Silverstein have released their latest, killer album Misery Made Me today via UNFD – a campaign hinged on Silverstein’s reflection and gratitude for their roots, the honouring of their earliest fans, and their staunch desire to explore forward-thinking.
Misery Made Me finds the band trying to navigate the ever-worsening challenges of our modern world – angst, doom-scrolling and disassociation. A record that is a product of the time in which it was created, it boasts a timeless quality nonetheless. Covering relatable topics that span loneliness, anxiety and isolation – these eternal human struggles reach and speak to the masses in today’s society.
The album features guests such as: Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid on ‘Die Alone,’ singer/songwriter Trevor Daniel on ‘Cold Blood,’ The Devil Wears Prada’s Mike Hranica on ‘Slow Motion‘ and nothing, nowhere. on ‘Live Like This.’
Vocalist Shane Told spoke about the album’s meaning and its depiction of Silverstein as a group at this point in time: “I wanted to explore the meaning of ‘Misery’ as a main theme throughout the album. Despite the mountains climbed and boulders pushed during recent years, we were confronted by the weight and misery of staying relatively in the same place for a long period of time. Finding peace in the reality of this misery became important. The record is about the acceptance of a new reality and adapting to it.”
Misery Made Me opens with unrestrained punk energy on ‘Our Song,’ bleeding into a more raw rock sound on following single ‘Die Alone.’
The album’s lead single ‘Ultraviolet‘ is about feeling powerless under the control of the chemicals in your brain, with the track describing the helplessness of losing the battle with anxiety. Guitarist Paul Marc explained, “Ultraviolet being invisible felt like the right way to describe it – to get lost in this unseeable thing. Ultraviolet light also causes physical damage to our skin, so it serves as a sort of ‘proof’ that something invisible like anxiety can hurt us.”
‘Cold Blood‘ takes a more sensitive approach, leaning into a more pop influenced composition, whereas ‘It’s Over‘ rattles bones and electrifies with unforgiving cries of: “Cue the curtain call roll the credits it’s over.“ This track acts as a catalyst, thrusting listeners amid a post-hardcore paradise on subsequent songs.
After a journey through genre exploration, the record ends on a stripped back note, with melancholy acoustics cementing the pure sincerity and sombre feelings that the quintet have to showcase on this album’s spectrum of emotions.
Misery Made Me encapsulates Silverstein‘s malleable artistry, injecting refreshing sounds and heartfelt lyricism which add layers to the band’s 22nd lap around the scene.
Silverstein have an upcoming UK/EU Summer leg, as well as Autumn performances which have been confirmed for the WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Festival and the Emo’s Not Dead Cruise. A full list of dates and information can be found here.
UK TOUR DATES:
Jun 3rd – Leeds, UK | Slam Dunk
Jun 4th – Hatfield, UK | Slam Dunk
TRACK LISTING:
- Our Song
- Die Alone (ft. Andrew Neufeld)
- Ultraviolet
- Cold Blood (ft. Trevor Daniel)
- It’s Over
- The Altar/Mary
- Slow Motion (ft. Mike Hranica)
- Don’t Wait Up
- Bankrupt
- Live Like This (ft. nothing, nowhere.)
- Misery