Misery Signals
Mirrors

“The second album is the most difficult in an artist's career” sang Caparezza, and at least this time it's an apt comparison.
"Mirrors" is indeed the second album from the American band following the explosive debut of "Of Malice and The Magnum Heart" and is absolutely the record that has caused the most issues for the band: beyond the already significant responsibility of delivering an album that can stand up to the exceptional debut, the American combo finds itself facing a wild herd of "die-hard fans" who don't appreciate the choice of new singer (out Jesse Zarkas and in the little-known Karl Schubach) and a new producer not living up to his illustrious predecessor (revealed to be a half-failure by the band's own admission), definitely a tough situation even for a group like the Misery Signals. And it's perhaps the absence of Devin Townsend behind the console that causes the most evident damage: the new release sounds quite disjointed, the guitars lose in power and the drums in sharpness, and while the vocals and bass remain on good standards, the overall quality of the mix is decidedly poor, especially when compared to the superb work done on "Of Malice...", an album with a decidedly lower budget.

So is it a misstep?

Absolutely not: "Mirrors", although not boasting the massive sounds we're used to from the frontman of Strapping Young Lad (Darkest Hour, Bleeding Through, Lamb Of God...) undoubtedly represents the band's most significant album, their definitive step towards maturity. Songs such as "Something was always missing but it was never you", "Migrate", "Sword Of Eyes", "An Offering To The Insatiable Sons Of God (Butcher)" perfectly bridge the recent past ("Worlds and Dreams") with the present ("Homecoming", "Reset", "Coma"), adding new elements and ideas to a sound that is already unconventional, while the furious tracks "Face Yourself", "Post Collapse", the epic "Mirrors" and "Reverence Lost" show a definite step forward in terms of arrangements and choruses.
But it is with melody that the album reaches its peak: the trio "Anchor", "One Day I'll Stay Home" and the unparalleled "The Failsafe" are without exaggeration the best songs the band has composed so far, where the progressive elements, hardcore attitude, and "metallic" influences come to a perfect cohesion.
Melody, power, inspiration: "Mirrors" is all this and much more, it's a diverse album but not boring, powerful but not cacophonous, well-played but not "kitsch", it exudes passion and spontaneity from the beautiful lyrics that will stick in your head from the first listen. "This is what mend the broken, the promise of something greater", "and I'm chained to everything I tried to leave behind", "One day I'll stay home...", "How much is too much", memorable moments are numerous, in a triumph of emotions that flow freely.

"THERE IS A CHOICE TO MAKE!", that's how the album ends in the cathartic scream of "Mirrors", thus I conclude as well:
make your choice, which is also mine, go and make this album yours.