MIASMA & THE CAROUSEL OF HEADLESS HORSES

Miasma are a band comprised of various members of Guapo, Cathedral, Chrome Hoof and Elsa Drake all playing at the top of their form on this three-part sequence of instrumentals. The band court references to prog, the occult and Victoriana - at least that's what the press release is saying, and I'm not one to argue. The group's fearsome instrumental abilities are the real source of Miasma's strength, with sophisticated, thorough arrangements boasting some of the finest implementation of bassoon you'll hear all year, in addition to some wonderfully atmospheric performances on the organ, harmonium and a variety of string instruments, from guitar to violin. While the aforementioned Chrome Hoof filter their doomier, more metallic influences through a disco mindset, Miasma have no such generic allegiances, instead leaving their direction wide open and conducive to change within the space of a bar. 'Manticore' introduces the album with a slightly gothic, gypsy feel thanks to the atmospheric modal playing of the violin and bassoon, only for a sequence of choppy prog rock segments to take over for the lion's share of the piece. Taking an entirely different slant, 'Taus' occupies a droning, low frequency metal territory, similar to the sort off glacial grind of a Sunn O))) record. Springing out of the darkness, 'Garp Gadriel' veers towards a lighter, if no less spooky theme, eventually swelling up to sound like Dream Theater might if they decided to make a living out of low key parlour recitals in stately homes. (Boomkat)