If scraping your brain with a saw and having your skull smashed by 37 minutes of d-beat-laced death metal means anything to those familiar with Miasmal, then you already know what’s coming. Undoubtedly one of the most distinctive bands in the wave of old-school death metal revival, Miasmal proved with their self-titled EP and now this debut full-length that they’re destined for cult status a decade down the line. Like Bastard Priest, Krypts, Interment, Vanhelgd, Swallowed, and countless others from that same cursed domain, Miasmal flies the black flag of this style with icy, bone-chilling precision.
Even though the artwork isn’t particularly unusual, the image of what appears to be a black hole born in hell gives you a pretty accurate idea of what you’re in for. Picture yourself trapped in a graveyard under a thick gray fog, surrounded by zombies—that’s the perfect setting to enjoy this album. Opening a portal to the realms of Left Hand Path and Into the Grave, the album also carries the unrelenting spirit of 1980s Swedish crust punk. The CD version includes 8 brand new songs plus the Miasmal EP and demo as bonus tracks, adding up to over an hour of auditory carnage.
Let me just say this outright—if your brain has been rewired by Gothenburg’s so-called “melodic death metal,” Miasmal is not for you. You’ll be too busy sobbing into your In Flames records.
Buzzsaw guitar riffs cut through everything, layered over relentless d-beat drumming. The vocals are sinister, deep, echoing, and blend perfectly with the guitar’s tone—classic death metal grit with an ominous edge. The production, cloaked in fog and darkness, masterfully balances distortion across all instruments. The doom-laden sections feel like they were written to echo from your coffin as it’s being carried to the grave. Tracks can suddenly shift into crusty, punk-infused madness. “Mesmerized” begins with a slow, apocalyptic feel, as brutal melodies duel with one another. Then, everything takes off: d-beat drums crash in, and a hypnotic chorus riff drives it all forward in a memorable burst of crust-tinged death metal.
Things get even heavier with “Equinox 432,” a more direct, chaotic example of brutal Swedish death metal. The chaos here is absolute, especially the riff that kicks in from 3:25 to 4:00—I've been enslaved by it for days.
“Blissful Cannonades” brings the punk spirit roaring back, with crust-tinged guitar effects shaping the song’s unique atmosphere right from the intro. Pay attention to the chorus riff again—it’s addictive. And the slowed-down section, with its somber, funeral-like guitar tone, offers all the cursed melancholy you could ask for. Then comes “We Will Live Forever,” which revs things up again with a barrage of distortion and evil death metal aggression.
Just when you think you’ve figured out the flow, “Mists” begins with an unexpected electro-acoustic intro. The dragging, miserable pace slowly builds, eventually giving way to faster, sharper rhythms that again showcase that unmistakable made-in-Sweden riffwork—an excellent throwback to Entombed and early Dismember.
“Toxic Breed” and “Death Mask” are pure adrenaline, delivering unrelenting speed and tight, energetic structure—all while laced with phenomenal riffage. And then there’s “Chronicles,” the closing track. Often, closing tracks feel like filler—but not here. “Chronicles” is one of the most varied and dynamic songs on the entire album. (Not that there’s a single weak track to begin with.) There’s even a moment where sacrilegious, divine-like chants break through, followed by an explosive drum assault that hits like a punch to the gut.
If you're listening to the CD version, you’ll also be treated to the band’s now-classic tracks like “Creation of Fire” and others, bringing the whole experience full circle.