Church of Misery
Encyclopedia
is a doom metal
band from Tokyo
, Japan
. Church of Misery's style melds early-era Black Sabbath
style doom with psychedelic rock
.
s and mass murderers. After several releases on small independent record labels, they released the EP
Murder Company on Man's Ruin Records
, then moved on to Southern Lord Records
to release their debut full-length album, Master of Brutality
. In 2004 they released their second full-length album, The Second Coming. That same year Japan's Leaf Hound Records
released a compilation of the band's early works. They released three split EPs, two with Sourvein
and one with Deer Creek
, and a live DVD of their 2005 European tour. They played the Roadburn Festival
in 2009.
Church of Misery have appeared on three compilation tribute CDs--to Trouble
, Black Widow
and Death SS
.
Church of Misery will be playing their first show in the United States at the 2012 edition of Maryland Deathfest
Former:
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band from Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Church of Misery's style melds early-era Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
style doom with psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
.
History
Most songs by Church of Misery are about serial killerSerial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s and mass murderers. After several releases on small independent record labels, they released the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Murder Company on Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
, then moved on to Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
to release their debut full-length album, Master of Brutality
Master of Brutality
- Personnel :Church of Misery* Yoshiaki Negishi – vocals* Tomohiro Nishmura – guitar* Tatsu Mikami – bass* Junji Narita – drums...
. In 2004 they released their second full-length album, The Second Coming. That same year Japan's Leaf Hound Records
Leaf Hound Records
Leaf Hound Records is a Japanese record label specializing in 60s and 70s inspired stoner/doom metal. The label takes its name from the 70s hard rock band Leaf Hound. Leaf Hound Records has released material from Japanese bands such as Church of Misery and Sonic Flower, US bands such as Blood...
released a compilation of the band's early works. They released three split EPs, two with Sourvein
Sourvein
Sourvein is a sludge/doom metal band that formed in Cape Fear, North Carolina during the year 1993. The band has released three full length albums and one EP.-Discography:*Split with Buzzoven...
and one with Deer Creek
Deer Creek
- Populated places :* Deer Creek, Illinois* Deer Creek, Indiana* Deer Creek, Minnesota* Deer Creek, Oklahoma* Deer Creek, Taylor County, Wisconsin* Deer Creek, Outagamie County, Wisconsin- Schools :...
, and a live DVD of their 2005 European tour. They played the Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
in 2009.
Church of Misery have appeared on three compilation tribute CDs--to Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
, Black Widow
Black Widow (band)
Black Widow were a rock band that formed in Leicester, England in September 1969. The band were mostly known for its early use of satanic and occult imagery in their music and stage act...
and Death SS
Death SS
Death SS is an Italian heavy metal band.-Biography:Death SS was formed in 1977 by Steve Sylvester. The band combined elements of horror and heavy metal to become a pioneer in horror metal and gothic metal, as well as doom metal and black metal. Death SS were one of the first...
.
Church of Misery will be playing their first show in the United States at the 2012 edition of Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest is an annual extreme music festival held in or near Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The festival mostly features death metal and grindcore bands. It has always occurred during Memorial Day weekend each year....
Members
Current:- Tatsu Mikami - bass (1995-)
- Junji Narita - drums (2000-)
- Kensuke Suto - guitars (2010-)
- Yoshiaki Negishi - vocals (2000–2004, 2009-)
Former:
- Tomohiro Nishimura - guitars (1995–2001)
- Takenori Hoshi - guitars (2002–2006)
- Osamu Hamada - guitars (2001)
- Tom Sutton - guitars (2006–2010)
- Kazuhiro Asaeda - vocals (1995)
- Nobukazu Chow - vocals (1996–2000)
- Hideki Fukasawa - vocals & synthesizers (2004–2009)
- Hideki Shimizu - drums (1995–2000)
Albums
- Vol 1 (Bootleg release of unreleased first album) CD (1997 Doom Records)
- Master of BrutalityMaster of Brutality- Personnel :Church of Misery* Yoshiaki Negishi – vocals* Tomohiro Nishmura – guitar* Tatsu Mikami – bass* Junji Narita – drums...
CD (2001 Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
) - The Second Coming CD (2004 Diwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers...
) - Houses Of The Unholy (2009 Rise Above Records/Metal Blade Records)
Reissued Albums
- Early Works Compilation 2xCD/3LP (2004 Leaf Hound RecordsLeaf Hound RecordsLeaf Hound Records is a Japanese record label specializing in 60s and 70s inspired stoner/doom metal. The label takes its name from the 70s hard rock band Leaf Hound. Leaf Hound Records has released material from Japanese bands such as Church of Misery and Sonic Flower, US bands such as Blood...
/ 2010 Emetic Records) - The Second Coming CD re-release (2005 Salvation Records/Let There Be DOOM Records/2011 Emetic Records)
- Master of Brutality CD re-release (2006 Diwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers...
/2011 Emetic Records) - Master of Brutality LP (2006 Leaf Hound RecordsLeaf Hound RecordsLeaf Hound Records is a Japanese record label specializing in 60s and 70s inspired stoner/doom metal. The label takes its name from the 70s hard rock band Leaf Hound. Leaf Hound Records has released material from Japanese bands such as Church of Misery and Sonic Flower, US bands such as Blood...
