  
Church of Misery
(left
to right)
Tatsu
Mikami (Ba)
Junji Narita (Dr)
Hideki Fukasawa (Vo, Syn)
A respected 70s rooted Doom band founded in 1996 by bassist Tatsu Mikami, an ex member of Thrash Metal band SALEM, and guitarist Tomohiro Nishimura. Making up the band numbers would be singer Nobukazu Chow and drummer Hideki Shimizu. CHURCH OF MISERY dwell lyrically almost obsessively on the subject of serial killers but show their obvious debt of gratitude to 70s Rock with frequent cover versions. Apparently the band has made a solemn vow never to defile their ‘Sanctuary’ by attempting a BLACK SABBATH cover version!
Three tracks were donated to
the all Japanese compilation album ‘Doomsday Recitation’ issued by Cornucopia
Records during January of 1998. However, many fans of the band abroad would be
fooled into purchasing ‘Volume 1’, a 1997 release through Doom Records culled
from a 1996 Tokyo show and including a cover of GUN’s ‘Race With The Devil’. The
album was projected to be an official release but then shelved, the Doom Records
version being a bootleg.
CHURCH OF MISERY recorded a split CD with ‘Born
Too Late’ Canadians SHEAVY, the sleeve of which depicted the notorious
'Nightstalker' killer Richard Ramirez, which reaped further international
exposure. The band included their version of ‘War Is Our Destiny’ by ST. VITUS
and the album cover artwork also spoofed BLACK SABBATH’s ‘Born
Again’.
The same year CHURCH OF MISERY weighed in with the ‘Taste The
Pain’ EP through Bad Acid Records. As well as three tracks chronicling the
exploits of infamous serial killers- ‘Room 213’ Jeffrey Dahmer, ‘Taste The Pain’
Graham Young and ‘Plainfield’ Ed Gein, the band topped off the whole affair with
a rendition of IRON BUTTERFLY’s seminal ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’. A further split
release arrived in the form of a shared album with Nottingham’s short-lived but
influential IRON MONKEY. A split live tape also emerged, ‘Live From The East’
being in alliance with fellow Japanese Doomsters MILLARCA.
CHURCH OF
MISERY contributed ‘Sick Of Living (Zodiac)’ to the ‘Stone Deaf Forever’
compilation album. The band has also laid down covers by DEATH S.S. 'Chains Of
Death', TROUBLE's 'Come Touch The Sky' and BLACK WIDOW's 'Accident' for tribute
albums.
The band signed to Southern Lord Records for the February 2001
‘Master Of Brutality’ release, this album witnessing new members vocalist
Yoshiaki Negishi and drummer Junji Narita. Another 70s cover version was
naturally the order of the day for this release, CHURCH OF MISERY tackling BLUE
OYSTER CULT’s ‘Cities On Flame’. Typically the remainder of the songs were
devoted to mass murderers such as John Wayne Gacy, Herbery Mullin, Peter
Sutcliffe, Ed Kemper and the Green River killer.
CHURCH OF MISERY members
operate various sidelines. Both Mikami and Negishi are members of Hardcore Rock
n’ Roll act G.A.T.E.S. in collusion with Masahiro Futatsugi, guitarist with
Crustcore band LIFE and ex-SLOGG drummer Fukawa. Another project of Mikami’s is
SONIC FLOWER, a 70s influenced Hard Rock band featuring BUCKET-T drummer
Katarao. The bassist has also teamed up with Industrial band LONG DREAM DEAD.
Negishi is also busy with COFFINS, a side band featuring members of Sludge band
DOT(.).
The Game Two label released archive tracks during 2003 as part
of a split album shared with extinct Welsh Stoners ACRIMONY. Later that same
year Finnish label Kult Of Nihilow issued the 'Boston Strangler' EP. A July 2004
compilation entitled 'Early Works Compilation' and issued through Leaf Hound
Records collected together all of the band's pre 'Master Of Brutality'
recordings, adding an unreleased track 'Retal (Howard Unruh)'.
CHURCH OF
MISERY allied itself with SOURVEIN for UK and European concerts throughout
October 2006. |
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