Nicole Brice
Mar 24, 2026
From Misery to Malice is turning passion into progress in the Louisiana music scene.
Louisiana deathcore plays a vital role in the state’s music scene, demonstrating that the region’s cultural identity extends beyond its famous roots in jazz, blues, and cover bands. The genre’s mix of extreme metal and hardcore elements has a dedicated underground following among those who appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating a heavier sound. Although it may not always attract mainstream attention, Louisiana deathcore continually strengthens the local music scene by uniting fans through tight-knit support and a shared passion that keeps it alive and evolving. Despite being largely underrepresented in Louisiana, deathcore is a genre that combines the best aspects of both worlds to produce a full, powerful sound—and those vocals are not easy to perform.
Enter From Misery to Malice. From Misery to Malice is a deathcore band from Lafayette, Louisiana, formed in 2021. With influences ranging from Michael Jackson to Cannibal Corpse, each member brings something unique to the mix, and that’s one reason I’ve kept this band on my radar for a while. Not to mention, the personalities in this band have helped them build a positive reputation, not just for their sound but for everything they do. From Misery to Malice is turning passion into progress in the Louisiana music scene, and we are here for it.
Deathcore, what a concept, really. This subgenre gained popularity in the early 2000s and merges two equally important genres to create a more well-rounded sound, but for me, From Misery to Malice adds a little groove at times, too. Just listen. It’s there.
Consisting of Jon Michael on vocals, Matt Denais on lead guitar, John Citizen on rhythm guitar, Hayden Poche on bass, and Dylan Poche on drums, these guys are consistently playing shows everywhere from Lafayette to New Orleans, and we urge you to see them live if they come close by.
Mixed Alt Mag recently had the chance to participate in an interview with the band for Backstage 504, which you can watch here. Wanting to learn even more, we reached out to lead vocalist Jon Michael to get the scoop on what else we felt should be shared about From Misery to Malice. Dive in to learn more.
MaM: Let’s touch on this new single you guys have coming out. What is the projected release for that? Didn’t you say April?
Jon: Hopefully, yeah. The song is being mixed and mastered right now by a friend of ours, but we also want to do a video. Maybe sometime in May.
MaM: What is the ultimate goal you want to achieve as a band?
Jon: Ultimately, we’d like to play shows with Lorna Shore or even get the opportunity to play Louder Than Life or the Mayhem Festival. Become one of those bands who is a household name.
Lorna Shore, for example, is one of our biggest inspirations, and they’ve been around since the MySpace days. I would even like us to become as big as Falling In Reverse. They pay their bills with their music and have built their lives and careers around it. I would love to be able to leave my day job to just play music. From a business standpoint, I hope that the more we get Lafayette on the map and the bigger bands hear about it, the more big-name artists will come to Lafayette. It would also help boost the bands in the area, looking to do the same.
MaM: What shows do you guys have coming up?
Jon: We don’t have anything booked right now, but I’m currently getting a bill together for a show that isn’t finalized yet. Lafayette is really starting to come up, with a stronger music scene and a stronger sense of community among local musicians than in other places. The Lafayette scene is starting to draw people to shows. At a recent show at The Pit, people came all the way from Houma.
MaM: Do you feel the deathcore scene is underrepresented in Louisiana? How many actual deathcore bands are there in this state?
Jon: There are a lot of hardcore bands I’ve been noticing, but the actual deathcore bands are Severed in Sleep, Alone in the Morgue, and Human Instinct, but Human Instinct is more hardcore at times. It kind of goes along with the extreme vocals in deathcore. Not everyone can do all this. There is a certain stigma associated with deathcore, not just in Louisiana, but certain people haven’t wanted to associate with the deathcore community because there are always a few bad apples in the bunch, and sometimes there is a lot of drama with the overall deathcore scene. It’s not the genre – it’s the people, so gotta take the good with the bad.
As From Misery to Malice continues to build its presence in Louisiana’s heavy music scene, they’re clearly gaining momentum. In 2026, they plan to release a new single with an accompanying music video, along with several other upcoming projects. The band shows no signs of slowing down. Make sure to listen to and stream their current catalog on your favorite streaming platform now. From Misery to Malice is a name worth watching as they push forward and continue turning ambition into reality.
To learn more about the band:
Apple Music:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/leprosariumband
Instagram:
*All photos by Justin Hammer Photography
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