First Impressions: The Black Dahlia Murder's Miasma

I just picked up the newest from one of my favorite bands from the last few years, The Black Dahlia Murder. Right now, I'm about half-way through the disc and I thought I'd say a few things about it.

I must say, I'm really feeling it right away. Whether it holds up after many subsequent listens remains to be seen. It's kind of easy to get caught up in the pure adrenaline of a record that blows by this fast. I can say that it doesn't feel like more of the same, which is a good thing. While Unhallowed really blew my ears off, my hope is always that my favorite bands take it just a bit further on the next disc, complacency being the devil and all. And though this is not an enormous leap forward, it does feel like a progression. Perhaps its the production, which seems a bit more polished this time around, though by no means slick. The vocals, in particular, sound a bit higher in the mix. Overall, the band feels tighter and more raging than before, perhaps due in part to new drummer Zach Gibson, whose playing is lightning fast and ferocious. Also, the melodies are a bit stronger, on first listen, than the ones on Unhallowed, which is no small accomplishment. This is good stuff. I hope further listens push it into the great category.