History
Formation (2002–2003)
Misery Signals was formed after the disbandment of several bands, including 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Hamartia and Compromise. Having played briefly with 7 Angels 7 Plagues, former Compromise vocalist Jesse Zaraska was approached by Ryan Morgan and Kyle Johnson for a new project, which would become Misery Signals. Jeff Aust from Hamartia joined on as second guitar, and Ryan Morgan's brother Branden joined as the bands drummer. Aust soon left the band and has since gone on to join With Honor, he was replaced by Stu Ross - a friend of Jesse Zaraska's from St. Albert, Alberta.
Signing to Ferret Music (2004–2009)
The band eventually signed to New Jersey's Ferret Music, releasing their first full-length album, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart. After extensive touring, Zaraska decided to leave the band to focus on a smaller, less aggressive project named Sleeping Girl, at which point the rest of the band decided to put up an instrumental song on their MySpace page, encouraging anyone who wanted to take over the spot of vocalist to record their own voice over the instrumental and e-mail it to the band. This was the way they found new vocalist Karl Schubach, with whom they recorded the album, Mirrors. In July 2008 Misery Signals released their third full-length entitled Controller. After extensive touring in support of Controller in early 2009, members of Misery Signals wanted to pursue other musical directions outside of their band.
Focus on side projects (2009–2010)
Schubach is involved in a heavy metal side project called Solace. He is the sole member of the band, recording guitar, bass and vocals in a D.I.Y.-fashioned home studio. The drums are added in digitally, through the use of a program on his Macbook.
The hardcore/punk band Burning Empires consists of members from Misery Signals, Fall Out Boy and 7 Angels 7 Plagues. Ryan Morgan does the vocals, Kyle Johnson plays bass, Stu Ross and Matthew Mixon play guitar, while Andy Hurley plays the drums. Andy Hurley is an avid supporter of the Wisconsin hardcore scene. The quintet also have a clothing line/record label called Fuck City. In October 2010, Kyle Johnson also announced his departure from the band.
There is also a pop punk/hardcore band named Lowtalker that consists of Branden Morgan and Stuart Ross of Misery Signals. They team up with Casey Hjelmberg and Matt Keil of Comeback Kid to complete the four piece project. Lowtalker are set to release their EP People Worry About Everything in the spring of 2010 through FC records.
In 2010, Stuart Ross became the frontman of a pop-punk band from Vancouver, B.C. named Living with Lions. Ross officially left Misery Signals on September 25, 2010 to put his focus on this new project, and was reportedly tired of performing heavy metal.
New album (2011)
After an extended period of inactivity with a heavy focus on side projects, Misery Signals made an official statement about the state of the band in November 2010. The press release addressed the loss of Ross and Johnson, and also announced that the band had not, in fact, broken up.[3] Ryan Morgan commented that, "In the next few months, we'll group back up and return."[3] Despite losing two of the founding members of Misery Signals, the remaining members did not consider changing the name of the group. On maintaining the continuity of the band's style and keeping the same name, Morgan said, "Stu and Kyle made awesome contributions, but the trajectory of the band remains the same in their absence. If the time came that our sound took a drastically different course, then it wouldn't be Misery Signals anymore, and we wouldn't pretend that it was.
On October 19, 2016, rumours of an original lineup reunion tour and album were confirmed by vocalist Jesse Zaraska. When reached for comment by Nic Huber of www.metalinjection.net, Zaraska had the following to say: "It is the truth, sir. We are in the midst of writing new material together and will be playing some show over the coming year. It has been very cool thus far. We will definitely be doing a proper US tour in 2017."
On March 24, 2018, at the event Midwest Meltdown in Iowa City, Iowa; Misery Signals frontman Jesse Zaraska, announced the band had been holed up on Boise, Idaho over the previous few weeks. He stated that they are, indeed, working on a new album. Zaraska stated on stage, that he believes their newest album "will be the BEST Misery Signals album yet." When asked about the style of the new album, Zaraska replied "It will probably be a lot like of Malice."
On the "Death to False Metalcore Tour 2019" with Darkest Hour and Unearth, the band played a song titled "Sunlifter" from their Absent Light B-Side vinyl release. Zaraska also stated November 2019 as the release date for their new album.
On May 8, 2020, a 26 second fixed-camera video of ocean waves, with only the date "05.15.2020" appearing center screen at the end of the video, was posted to Misery Signals’ social media accounts, suggesting that new music, or a new album, is set to be announced, and/or released, on that date.
