UMUR
"Presage of Disaster" is the debut- and sole full-length studio album by Swedish thrash metal Midas Touch. The album was released through Noise Records in July 1989. Midas Touch formed in 1985 and released the "Ground Zero" demo in 1987. The band split-up shortly after the release of "Presage of Disaster".
The music on the album is US influenced thrash metal with the occasional more melodic speed metal moment thrown in. Lead vocalist Patrick Wiren predominantly use a raw staccato rhythmic delivery (sometimes a little more melodic and sometimes almost punkish in style), which is pretty time typical and as he has a relatively unremarkable voice, so the vocals are nothing out of the ordinary for a late 80s thrash metal release. Midas Touch are otherwise a well playing unit (the album features loads of fast-paced and sharp thrashy riffing, blistering solos, and powerful drumming), so there´s nothing wrong with the musicianship on "Presage of Disaster". The songwriting is so and so though and the sound production is thin sounding and seriously lacks bottom end heaviness. Again it´s not unusual for a thrash metal release from 1989, but it´s definitely not a production from the better end of the scale.
Upon conclusion it´s not a big surprise that "Presage of Disaster" ended up being the sole album release by Midas Touch. It´s simply a run-of-the-mill type US influenced thrash metal release from 1989 (the goofy humour and the occasional technical edge really aren´t that special) and while the fact that Midas Touch are Swedes makes the album slightly exotic (there weren´t that many contemporary Swedish thrash metal acts playing US influenced thrash metal in the late 80s. Mezzrow are one of the few who comes to mind), it´s of course not enough to save the album from just above mediocrity status. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.