Interview: Misery Signals on Touring Debut Album 10 Years Later
Going back eloquently in rock n’ roll isn’t always something a band can easily do right, or do for the right reasons. Beginning on August 13 in 
Vancouver, BC, Milwaukee metalheads Misery Signals will take their stab at it by re-forming the original lineup for the eight-stop Malice X Tour. On it, they’ll celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their debut album, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart, by performing it top to bottom.
The important place to start here is with the album. When you listen to it, it lacks a timestamp. It could come out today, tomorrow, or two weeks from now and feel relevant within the heavy music landscape. Fred Durst wouldn’t be able to say the same about much of his past Limp Bizkit works.
“I’m glad people [find the album timeless], or pass a compliment like ‘it was ahead of its time,’” offers guitarist Ryan Morgan while on the line with Riffyou.com. “Timelessness is something I think people should aspire to do when it comes to writing music…if you get too caught up in what is popular or what the flavour of the week is, [the music’s] not going to last.”
The timing of this anniversary tour seems perfect for Misery Signals. They’re a little over a year removed from the release of their last album, Absent Light, thus they aren’t giving the impression that they’re artistically run out of ideas and are looking for something to fill the void.
Instead, this tour came together as a result of a friendship that still exists between current original members – Ryan and Branden Morgan (drums), and Kyle Johnson (bass) – as well as past original members Jesse Zaraska (vocals), and Stu Ross (guitar). Let’s not forget about the understanding shown by Karl Shubach (vocals) and Gregory Thomas (guitar), the other current members of Misery Signals who have been supportive of this endeavour.
Morgan tells us the idea for this tour came about organically over the past couple of years, although he can’t really recall how it was first brought up. But, once the idea began generating momentum, figuring out timing became the challenge. With life outside of the band happening for the guys, it was determined that eight shows were the most they could do for this. (For those who miss out, Morgan states that the band hopes to release a concert film/documentary capturing this experience.)
“This is what I consider the first album I ever made. It was the first time that we signed to a label, worked with a real producer, and the first time I was with a bunch of guys that were all hitting their stride and meeting potential. It was the first time I was starting to write songs that were good. It’s a breakthrough,” replies Morgan when asked why Of Malice… remains important to him.
He adds: “I’m nostalgic about stuff that I’ve done artistically, because it really represents a time in my life. [Music] is something that I pour a lot of energy into, and doing it is important to me. So, I like to look back and reflect on what I’ve done musically.”
When reflecting upon how the album came together initially, Morgan recalls living with Zaraska in Edmonton, AB, spending his days earning 
money by shovelling snow for others. At night, it was time to write and rehearse what would become Of Malice…
“It was a very focused time – very singularly energized,” he explains. “Everything was about writing the record and getting it made…nothing else really mattered. I didn’t really have a permanent place to live, or a job, or a girlfriend…and I dropped out of college. Nothing was really going on. But, it was all fine because we had the record going on.”
When asked if he still relates with the person that he was while making Of Malice… Morgan says he does in a way, but wouldn’t mind recapturing more of the attitude he had back then. During that era, Morgan notes that he was much more care free about music and how all of the moving parts worked. Nowadays, he finds himself focusing too much on certain details.
As for the possibility of reissuing Of Malice…, don’t get your hopes up. Morgan relays that there are a number of business complications that would hold up that process.
And, while this tour won’t bring Zaraska and Ross permanently back into the fold, it will give everyone involved – even some crew members from back in the day – the opportunity to relive an era of Misery Signals that Morgan admits should’ve last longer.
“I just want to honour the record and give it another day in the sun,” he offers. “It’s important to a lot of people – especially to the guys in the band. That era of the band ended prematurely, so it’ll be nice to take the album for another spin on the road.”
-Adam Grant
Malice X Tour Dates:
08.13.14 – Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
08.14.14 – Calgary, AB – Broken City
08.15.14 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
08.18.14 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
08.19.14 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
08.20.14 – Milwaukee, MN – The Rave Bar
08.22.14 – New York, NY – The Gramercy Theater
08.23.14 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Please be sure to follow us on Twitter @riffyou and at Facebook.com/riffyou.