On May 14, 2020, Misery Signals announced their upcoming fifth studio album, Ultraviolet, to be released on August 7, 2020, along with the release of the single “The Tempest”
Members
CURRENT LINE-UP:
Ryan Morgan – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
Branden Morgan – drums (2002–present)
Jesse Zaraska – vocals (2002–2006, 2014–present)
Kyle Johnson – bass guitar (2002–2010, 2013–present)
Stu Ross – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–2010, 2014–present)
Former Members:
Jeff Aust – guitar (2002)
Karl Schubach – vocals (2006–2014)
Gregory Thomas – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2011–2014)
Kent Wren – bass guitar (2011–2013)
Discography
Studio albums:
Of Malice and the Magnum Heart (2004)
Mirrors (2006)
Controller (2008)
Absent Light (2013)
Ultraviolet (2020)
EPs:
Misery Signals (2003)
A Certain Death
Misery Signals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you believe you'll run with ghosts.
Pull out the arrows that poison your mind
Look inside and ask yourself why
Why would you really want to live forever
Every breath expelled together
In faith alone in place apart
Raise your eyes from sleep
Together you will be searching
The answers will never come
And I can't pretend anymore to be a part of this
And I'll leave my burdens at the door
But I'll never walk here again
The lyrics of Misery Signals’ song “A Certain Death” are quite ambiguous and leave a lot of room for interpretation. The opening line, “Embrace this sickness with open arms,” can be seen as a call to face one’s inner demons head-on, rather than trying to ignore or hide them. The line, “If you believe you’ll run with ghosts,” could be interpreted as a reference to the idea that those who confront their fears are more likely to succeed in their endeavors. The third line, “Pull out the arrows that poison your mind,” possibly refers to getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions that can hold an individual back from achieving their goals.
The fourth line, “Look inside and ask yourself why,” could be seen as telling the listener to reflect on their motivations and goals. The following lines, “Why would you really want to live forever / Every breath expelled together,” express the idea that life is finite and that one should make the most of their time while they can. “In faith alone in place apart / Be there to meet your maker,” could refer to the listener’s spiritual beliefs and the idea that they should live a life that aligns with those beliefs. The last few lines, “And I can't pretend anymore to be a part of this / And I'll leave my burdens at the door / But I'll never walk here again,” could suggest a decision to break free from a toxic environment or situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Embrace this sickness with open arms
Welcome this feeling of despair and hopelessness without any hesitations.
If you believe you'll run with ghosts.
If you have faith in the afterlife or supernatural, you will be reunited with those who have passed away.
Pull out the arrows that poison your mind
Remove the thoughts that bring negativity, anxiety, and depression to you.
Look inside and ask yourself why
Examine your own motivations and reasons behind your actions and beliefs.
Why would you really want to live forever
What is the true purpose or benefit of an eternal life?
Every breath expelled together
We all share the same mortality and inevitability of death.
In faith alone in place apart
Relegated into a position of loneliness and separation, only with faith to keep company.
Be there to meet your maker
Be prepared to face your creator and be held accountable for your actions.
Raise your eyes from sleep
Wake up from ignorance, blindness, and apathy.
Together you will be searching
Cooperate with others to seek answers and enlightenment.
The answers will never come
Despite the inquisition and quest for knowledge, there will always be mysteries unsolved.
And I can't pretend anymore to be a part of this
I cannot continue to deceive myself and play along with this facade.
And I'll leave my burdens at the door
I will abandon my emotional weight and pain.
But I'll never walk here again
I may leave and change, but I will not regress or return to the same harmful situation.
Contributed by Cole C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jake Enderby
I still listen to Controller in my car every single day. Truly a timeless classic in the genre, and the internet’s greatest little secret. Seriously, I wish I could talk about Mis Sigs with actual people in real life... but alas nobody knows they exist.
Lil Sh!t Happens
i dont hear the whole album but a lot of the songs.... ebb and flow and a certain death for example... this is their masterpiece
Shawn McGregor
Stole the words right out of my mouth
SayoMemories
Oh yeah
Soy Sauce
Greatest band of all-time simply for Controller; that's how incredible that album is. The atmosphere, the lyrics, the versatility, the song structures, the haunting leads, etc.
Wussel Restbrook
I wish I had friends with the same music taste as me :(
A Crow With A Turtle Shell
Devin Townsend should produce more Metalcore albums. This is sublime.
Tardgincvzch Binovshinvinski
This was produced by devin townsend? Weird considering the lack of reverb
Bouldercannon
My favorite thing about his voice is he enunciates so well. You really notice it on Controller, you can basically understand every word that he's singing. He'll also finish words, instead of just trailing off.
MelbuFrahma
This! Back in 2008 i was still a classic metal guy except for the metalcore scene and lamb of god. I liked when screamers enunciated their words and still do. This album and the vocals are exactly what i mean. Ive since grown to listen to deathcore and other metal genres, but back then i could jam this album all the time