Review: “Misery” by Noosed

Conceived in the minds eye of multi instrumentalist and vocalist Rodger Boyle (Stonecarver, Reilig, Ruairi O’Baoighill) in Galway Ireland in 2019 as a solo studio project that is also a full live band, Noosed have been a vessel of furious Death Metal, Crust Punk, Sludge Metal and Hardcore ever since. Seven years, five extended plays, two compilations and two demos later and it seems that Boyle is just as morbid and miserable as ever. After all, humanity is still circling the drain with not much hope on the horizon…

For those yet to be indoctrinated in the ways Noosed, mastermind Boyle specialises in the kind of short sharp shocks that you might usually associate with Deathgrind or leaping onto an electric fence. The record begins with “This Country“, a 46 second burst of menacing chord changes with the miserable sample of “I f***ing hate this country” giving it that bleak atmosphere to match the album title. Sludge infused Crust Punk adds fuel to the fire with “Drag Them Out“, the track having the kind of earworm riff that you can snap your neck to very easily. Boyle’s dry throated raspy vocals push the envelope of a single searing verse over the simple yet lethally effective riffs and by this point, if you’re not addicted, then you might want to go an seek medical assistance.

Having set the tone with the first pair of cuts “Fuck the Church” then gets vicious, clawing at the face of the age old institution as Boyle questions the morality of its guardians. It might not quite reach the speed of Grindcore but the influence in the Death fuelled Crust Punk cocktail is there for all to witness. Reminiscent of bands like Leeched or Dead Existence the stompy mid-tempo weight of “Fallout” feels like being on the receiving end of a brick in a building site fight, the rhythmic bludgeoning and barked vocals a nasty combination. Those vocals have a greater snarl to them on the downright ugly “Floating Coffins“, a down tuned moment of barbed aggression that is equally as grim as it is destructive.

Title track “Misery” is arguably the most rotten of this foul collection, a rampaging main riff, galloping drums and jackhammer footwork fuel for the fire as chants of “Misery… f*** you!” scald the ear drums like napalm. This isn’t just violence or vengeance, it’s pure catharsis, taking the s*** hand of cards the world has dealt and using each one to start a fire. As if that wasn’t enough, a tale of addition to barbiturates unfolds in “No Return“. The narrative is a harrowing depiction, the rumbling riffs and chants of the song title a stark warning of the dangers [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. This Country
2. Drag Them Out
3. Fuck the Church
4. Fallout
5. Floating Coffins
6. Misery
7. No Return

“Misery” by Noosed is out 15th May 2027 via Road To Masochist