Mt. Dagger - Nothing Personal. Just Misery.

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Pasidaryk Pats Records/Pike Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jan 2026

Tracklist: 

1. Inertia

2. Hellscape

3. Excision

4. Farce

5. Bloodsport

6. False Prophet

7. Terminal Velocity

8. Medic

9. Suburbia

10. Misanthrope

I have a framed print of the cover art from the album Gravity by Crowns&Thieves hanging on my wall. I asked the artist for it specially when I moved into my own place. I'm mentioning this because one of the band's ex-members plays in Berlin's Mt. Dagger, alongside musicians from countless other bands including Julith Krishun, Throwers and Pleite amongst others. 

Mt. Dagger released a demo back in 2023, containing three songs that would eventually help to make up their debut album, Nothing Personal. Just Misery. It was released on 300 copies of 180g ultra clear/black marble vinyl via Pike Records, Dingleberry Records and Pasidaryk Pats Records in January. 

Last week was hectic work-wise and this week’s shaping up to be just the same. You would think that I’d want to settle down with some easy-listening but you’d be wrong! The crusty, metallic hardcore of Mt. Dagger should be all I need and it’s thanks to Axel of Pike Records that I know of them. Opening Nothing Personal, Just Misery, ‘Inertia’ goes from almost Spaghetti Western-style guitar to graduating darkness before Mt. Dagger’s metallic hardcore takes hold properly. Its tempo is pretty frenetic, yet there are some elements that surprise too. The instrumentation brings to mind Totem Skin, while the vocal delivery leans toward a heavier version of Refused (at least to my ears).

I’m not trying to pigeonhole Mt. Dagger this early but sometimes it is worth laying down a boundary or two. ‘Hellscape’ rages harder with a crustier tone punching through the metallic guitars, as the percussion and bass really pile on the low-end heft. The vocals at times sound blackened. I like the fact that the first trio of songs get shorter and grow with intensity, as ‘Excision’ shows. There’s great chemistry between band members here, as this recording already sounds very complete.

The ringing feedback that kicks off ‘Farce’ tells you that you’re in for something lengthier, but there’s no sludge or doom present here; instead, Mt. Dagger move in a more off-kilter direction, which adds another layer to their already engrossing sound. Reading down the track listing and coming across a song called ‘Bloodsport’, I thought for a second that it could be a cover of the song by Sleep Token, until I realised that here it’s one word as opposed to two. What it actually is, is a song filled with scathing hardcore and classy melody.

The rumbling bass of ‘False Prophet’ takes no prisoners as it bleeds into utter driving heaviness. It’s one of those songs that goes by in a shot, leaving you wondering if you had even listened to it at all! The fact that Mt. Dagger have the sense of humour to call their longest song ‘Terminal Velocity’ isn’t lost on me. That being said though, it doesn’t hang around itself. There are plenty of tempo shifts and percussive transitions to keep you busy throughout.

Things get more urgent on ‘Medic’, as the band’s muscles are truly flexed with their most grooving, hardcore-punk laden song. Don’t let my description fool you though, as this sub two-minute song is still in keeping with the rest of the album. The focus that Mt. Dagger keep throughout this record is amazing to witness as ‘Suburbia’ takes over. The building ambience/atmosphere translates well as the full band hits the high gear. I’m a huge fan of their murkier, dank hardcore if I’m honest. It just hits differently, especially when those sweet cymbal chimes ring out. 

Closing with ‘Misanthrope’, Mt. Dagger go out on a high. One last deep-dive into chaos; exemplified by their precision tempo shifts. Nothing Personal. Just Misery. goes super hard right from the start. Mt. Dagger have laid down an early marker for metallic hardcore in 2026 and honestly, it’s gonna be hard to match. 

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Mt. Dagger below:-

Mt. Dagger - https://www.instagram.com/mt.dagger/

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://pasidarykpatsrecords.lt/pasidaryk-pats-records-817/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/product/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp/

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://www.instagram.com/pasidaryk_pats_records/

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds