MIZERY // MIZERY // EP Review

California hardcore crossover vibe masters Mizery are back!

Breaking out in 2014 with their debut EP “Survive The Vibe EP” with their fresh take on 90s groove heavy hardcore, the likes of Leeway & Cro-mags, with the metallic edge of Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies.

After tours with Power Trip, Terror, and Backtrack, just to name a few, the band grew a quick following & released their debut album, 2016’s “Absolute Light”. Unfortunately, the pandemic put the band on hold.

In 2023, the sudden passing of the band’s drummer & beloved musician, Cayle Sain (Twitching Tongues, God’s Hate), halted the band’s new music efforts. But thankfully, the band found demos: Jose and Taylor discovered that Cayle had taken pre-production demos they had sent him, and he tracked drums for them in a professional studio. With the help of producer Taylor Young (The Pit), the band obtained these drum tracks and used them for what would become their self-titled EP.

“Mizery” is a new chapter in the band’s evolution. Opening track “Renegade Rhythm” with its jangling clean guitar opening gives us that beautiful melodic feeling that has always been soaked in the band’s sound. As the band brings things together the riffs come plenty & the heads start bobbing. Vocalist José Luna RATM style follow gives the track a hiphop feel as the guitar riffs by Taylor Parker & lead guitarist, Miguel “Mikey” Salazar gives us that hard edges feel but with bright, reverb soaked moments that remind us what a fresh sound the band has always had.

This track is a great, expensive feeling track that gives you that heavy, swinging feel with a huge singalong style chorus that is very infectious & the perfect opener. Mizery are fucking back.

Turning up the heaviness “99 to 1” is a pure rager. Giving us that Leeway & Merauder style riffage, this one is electric. Bassit Ahmad Ali is felt all over this track. A thick tone punches through & really drives the track. The higher elements of the guitar & Alis low end tie really well together. Two step sections & a powerful chorus really shows that a hidden gem of a band these guys have always been.

As a reminder of the harder style the band are very well capable off the bridge section of the track boiled down to a heavy chugging section that gives us a great moment to throw a few spin kicks & get the party really started. In a nice twist after this comes a beautiful calmer melodic moment that slows things down before the band turn the fire back up & Taylor Parker gives us a blazing solo & the band leaves us in the dust. Oh boy that was a hard one.

We might have the contender for the heaviest Mizery track to date, “The Weapon Pt. II” is all out assault. This one is like a jackhammer with its pumping beat & quick rhythmic groove. Even with some heavy tremolo & double bass this one is a rager. We also get treated to the best lead section on the EP from Parker. This one is an epic soaring lead that elevates the track even higher. This one is so great, just over three minutes of banger off a track. Full on mosh pit anthem.

The closing track “Eulogy ft. Sammy Ciaramitaro (Drain) is a beautiful tribute to drummer Cayle Sain. The band said, “The song came together as an early demo and was the only track Cayle had laid down programmed drums for instead of studio recordings. To complete the single, drummer David Stalsworth (Militarie Gun, Torena) stepped in on the recording and now joins Mizery as a member.” So this feels like a great track to celebrate the past & also the next steps forward for the band. Closing on a fast, upbeat track that packs a punch is a great way to close things out.

With guitar riffs that grab you straight away & José Luna’s unique rap-sung vocal style that feels perfect for the vibe of the track, while both guitarists hit us with these big, metallic, hard-hitting riffs. This one has great, big, open nu-metal-style riffs and fast-paced thrash-style sections where Ciaramitaro gets to spit his vocals, which feels fitting for his style. This track has it all & is a perfect showcase of Mizery’s unique & much-needed fresh take on modern hardcore.

Mizery is a band that has been missed in the revival & celebration of modern hardcore. Mizery is bending genres & creating a fantastic style of hardcore that is much needed in 2026. Joining bands like Turnstile, Missing Link & Knocked Loose, Mizery is a hardcore band pushing the scene forward & crafting a sound curated for the freaks & the true lovers of heavy music. So happy to see them back & killing it once again. RIP Cale.

Review: Joseph Mitchell

MIZERY EP out March 20th, 2026 on Flatspot Records.