Review
Wristmeetrazor
Misery Never Forgets

Prosthetic (2019) Jon E.

Wristmeetrazor – Misery Never Forgets cover artwork
Wristmeetrazor – Misery Never Forgets — Prosthetic, 2019

With a name like Wristmeetrazor could assume what you would be getting with this record before heading in and pressing play. While you may not be entirely wrong you would most certainly be partially wrong at best. While you could assume the record treads in emotionally raw lyrics and you would be correct but to also assume there is a ton of whining and poor me sentiments or cribbed early 2000's mall emo riffs you would be incredibly wrong.

The easiest way to describe what this record is musically you could start with the destructive riffing and tempos of Botch, the screamo style of Hot Cross and a true love of the darkest corners of The Cure lyrically. I'm sure this sounds absolutely messy on paper but what happens when put together is a 20 minute blast of emotion. While that may sound cliche it is a complete estimation of what is presented on this record. 

The first 3 tracks follow the more Botch style side of their work. "Loathsome" runs hard and fast with brutal tempo changes and pained screams and continues up until track 4. "Come on in,The Water's Pink" adds in a stronger sense of melody and builds on using alternate sounds to give the listener a break but also build a new layer to the whole package. Through the back half of record the band uses this to their advantage. From clean guitars to traded off melodic and screamed vocals the true Hot Cross influence rears it's head. This broadens the bands sound and gives a fuller picture of the bands' intent.

What comes out in the wash is a strong debut of something that, as a sound, is at once familiar but also somewhat new. No one that listens could possibly doubt the sincerity of what is presented here. Given that there is somewhat of a "revival" of the original early screamo sound it bodes well for a band such as Wristmeetrazor that they can certainly stand on their own. This full length bodes well for the band as it offers insight to a young band that has a strong idea of their sound but certainly has room to grow as well.

8.3 / 10Jon E. • April 22, 2019

Wristmeetrazor – Misery Never Forgets cover artwork
Wristmeetrazor – Misery Never Forgets — Prosthetic, 2019

Recently-posted album reviews

The Dwarves

Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows
GREEDY (2025)

Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows is a live studio recording from 1989, released on picture disc earlier this year on limited vinyl for Record Store Day. Given that it came shortly before the release of Blood, Guts & Pussy, it's no surprise that it's heavy on songs from that record (10 of 14, if I've counted correctly). It's more primal than … Read more

Osmium

Osmium
Invada (2025)

Osmium brings together four artistic heavyweights, united not just by a shared experimental ethos, but by a love of bespoke and often self-made instruments. On their debut record, Hildur Guðnadóttir harnesses the unstable feedback of the halldorophone, a cello-like instrument designed by Halldór Úlfarsson. James Ginzburg (emptyset) contributes tamboura-like drones using a monocord of his own design. Sam Slater operates … Read more

Lutheran Heat

Hi Again
Pinata Records (2025)

Lutheran Heat have one of my favorite band names, a distinctly Minnesota tongue-in-cheek nod to local culture and mannerisms. But while I dig the band name, that's not really relevant to the rest of this review. Hi Again is their first record in 9 years, but it continues their garagey indie-punk tones. Expect garage rock guitar tones, slacker indie rock … Read more