“Mister Misery” is actually the third installment of racquet by the Swedish band MISTER MISERY. The band was formed in 2018. Their debut album “Unalive” was released in 2019, while their sophomre album “A Brighter Side Of Death” was let loose on the world in 2021. MISTER MISERY plays Horror Metal, as their bio says, but to me it is a combination of NIGHTWISH (music and atmosphere) with CHILDREN OF BODOM (lyrical lines and guitar sound) and the Swedish version of Melodic Death Metal (voice and riffing). Both of those mentioned have been and sill are rather successful, and this review will tell you if I find that MISTER MISERY will be be or might claim the same.

MISTER MISERY is not making it easy on us reviewers, as they are bouncing around with their music, going from rather fast and groovy down to slow and moody, and everything in between. What does work a treat is that all four of the members can sing, so switching style and/or intensity is not a problem for them. Harley Vendetta must be the leader of the pack, as she not only participates in big way on the album, she also has produced it. And kudos to her, she has done a cracking job at putting down good vocals, making sure she uses the voice best suited for what she is trying to get across. But she also plays a mean guitar, and is able to give MISTER MISERY a bloody good sound on “Mister Misery”.

As for the songs on “Mister Misery”, I have mixed feelings. They are quite good, but more often than not they will remind you of other bands, make your mind wander about how much this sounds a.like. And that is a real problem; MISTER MISERY has not got a unique sound or even one that will give you an inkling of who you are listening to. Take “Crooked Man”. If this isn't just like a CHILDREN OF BODOM song I will eat my hat. Even the lyrics sound like Alexi Laiho would pronounce them. Oh, and it is a very funny song. By the way, if you want to tell your children a scary story, just use this song. It is perfect. But that is why I am not able to score “Mister Misery” higher than I have done. MISTER MISERY really needs to work on a more recognisable own sound. If they do that, they certainly have the quality to deliver a cracking album. Of that I am sure.