the Ruled"). These guys have also raised the technicality of their song-writing. Coupled with lightning-fast tempo-shifts, this increased technicality makes for some of the most interesting Misery Index songs to date. The elements that you'd expect from this release are all there, from the speedy riffing and drumming to the big hardcore breakdowns. The lyrics on Dissent are more scathing than on previous releases. The first four tracks, which fall under the "Dissent" heading, are politically charged and are also direct attacks on the American government and its blunders of the past two years. The last track, under the "Defector" heading, is a witty and realistic critique of conformity within the "scene." I have only two complaints about this EP, and my biggest is the fact that it is only five tracks. With the two headings or concepts that Misery Index has given this release, it seems to me they could have produced a 14-song full-length. The other complaint is how parts of this production were handled. While the drums and vocals sound powerful and natural, all the guitars sound buried, which I think is a shame. If the guitars were brought up, I believe this record's brutality would be increased tenfold. Bottom Line: This short release isn't just for the die-hard Misery Index fans, and it is their best song-writing up to this point. As I've said before, I think anyone who is a fan of both death-metal and hardcore/punk should love this album and needs to pick this up (I've learned that the vinyl version has a bonus Minor Threat cover song). If this is any indication of the next Misery Index full-length, then it should destroy the rest of the pack.