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)
Nothing
Misery Signals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's in this moment that I've come to realise I've played my part
For all of those who said it could never be done
This is for you
Tormented by my every undying devotion for you
I have destroyed myself
This time it was all or nothing
Torch the fields and pray for rain
I have entered the eye of your storm
A pause in affliction
But I'll never feel so alive as I do when your world falls apart
I feed on the thrill of knowing that all our hope is lost
I want nothing more than to be given a chance to start again
If I could find the cure I'd cleanse myself of all I know
Cut the cord, bring the plague
Start again
I'd give anything to return to the nothing, from which I came
Ash to ash, dust to dust
Start again
I'd give anything to return to nothing
If not forgiven, will this all be forgotten?
As this guilt will outlive us both
Dear God, what have I let myself become?
The lyrics to Misery Signals’ song “Nothing” delve into themes of self-destruction, guilt, and the desire to start anew. The singer begins by acknowledging the futility of their efforts, expressing gratitude to those who believed they could never succeed. They then turn to their devotion for someone else, describing it as tormenting and ultimately destructive. The singer has reached a breaking point - this time, it was all or nothing. They want to start over, but there is no cure for what they know. The guilt they feel will outlive them.
The chorus connects to the idea of starting over, using imagery of destruction and rebirth. The singer wants to “torch the fields and pray for rain,” a powerful juxtaposition. The second part of the chorus is more introspective, reflecting on the singer’s relationship with the person they are devoted to. While they feel alive in the chaos, they are also aware that “all our hope is lost.”
The final verses are a plea for a fresh start. The singer wants to be cleansed of their past and return to nothing. The final lines express a fear of being forgotten, suggesting that the guilt they feel will haunt them even after they are gone.
Overall, the lyrics to Misery Signals’ “Nothing” explore complex emotions with vivid imagery and gut-wrenching honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
As I reach out my hands to the sky
In a moment of desperation or surrender, I stretch out my hands toward the sky.
It's in this moment that I've come to realise I've played my part
I have come to understand that I bear some responsibility for the current situation.
For all of those who said it could never be done
This is specifically for the people who doubted me and did not believe in my abilities.
This is for you
This is my way of proving the doubters wrong by achieving something great.
Tormented by my every undying devotion for you
My love for you consumes me to a point of distress and creates a sense of unease.
I have destroyed myself
My actions have caused me to deteriorate physically and/or mentally.
This time it was all or nothing
The stakes were high, and I had everything to lose.
I struck the match and turned away
I initiated a destructive process and then distanced myself from it.
Torch the fields and pray for rain
I want to destroy everything and hope for a fresh start.
I have entered the eye of your storm
I am in the center of a difficult or dangerous situation that someone else (you) has created.
A pause in affliction
There is a brief moment of relief and peace amidst all the suffering.
But I'll never feel so alive as I do when your world falls apart
Witnessing the chaos and destruction that you have caused makes me feel alive and powerful.
I feed on the thrill of knowing that all our hope is lost
I get a sick satisfaction out of realizing that there is no hope for our situation to improve.
I want nothing more than to be given a chance to start again
I desperately desire a fresh start, a chance to start over and do better.
If I could find the cure I'd cleanse myself of all I know
If there was a way to forget everything I know and start over, I would do it.
Cut the cord, bring the plague
I want to completely sever ties with my past and start anew, even if it means causing chaos and destruction.
I'd give anything to return to the nothing, from which I came
I wish I could go back to a simpler time when I didn't know everything I know now.
Ash to ash, dust to dust
A reference to mortality and the inevitability of death.
If not forgiven, will this all be forgotten?
If I am not forgiven for what I have done, will people forget about me and move on?
As this guilt will outlive us both
The guilt I feel will linger even after both of us have passed away.
Dear God, what have I let myself become?
An expression of regret, self-loathing, and a desire for redemption.
Contributed by Liam C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.