Brutal. That’s simply the best word to describe the sophomore full length by the Baltimore/Washington D.C. quartet, Misery Index. There’s no more fitting label than Relapse to put out 2006′s Discordia, as it’s chock-full of expertly precise death metal drumming, vocal growls, and razor-sharp guitar riffs. Everything is perfectly fitting about Discordia — the cheesy album cover art (which would look great airbrushed on the back of a denim jacket circa 1986) and such song titles as “Unmarked Graves,” “Meet Reality,” and “The Medusa Stare.” Fans of good old-fashioned death metal and grindcore should get a kick out of these folks from the East Coast, especially on tracks such as the aforementioned album opener, “Unmarked Graves,” and “Conquistadores,” the latter of which features super human drumming by Adam Jarvis that needs to be heard to be believed. Discordia is an absolute must-hear for extreme metallists worldwide. – Greg Prato
more »