Misery Signals are officially back with their new album “Ultraviolet.” The effort is the band’s first in seven years and their first to feature vocalist Jesse Zaraska in 13 years.
Musically, the record is reminiscent of the classic metalcore sound of the band’s 2004 debut album “Of Malice And The Magnum Heart,” but with a more modern flair. This is on full display as the record blasts right out of the gate with the opening tracks “The Tempest” and “Sunlifter.” However, there are some slower moments to be found on songs like the standout track “River King,” which contains a moment of serenity, before turning into a crushing masterpiece. The same can also be said about a song like “Redemption Key,” which maintains a peaceful quality to it before picking up towards the end.
Lyrically, the album offers fans a dose of hope and heartfelt emotions. The hopefulness can be found on songs like “The Tempest,” which begins with the words “we will be lifted again, let this bring light,” while the more emotional aspect can be found on songs like the closer “Some Dreams,” which contains words such as “I lost my head when I left you. I love you.” This lyrical approach makes the record even more powerful by providing a sense of catharsis. This can also be said about other songs like “The Fall,” which focuses on letting your ambitions get the best of you and “Cascade Locks,” which focuses on allowing change to happen instead of resisting it, because as the lyrics say: “holding on to the words of the past, they become a vision betrayed.”
All in all, “Ultraviolet” is a great record that will satisfy both new fans and old. You can check it for yourself when it’s officially released on Friday (August 7).