Comments on: Grave Miasma – Odori Sepulcrorum

By: F. Rini

F. Rini — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:13:50 +0000

SRK and Listener-thx for all your help in all this. I like getting answers to certain things I have issues with sometimes and you 2 were helpful. At the end of the day, like I said, it’s ultimately about the music and the cd is ferocious! Frank

By: Listener

Listener — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:41:59 +0000

Not a band member, just a listener. The front is the panel with the main artwork. The way it folds doesn’t dictate anything. It’s not a misprint, just the best way of packaging the full thing in a way that compliments the artwork. It’s different to the norm because the artwork has been approached in a different way – with it being designed around a main image that extends from the centre outwards, whereas most album artwork is designed as a single panel. Look at it a different way, rather than putting it into your usual expectations.

As for the artwork itself, I read an interview that explains it best:

“The cover was painted by Denis Forkas Kostromitin, an esoteric artist highly regarded within the art community. Borrowing concepts from Egyptian, Mesopotamian (as evident with the unorthodox portrayal of the Wedjat and architectural nods towards the Sphinx) and Greek mythology, the painting depicts death as a portal to a higher dwelling, a vessel for both decay and rejuvenation predominately reflected in the Greek legend of Oedipus.”

I don’t see all of these things mentioned, but it’s a great concept and fits perfectly.

By: SRK

SRK — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 03:51:55 +0000

I think this is just a bit of confusion about which panel should be called the “front” cover and which should be called the “back” cover, because it seems that PFL have mixed up the normal organisation of a digipak.

Normally with digipaks, the “front” cover has the main bit of artwork, as well as the band name + album title printed on it, and this folds out to the left. The “back” cover holds the CD tray, and has the track listing on it.

But on this album, while the panel that folds out to the left has the band name + album title printed on it, it also has the tracking listing, but it doesn’t have the main artwork; whereas the panel that holds the CD tray is the reverse of the main artwork.

So if you look at Listener’s image, the CD tray is on the reverse of the middle panel; the band name + album title + track listing are printed on the right panel, which is also the outermost panel.

By: F. Rini

F. Rini — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:29:44 +0000

SRK-thank you for the rec, I’ll ck ’em out! Listener-are you a band member? When I do reviews I do complete ones, which also includes descriptions re: the cover and inserts. This gives the buyer an understanding of what they’re getting. MY review specifically details the cover and maybe mine is misprinted, not sure. So first and foremost, to you sir, what does the cover represent? It’s very dark, looks like some altar/entrance, to me the other panels are dark. Also the above image, while I understand is the cover, the way mine folds out, has no band logo or track listing and when put together is actually the back panel. The front panel being one of the dark panels with the logo, track listing, etc..what I put in the review. Just asking for clarification and please let’s not get into name calling regarding referring to people’s intellect or lack of. Regards, Frank

By: Listener

Listener — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:50:50 +0000

Errrrm…not sure what the cover comments are about. The front cover is the artwork, the back cover is the logo and tracklisting. Doesn’t take a genius. The full thing folds out to reveal the full artwork with the front cover as the centre image:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/254657_558147824244323_1243572757_n.jpg?lvh=1

See?

By: SRK

SRK — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:01:47 +0000

Frank, yep good review. I got /Exalted Emanation/ a while ago, so was really looking forward to this. Also, if you haven’t already checked them out, try Embrace of Thorns’ recent material—stylistically they are quite close to Grave Miasma, more so than any of the other recent “dark” death metal bands.

Both of the Grave Miasma EPs are still widely available, especially from European distros.

By: F. Rini

F. Rini — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:26:12 +0000

Yeah, Erik, sometimes those dark cavernous riffs take me time as well to get used to. I already had their 2 eps, so I knew what to expect. For me they fall into the category of having to first listen to it without background noise, shit going on, requires more of my attention, then I get into it, kinda like when I first heard Ulcerate yrs ago.

By: E. Thomas

E. Thomas — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:18:32 +0000

This isnt clicking with me for some reason. its just ‘there’

By: Frank Rini

Frank Rini — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:03:44 +0000

SRK-thx for reading and yes this cd rules. If you can get hold of their prior 2 eps I urge you to get them. Tough to find, but worth it. Still this is their crowning achievement\m/

By: SRK

SRK — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 04:19:09 +0000

Yes, essential death metal!