About.com Rating



With the economy continuing to spiral downward, the financial "misery index" will keep increasing. Music has a tendency to reflect what's going on in society, and I have a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot of very angry music for a while. The band Misery Index has no shortage of anger or brutality.

Traitors opens with an aggressive two minute instrumental, and though the tempos ebb and flow, the intensity is maintained throughout the CD.


Misery Index combines death metal with grind and deathcore, and mixes things up very well.

Some songs are fast and technical with flailing blast beats, while others are slower and sonically devastating. The band's songwriting is right on the money.

A lot of bands in this genre keep the songs short, and Misery Index does several two minute tracks. They are also able to stretch things out, and their four and five minute songs have enough diversity and are sufficiently compelling to hold the listener's interest.

Improved songwriting, outstanding drumming, excellent guitars and brutal vocals make Traitors Misery Index's best album so far.

(released September 30, 2008 on Relapse Records)