While Misery Signals is categorized as metalcore, they set the bar so much higher than the majority of their contemporaries that they are nearly in a league of their own. Drawing influence from past associated acts, specifically 7 Angels 7 Plagues, along with other hardcore bands such as Shai Hulud, they formed their niche in the genre that blends progressive songwriting tendencies and melodic interludes unique only to themselves. They found the correct formula for blending unrelenting brutality and a lot of melody together in seamless fashion early on and stuck with it through later releases.
Even though it was released in 2004,
Of Malice and the Magnum Heart's lineup doesn't differ too far from the present members, with the biggest difference coming from their original vocalist Jesse Zaraska, who departed from the band after this album. Jesse trades Karl Schubach’s understandable yet powerful low growls for his unique ability to switch from screams to spoken word dialog effortlessly. Current guitarist Ryan Morgan and drummer Branden Morgen never let their guard down through the entirety of
Of Malice, as they became know for.
The album opens up with "A Victim, a Target", giving the listener no time to ease into the energy and approaching onslaught. "In Response to Stars" continues this pace, leading up to what is probably the most well known song off the album, "The Year Summer Ended in June". Written about members of the band Compromise that perished in a drunk driving accident, I can’t help but feel the intense emotion present in Jesse’s lyrics and almost miss them myself. These are some of the most powerful lyrics I’ve heard in any music, regardless of genre. I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that metal cannot exhibit great emotion after listing to this track.
Of Malice keeps up the feverish pace throughout its entirety, with the high point of the album found with "Worlds & Dreams", a beautiful melodic passageway that somehow doesn’t feel out of place in the middle of the ensuing chaos. If any song on the album does it, "Five Years" exhibits the way the members of Misery Signals just can’t let up for one moment, and are always at the top of their game. The album closes with "Difference of Vengeance and Wrongs", another slight change of pace, wrapping up the album with the guest vocalist’s singing intertwining perfectly with Jesse’s brutal screams to leave the listener asking for more.
No fan of metalcore’s album collection is complete without
Of Malice and the Magnum Heart, and considering that it’s 10 years old and counting, it doesn’t feel out of place with contemporary releases, especially considering the flawless production by Devin Townsend. Listeners will easily be able draw out where this album influenced later bands. The only cons that prevent me from giving this a perfect 5 is the fact that some of the songs set the bar so high other tracks, while excellent by themselves, are easily overshadowed.
