Misery Loves Co.

by Mario Mesquita BorgesThe Swedish duo Misery Loves Co. portrayed the evolution and the search for new and alternative ways in the industrial metal scene. Their music was a combination between the hostility of trash sounded guitar riffs mixed with electronic samples, along with a clear sense of song composing. Furthermore, they offered almost poetic sights within their songs' lyrics, generally focussing on hard and dark visions about sex and dusky psychic views over troubled relationships. The band was formed in January, 1993, with Patrik Wiren (vocals) and Orjan Ornkloo (guitar, bass, programming). The two had already previous experience in the music field, Wiren was a former member of Midas Touch who had recorded an album with Noise records, while Ornkloo worked with several bands within his Swedish hometown, Uppsala. Their first achievement was the recording of the track "Sonic Attack" for a metal bands compilation, Extreme Close Up. This was more than enough to bring the band some attention within the local music scene. MNW Zone, an association that had already been responsible for the success of Clawfinger, soon decided to help on the release of their debut album, Misery Loves Co., in 1995. It was within short time that their work was making a roar, and soon they signed to Earache Records which re-released the album throughout Europe. For the live performances, Misery relied on the addition of Jim Edwards (guitar), Marre Ericksson (bass), and Olle Dahlstedt (drums), who was replaced by Niklas Gabrielsson before their first gig in the U.K., at the Camden Underworld. They were then chosen to be the opening act for Clawfinger's European tour, bringing them an even larger following. For the next tour (with Warrior Soul, Headskin, and again Clawfinger), Dahlsted returned to the drums, soon after it was time to make their record debut in the U.S. The disc featured a promotional CD with the track "Need Another One" remixed by bands like Killing Joke and Pitchshifter. In 1996, the Swedish team returned with an EP, Happy. The record featured seven tracks, but also multimedia bonuses such as a video to "My Mind Still Speaks" and information on the bands' discography. A tour with Slayer and Fear Factory followed, before Not like Them, their second album, was released in 1997. The record reached number 12 on Kerrang!'s Top 20 in 1997, consolidating the bands' status on the industrial metal scene. Misery then toured Europe, this time supporting Machine Head. Their last album Your Vision Was Never Mine to Share hit the record stores in March 2000. Considered as the bands' major achievement, the disc featured Hane and Dahlsted as full time members and continued with the show of dark and powerful trash metal sounded tracks, along with a more clear presence of electronic samples. Yet another European tour followed, this time with Kill II This and Earthtone 9. However, before the second part of the tour had hit the road, Misery Loves Co. announced their splitting.