Misfire - Product of the Environment (2025)

Misfire, a thrash metal band from Chicago, is set to release their second full-length album, "Product of the Environment," on May 2, 2025, via MNRK Heavy. This album marks the first with the band's current lineup, which includes vocalist Tim Jensen, guitarist Konstadin Kostadinov, and bassist/vocalist Dan Stapinski, alongside the sole original member, drummer James Nicademus.

"Product of the Environment" is described as old-school flavored thrash metal, drawing comparisons to classic metal trios like Venom, Motörhead, and Raven, while also injecting modern metal elements. Ghost Cult Magazine notes the album delivers "gnarliest '80s San Francisco Bay Area riffs" with a modern edge, creating a sound that could fit within the thrash golden age but remains forward-thinking.

The album features guest appearances from notable musicians, including Rob Dukes (formerly and currently of Exodus) and Rob Cavestany (Death Angel), adding to its thrash pedigree. Dead Rhetoric interviewed members of Misfire who highlighted that this album was a more polished effort compared to their debut, "Sympathy For The Ignorant," recorded in a professional studio in Atlanta with producers John Douglass and Alex Parra.

The songs on "Product of the Environment" address various themes, including the band's near dissolution ("We Went Through Hell") and concerns about digital forces ("Artificially Intelligent," "Privacy"). The title track features guitar contributions from Rob Cavestany and Alex Parra, described by Ghost Cult Magazine as feeling like "being fisted in the face by an angry Anthrax," summarizing the album as "total thrash, total riffs, total devastation."