It seems as time passed by that all Metal genres that the readers could think had a fragmentation process, because every band tried (or not) to put out music in their own way. In the beginning, Doom Metal was nasty and bitter, as BLACK SABBATH was on its early releases, but CANDLEMASS came and showed a way of playing heavy and nasty, but in a clean way and with a great singer. But there were some that created extreme Metal formats for Doom Metal, as PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE. And the Greek trio MIASMAL SABBATH comes to show what they're about with the band's first full length, "Ominous Radiance".

Their music can be described as a proto-Death Metal from the 80's (based on early CELTIC FROST ways) with some influences from Hardcore and Crust Punk. It's bitter and aggressive, but with those hooking nasty tempos and riffs that is impossible to resist. It's not extremely technical, but it's not so simplistic as well. And the raw energy that flows from the trio's song is really amazing, besides their music can't be called as new (but it's personal). The sonority of "Ominous Radiance" seems to try to fuse the organic sound from the 80's with the nasty Crust/Hardcore approach, creating something that really satisfy both ways. But one precious thing: the producer did a work that can be understood by the listeners, enabling the songs to be assimilated. It's not perfect, though, but it's good.

They prefer to use long songs to express their musical ideas, and they really are good, as songs as "Celestial Prodigy" (after a long introduction, it becomes a an Old School Death Metal with energy and hooking tempos, showing a good work on bass guitar and drums), "The Oracular Voice" (that shares the same elements, but with better sharp guitar riffs), "Chaos Magnvm" (a bit more brutal and aggressive, but with some good contrasts between fast and slow parts), "Ghostly Aura Bathed in Stellar Luminence" (the fast parts are very good, indeed, and the very good and defined growls fits on what they play) and "Umbra Mortis" show a very good potential that can grow in the future.

The Greek extreme Metal scene is still fertile, so listen to "Ominous Radiance" and see what MIASMAL SABBATH has to offer.