Band:	Misery's Omen
Album:	Misery's Omen
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	2003

01. Desolate Winds Of Mars
02. Burning Reign
03. Mortalia's Abyss
04. Ashes Smoulder
05. Antarctic Ice Chasms
06. To Worship Stone Gods

Misery's Omen is a relatively new band hailing from the misanthropic shores of Australia. With their violent and rancid mixture of Black and Doom, they are making their message very clear: Depression is a tool, which should be used for the crushing of others, and only afterwards yourself. Or is this only my interpretation?

Anyway, what matters is the music. What we have got here is a very charming EP, combining both depressive and violent atmospheres to create a pestilent tumor, infecting your brain and succumbing you to your inevitable downfall. After surrendering yourself, pestering blisters will greet you as misery’s omen and herald your doom on rusty serpent-tongued trumpets, cloaking your mind in momentary delusions. After all, coming back from lapses of madness, knowing there is no way to fight them, is the ultimate invocation of raging insanity.

On first sight they may appear as just another angry group of cult Black Metal teenagers. But as ever so often, the first impression is misleading. On further examination, the strength of this record and band, besides the obvious skills of the members, is the rich contrast they utilize. Their bass is surprisingly, almost disturbingly melodic. Hiding itself behind the sometimes thrashy, sometimes doomy riffing of the guitars, you wonder what the hell is so dangerously energetic about this music. It's like taking XTC when you are in a bad trip, your anger and fear get a sudden burst, immediately raising the level of danger.

For guitars, again there is the great contrast between the riffing and the solo's. While the riffing is often rotten and depraving, their solo's are slow and agonizing, ripping you to shreds. Arganoth Doom's vocals are also filled with a general disgust towards life. He channels those emotions in some great vocals. Not only has he got some amazingly distorted wails in stock (Desolate Songs Of Mars: 4'10), he also handles his puking, rotten roars very well. Quite the talented chap, in my book.

This self-titled EP dates from the long-gone and ancient year 2003, and was their last effort before their debut full-length. That full album has been released about half a month ago, and I will definitely check it out. I urge you to do the same, if it sounds anything like this little monster. And if that album receives your misanthopric mutilation and suicidal self-destruction, get this EP as well, as it features all of their demo material. That should have you fully covered on their discography and – infinitely more important – fully geared for a violent ending of your pityful existance.