"Keep Them at a Distance" is the new album from a Polish one-man post-black metal project MIASME. This concise and no-nonsense set of tracks brims with intensity and despair. It fuses the winding, cosmic passages of BLUT AUS NORD's "Memoria Vetusta," the crushing motor of RUINS OF BEVERAST, and the heart-wrenching melancholy of SADNESS. "Keep Them at a Distance" is as much an expression of internal struggles, as it is a statement of love for the sound which has provided the author solace and the will to continue. The album has six songs, and "Radiant Fortress" is first. The opening riff isn't overly heavy or aggressive but pushes some melody. It's also a bit on the dark side. The vocals, by contrast, are filthy, and audible bass notes hold down the bottom end.

"Old Father" enters slowly, with chunky bass notes and eerie guitars. Talk about darkness…this song takes deep cover under the ground. Layers are added along the journey, and it ends with some spoken word. "Wind-Up Bird" begins with dissonant tones and some odd melodies. It's as if the song wants to be easier on the ears, but the vocals keep it harsh. Again, the use of bass works very well here, and many bands don't feature the instrument as prominently as MIASME. "Blackout" is a lengthy offering. It is explorative, of both the dark side of life and the light side, leaving no stone unturned. There are some wonderful moments of melody here, although their colors are muted by the dark clouds that hang overhead.

"Arms of the Sun" is longest, at just under 11 minutes. The riffs are sharp, hardened, and weighted, and the harsh vocals echo that sentiment. It continues steadily dark, until the midway point, where some odd keyboard notes enter, and it swells from there, threatening to burst. Much of the sound then drops, as it explores more melody, before returning once more with a vengeance. "Shapes in the Fog" closes the album, and it's a nice combination of melody and dissonance. It's like a dark storm cloud that shrouds the entire horizon with little bits of light trying to shine through. First, consider the duality of the album, and how effortlessly it explores both the dark side of existence, as well as the lighter side. Now, consider that this entire album was composed by one person. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can offer is how fluid it runs through these varied landscapes.