The Black Dahlia Murder have become one of the more well known extreme bands to emerge in recent years and this is only their second release for these guys who are barely over the legal drinking age. I personally don’t hear what all the hubbub is?

The music and lyrical direction to “Miasma” is a reflection of the band’s consistent touring schedule and chaotic lifestyle on the road according to lead singer Trevor Strnad. The listener can get the same feeling as the music is chaotic, angry and vicious, just like the unfortunate unsolved acts behind the band’s name. Besides the sheer heaviness to Black Dahlia’s Death Metal, vocals are as brutal having two different voices yelling out lyrics, one is a traditional death growl the other is a nasty scream. If you can’t get past the one dimensional vocals, the music does have melody in the guitar leads and even have an Iron Maiden feel at times as well as a Swedish sound similar to At the Gates.

Like I said, I don’t see what is so special about Black Dahlia as so many bands sound as they do. I will say the playing ability is there and some of the arrangements have some solid qualities.