A death metal band from Baltimore, MD,
Misery Index was founded in 2001 by vocalist and bassist
Jason Netherton, drummer
Kevin Talley (both former members of
Dying Fetus), and guitarist
Mike Harrison (ex-
Pessimist). They announced their arrival that same year with a self-released EP entitled Overthrow and another disgruntled
Dying Fetus alum, guitarist
Sparky Voyles, would join the group in time for a 2002 split release with
Commit Suicide.
Voyles was soon handling all six-string duties, due to
Harrison's departure, though, and drummer
Talley also quit at this time to concentrate on other projects, eventually hooking up with nu-metal upstarts
Chimaira, and later
the Red Chord. He was replaced by
Matt Byers (ex-
Severed Head) before
Misery Index's next split CD (with Structure of Lies) in 2003, which, in turn, was followed by their first U.S. tour. The exposure from which helped bring
Misery Index to the attention of Nuclear Blast Records, for whom they released their full-length debut,
Retaliate, later the same year (and who would unceremoniously drop them only a short time later, when its sales fell short of expectations).
Misery Index went underground for a few years and experienced more personnel turnover, but a new lineup consisting of
Netherton,
Voyles, second guitarist
Mark Kloeppel, and drummer
Adam Jarvis was eventually picked up by Relapse Records, and recorded a sophomore opus, entitled
Discordia, in 2006. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide