A Google search for New Miserable Experience results in the Gin Blossoms' second album and I'm fairly certain aside sharing a name, NME have very little, if not nothing in common musically with the Tempe, Arizona Post-Grunge outfit.
The New Miserable Experience we care about for all intents and purposes were formed in the Covid era and are Josh Mahesh - Guitar/Synths, David Grossman – Vocals and Bruce McMurtrie Jr - Synths/Drums (all from Rosetta) and Brett Bamberger on Bass (Revocation/Publicist UK/East of the Wall). This line-up produced 2023's Philosophy on Pessimism EP with a remix EP following soon after. Brody Uttley of Rivers of Nihil then signed up and work began on Absent Lovers, the band's full-length debut whose overarching theme the absence of love, is alas a concept I can more than relate to.
Listening to 'Tides of Oppression' its hard to believe that the line-up features members whose day jobs are of the monstrously heavy variety. The Vocals for instance are soulful and sensitive, nothing growled or shrieked, imagine Darryl from Glassjaw in his lighter, less anguished moments. Musically it leans towards shimmering Pop, a sound that seemingly contradicts the track's title, a promising start. 'Be Numb' is a little more orientated towards one of Post-Punk's most underrated bands, The Chameleons, what with the lush Synths and atmospherics as well as early Cure style darkness. As someone with a great fondness for those bands I was immediately sold. 'Not Every Whispered Promise is True' employs a little Industrial/EBM spice to the mix offering the track a somewhat heavier and wonderfully unpredictable hue. One of the more experimental pieces on the record, it takes a few listens to appreciate what's on offer, however perseverance makes it all the more worth it.
'Scale to Weigh all Tears' has a Shoegaze vibe ala Slowdive what with the glistening Guitars, its absolutely beautiful. It should also be noted that the solo is exquisite, cutting effortlessly through the dreamy atmospherics. The album's half-way point is marked by 'Amorality Play' which betrays an early 2000's Emo sensibility, as well as Deftones' classic White Pony, a record which saw that band starting to broaden their sound, superb. 'At the Coalface' sees New Miserable Experience adopt an organic stripped down approach prominently featuring Acoustic Guitar and Vocals, names like Dashboard Confessional and Elliot Smith springing to mind, meanwhile'Tell Your God I'm Lonely' takes you back to the 1980's with lush Synthwave and melancholic Electro-Pop in a manner not wholly unlike Depeche Mode. Imagine the Jangly New-Wave Indie Pop of Orange Juice being given a Warp Records makeover, and voila, you have 'Comparison is the Thief of Joy'. Despite not being a remix the track certainly feels like one, though much more inventive than the lazy efforts to be found on 1990's singles. Maybe its just me, but sonically 'Crushed by the Silence' with its sparse arrangements and yearning Vocals recalls Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'The Power of Love'. Despite not being a fan of that band that particular track was a banger and by extension so is this. 'Absent Lovers' is the album's longest track and talk about saving the best for last. The subtle Noir Jazz that accompanies the elegant Synth-Pop/New Romantic sounds on offer cannot be ignored, with traces of latter period Japan and Post-Rock era Talk Talk making for an epic conclusion to the album.
Metal musicians always seem to have the broadest of minds and such is the case with New Miserable Experience who have produced a beautifully crafted and inventive piece of work.
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