Miasmal - Tides Of Omniscience

Published March 02 2016

*=Staff's pick	Axiom Deception* The Pilgrimage Venomous Harvest Perseverance Key To Eternity Earthbound* Dark Waters Fear The New Flesh* The Shifting Of Stars

Genre	Death Metal	Pontus	Vocals
Tracks	10	Magnus	Guitar
Running time	43 Min.	Pontus	Guitar
Label	Century Media	Ruben	Bass
Release	March 04, 2016	Björn	Drums
Country	Sweden	-	Keyboard
Producer	-
Similar artists	Dismember, Grave, Demonical

Whenever another album filled with retro Swedish death metal comes around it is like making yet another acquaintance with a filthy serial killer hobo ready to spread your guts all over the kitchen floor. Just like its predecessor Miasmal's third album 'Tides of Omniscience' is not your average bloodthirsty disgusting lunatic by appearance, but rather an apparently harmless well-dressed charismatic gentlemen. It is not until you follow the trustworthy charmer home his true American Psycho nature becomes apparent.

Although hailing from Gothenburg Miasmal continues down the path of pure Stockholm-styled death metal as seen on their first two albums. The components are all there, the distinct guitar sound and riffing style, spiced with a good dose of thrash, particularly in the guitar solos, and a pinch of punk filth. The closest reference points are Dismember and Demonical, due to the Maiden-esque leads and subtle vocal melodies, and Grave, in the heavy mid-tempo sections.

What makes 'Tides of Omniscience' stick out from the crowd though is the clinical, verging on steric, production. Almost ridiculously accessible the sound of this album is sure to gather a lot of fans outside the usual retro death worshiping crowd while potentially shunning the latter from making a closer acquaintance. That is a shame really, because taking the time with 'Tides of Omniscience' is time well spent. Much due to the excellent pronounced growls of Pontus which serves as a helping hand mercilessly dragging you down to the gore and disgust hiding under the surface of the apparent harmless gentlemen soon to go Patrick Bateman on your ass.

Well down the abyss the combination of well-crafted classic Stockholm riffs with a melodic twist and the powerful yet catchy vocal lines are difficult to resist. Even though 'Tides of Omniscience' does not contain anything groundbreaking per se the journey from decency to disturbance makes it intriguing enough to stand out.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
8	7	7	9	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Tengan