) - The Second Coming LP (2006 Salvation Records/Let There Be DOOM Records)
- Vol. 1 LP (2007 Leaf Hound Records/2011 Emetic Records)
- Master of Brutality CD with bonus tracks/2LP (2011 Rise Above Records)
- The Second Coming Cd With Bonus Tracks/2LP (2011 Rise Above Records)
EPs/Split Releases
- Born Too Late split CD with SheavySheavy-Formation and name change:Sheavy formed in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in 1993, and originally performed under the name Green Machine. In 1994, the band discovered there was another band in the United States with the same name, so a decision was made to rename the band Sheavy...
(1998 Game Two Records) - Taste the Pain MCD (1998 Bad Acid Trip Records)
- We've Learned Nothing / Murder Company split CD with Iron MonkeyIron Monkey (band)Iron Monkey was a sludge metal band that formed in Nottingham, England in 1994. The original members were Justin Greaves , Johnny Morrow , Jim Rushby , Steve Watson and Doug Dalziel...
(1998 Man's Ruin RecordsMan's Ruin RecordsMan's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
) - Murder Company 10" EP (1999 Man's Ruin RecordsMan's Ruin RecordsMan's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
) - Boston Strangler 12" EP/MCD (2002 Kult Of Nihilow Records)
- Split CD with AcrimonyAcrimonyAcrimony was a British stoner metal band who were active during the 1990s. Releasing their debut album in 1994, they are regarded as the pioneers of stoner metal in the United Kingdom, and an important influence upon the scene...
(2003 Game Two Records) - Split 7" with SourveinSourveinSourvein is a sludge/doom metal band that formed in Cape Fear, North Carolina during the year 1993. The band has released three full length albums and one EP.-Discography:*Split with Buzzoven...
(2006 Dada Drumming Records) - Split 7" with SourveinSourveinSourvein is a sludge/doom metal band that formed in Cape Fear, North Carolina during the year 1993. The band has released three full length albums and one EP.-Discography:*Split with Buzzoven...
(2006 Calculon Records) - Split 12" EP with Deer CreekDeer Creek- Populated places :* Deer Creek, Illinois* Deer Creek, Indiana* Deer Creek, Minnesota* Deer Creek, Oklahoma* Deer Creek, Taylor County, Wisconsin* Deer Creek, Outagamie County, Wisconsin- Schools :...
(2006 Game Two Records) - Dennis Nilsen 12" EP (2008 Kult Of Nihilow)
- Greetings From Jonestown 12" EP (2009 A Pile of Dirt Music)
Live
- Live From the East split cassette with Millarca (1998 self-released)
- Wizard's Convention: Japanese Heavy Rock ShowcaseWizard's Convention: Japanese Heavy Rock ShowcaseWizard's Convention: Japanese Heavy Rock Showcase is a split DVD release showcasing four different Japanese metal groups for the Wizard's Convention concert series in Japan. Each band plays some form of music related to metal. Boris play stoner rock, mainly material from their release Heavy Rocks,...
DVD (Diwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers...
2005) - Houses Of The Unholy DVD (2006 Diwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx RecordsDiwphalanx Records is a Japanese punk/metal record label. It releases primarily Japanese bands.-Artist list:*Antiseen*Balzac*Banana Shakes*Bitter Sweet Generation*Blue Beat Players*Boris*Church of Misery*Central*Cool Wise Men*Dead Pan Speakers...
) - Live in Red, Eurotour 2005 DVD (2007 Salvation Records)
- Live at RoadburnRoadburn FestivalRoadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
2009 (2010 Roadburn Records)
Compilation
- "Where Evil Dwells (Richard Ramirez)" and "Spahn Ranch (Charles Manson)" on Doomsday Recitation (1997 Conucopia Records)
- "Come Touch the Sky" on Bastards Will Pay: Tribute to TroubleTrouble (band)Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
(1999 Freedom Records) - "Accident" on King of the Witches: Black WidowBlack Widow (band)Black Widow were a rock band that formed in Leicester, England in September 1969. The band were mostly known for its early use of satanic and occult imagery in their music and stage act...
Tribute (2000 Black Widow RecordsBlack Widow RecordsBlack Widow Records is an Italian record label founded Genoa in 1990 and taking its name from the British progressive rock act Black Widow. It was originally a rarities shop focusing on collectable records and reissues...
) - "Chains of Death" on Beyond the Realms of Death SSDeath SSDeath SS is an Italian heavy metal band.-Biography:Death SS was formed in 1977 by Steve Sylvester. The band combined elements of horror and heavy metal to become a pioneer in horror metal and gothic metal, as well as doom metal and black metal. Death SS were one of the first...
(2000 Black Widow Records) - "Sick of Living (Zodiac)" on Stone Deaf Forever (2000 Red Sun Records)
- "Lucifer Rising (live)" on Blood Curdling Nightmare (2002 self-released)
External links
- Church of Misery official webpage (mostly in Japanese)
- Church of Misery Myspace page
- [ Church of Misery] at Allmusic