Misery Index's music is best described as death metal with strong hardcore punk and grindcore influences.

Their band name is derived from the economic indicator of the same name, which was also the namesake of the last album by Assück, from whom Misery Index also draw inspiration.

Misery Index's debut album, Retaliate, was released on Nuclear Blast Records in 2003.

[3] In June 2011, the band signed to Season of Mist Records, and released its fifth full-length, The Killing Gods, in May 2014.

In 2020, the band signed with Century Media Records and released their seventh album Complete Control in May 2022.