Rockezine.com interview with Misery Index on May 01, 2002

with Jason Netherton on May 01, 2002


		How are things going for Misery Index right now? Things are very cool; we are chilling and writing songs, gearing up for some summer touring, and trying to secure a record deal so we can chill even more.
		I really like Overthrow! How are the reactions so far? People seem to like it; the comments have mostly been favourable.
		Didn’t you feel a lot of pressure? Because everyone probably had great expectations from MI. At least I had... No pressure; Misery Index began as a studio project and was just for fun; we went and recorded these 4 songs in about 3 weeks. I had no idea, going into this, that the response would be so positive, and so many people would dig it. It was meant to be a fun thing and has since developed into something serious and full time. So maybe now we have some pressure to make a good debut album, however I think we can live up to people`s expectations.
		Maybe you don`t wanna talk about this at all, but please inform us why you left Dying Fetus? A lot of people are dying to know.
		I also ask this question cause I don`t think that there are any hard feelings between MI and DF, since DF is on your thanks list. Well, I left Dying Fetus in December 2000, directly following the Morbid Angel tour in Europe. I had to get back to university and finish my degree program or I was going to get kicked out. I left the band without any problems and that was the end of my musical career until the demand for Misery Index grew and new opportunities arose.
		And guitarist Sparky is also an ex DF member. Did you ask him to join MI or did he ask you? I asked him to join, he is a good friend and a good guitarist, with excellent playing and song writing skills; he seemed the natural guy to come into the band.
		Ok, the final question about DF. What is the main difference between MI and DF? Misery Index is more metal focused, drawing much influence from the old grind and death metal like Carcass, Morbid Angel, Terrorizer, and At the Gates... Mainly their first and second albums from the early 90s, late 80s... We also take dabs of punk and hardcore and mix it all up. But mainly we are more of a straight-up metal band with heavy death metal overtones and less mosh-breakdown, "brutal" driven songs. More up-tempo, blasting and in your face anger.
		What are your main influences? Personally I like a lot of grind and punk, as well as metal... Bands like Disrupt, Nasum, Severed Head Of State, Napalm Death, 324, Assuck; as well as In Flames, Converge, Burnt By the Sun, Contrastic, The Red Chord, Botch, Cephalic Carnage; to OLD school metal like Queensrÿche, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Trouble, Sanctuary, Warlock and Coroner.
		I read in the booklet that you support cultural terrorism. What does that mean? And how does it influence you in writing your lyrics? Cultural terrorism is first and foremost NON violent, it is an approach to criticizing and attacking the modernist love affair with extreme capitalism, technological progress, and consumer excess, by tossing mind fucking bits of cognitive dissonance into the every day activity of boring every day life in capitalist commercial culture. Meaning, make every day life a revolutionary activity for the better of the individual self and for the better of society, by engaging in life affirming activities in REAL time - rather than accepting the force-fed divisions and contradictions of DEAD time which lead to the progressive alienation of the human spirit... Life is too short to wallow in this rot, and for those lucky enough to have the opportunity to do something different, I urge them all to engage life and try and make it better in whatever small way they can for themselves and for others. Hopefully this comes across in the lyrics in one way or another, and people may become inspired, if not, well, hopefully they can at least dig the music.
		Since September 11, I can imagine that the American government must be very paranoid about any form of terrorism in general. Have you never been in trouble with the law because of the cultural terrorism you support?
		Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies) got a visit from the FBI for writing the song `I shot the devil.` (He sings: "I shot Reagan!") No, I have avoided direct confrontations with the law, much to my regret... I have participated in some direct action protests here in Washington DC during the World Bank / IMF meetings here, however I have always avoided arrest because then I could never travel to Canada, which has very strict border crossing rules that could deny me entry due to any potential criminal record. And since I love to play and visit Quebec and Canada, I try to stay clean... Also as I said, cultural terrorism is non violent, its more of a spiritual thing.
		Did you name the band after that great ASSUCK album? Yes, a truly awesome band.
		Kevin is still a candidate for Slayer`s vacant drum seat. If he gets the job, it`s cool for his career of course, but a pity for MI... Yes he is, and if he should be taken by Slayer, we have a drummer who can replace him, so no worries. This backup is VERY good, and can handle Kevin`s stuff without a problem.
		Overthrow is released on your own label Anarchos Records. Haven’t you had any offers from other labels yet? Yes, we have had numerous offers from some very respectable labels, and we will sign with one of them very shortly..
		Do you wanna keep everything in your own hands, like the DIY attitude? Yes we do, and we hope to keep on making releases ourselves, along with 7”s and such even if we sign with a label; we will see.
		Are you gonna release other bands on Anarchos as well? Maybe someday, if we have the time and money, we will attempt to do that.
		The Terrorizer cover turned out very well! But why a Terrorizer song? Wouldn’t it be cooler and more challenging to cover a non-grind core song? Well, I think Dead Shall Rise is a very cool song, and I can`t think of any song more challenging than a Terrorizer song; after all that is a BIG standard to live up too. They are (were) the masters.
		You have recorded some songs for a split with Commit Suicide. When can we expect a full length? The full length will come most likely next year (2003).
		How does the new material differ from Overthrow? More up tempo and thrashy, better organized songs ...but overall not too much different.
		Are there any plans for a European tour? Yes, in August we might be coming over for maybe 3-4 shows around a festival in Czech Republic; however this is NOT confirmed.
		Did you hear any great (new) bands lately? I like this band from here called Virginia Black Lung, awesome and intense... As well as another chaos-core band called A Life Once Lost.
		Thank you for your time! Good luck with MI. Any final words? Good luck and thanks.
(Martin Kah)