July 5, 2011 | , | 3.5

Miasmal, Miasmal

Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, one might expect a more melodic and airy sort of death metal to be found on Miasmal’s debut full-length effort. You’d be dead wrong. Like suffocating in garbage bag at the bottom of a deep, dark pit, Miasmal is anything but airy and open.

Pulling influences from early Nihilist/Entombed as well as the legendary Autopsy, the music (eight new songs with a handful of bonus tracks culled from their demo and EP) is sickeningly vile and raw, like the freshly spewed remains of last nights dinner after a heavy night drinking. But believe me the picture I just painted doesn’t do the destruction on this album justice. It’s mean, dense and aggressive as hell — all with an old school vibe that will leave shit-eating grins split across your faces.

Opening track “Mesmerized” starts off with a classic bit of guitar work (as well as the lead toward the end) that is reminiscent of Autopsy’s sound. That familiarity quickly subsides as discordant riffs and rolling drums come in with the rough and raspy vocals. It’s a pretty rollicking introduction to the band. The atmosphere that this first song sets for the album is dark and dank. The blast-fest that is “Equinox 432” gets away from the sludgier tones of Autopsy a touch, but it’s still mired in buzzing riffs from early Dismember. “Blissful Cannonades” has a pretty solid start with heavy drum work and driving riffs while “We Will Live Forever,” despite it’s ramped up tempo, gets a bit lost amongst the buzzing din of the previous tracks and the more atmospherically driven “Mists.”

The later tracks on Miasmal (still with the new material that is) step it up a notch to make up for a rather lackluster middle. “Toxic Breed” is a beast of a song complete with Dismember-like riffs and a melodic touch. Once it gets underway, after the early solo, it becomes a blasting, grinding death metal monster. “Death Mask” is a pretty decent song with a slightly slower gallop before getting down to business with some raucous death metal — the track transitions nicely into the final new song, “Chronicles.” This final helping of fresh material is a strong finish with pummeling drum work (which has been pretty outstanding throughout the album) and sickening riffs that twist and weave through the dense air like rapidly rising specters from the grave. It’s another beast of an album.

The start of the older, bonus material is the first of two songs from the band’s self-title EP. “The Creation of Fire” and “Bionic Godhead Erase” are both much more raw in sound and delivery. They both let loose with a volley of pile driving drums and buzzing riffs. The final four songs come from the band’s demo (also self-titled): a starting yet fully Dismember/Entombed/Unleashed-inspired “Abduction of the Soul,” the thick and driving rhythms of “Kallocain,” the memorable riffs of “Apocalypse Legion” and the blasting fury of “Anima Sola” all pack a punch.

Miasmal not only serves as an introduction to some sick death metal, it also serves as historical document for those, like myself, who have never had the opportunity to hear their earlier material. And, while not much has changed through the years, the band has made significant strides in forming their own sound no matter how influenced by the past it may be. In the mood for some solid old school death metal, then check this shit out.