ITP REVIEW: THE CHASM: FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM

BAND: THE CHASM (MEXICO/CHICAGO-USA) GENRE: BLACKENED/DEATH METAL/PROGRESSIVE/DEATH DOOM METAL LABEL: LUX INFRAMUNDIS PRODUCTIONS RELEASE DATE: 9/15/09

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) : THE SPELL OF RETRIBUTION (2004-WICKED WORLD/EARACHE RECORDS),THE CHASM/DEATHRAGE SPLIT (2004-WARLORD RECORDS), CONJURATION OF THE SPECTRAL EMPIRE (2002-WITCHES BREW/UTTERLY SOMBER CREATIONS), REACHING THE VEIL OF DEATH (2001-DANZA HYPNOTICA RECORDS/LUX INFRAMUNDIS PRODUCTIONS), PROCESSION TO THE INFRAWORLD (1999-DWELL RECORDS/UTTERLY SOMBER CREATIONS), DEATHCULT FOR ETERNITY: THE TRIUMPH (1998-OZ PRODUCTIONS), FROM THE LOST YEARS (1995-THE ART RECORDS/REBORN RECORDS), PROCREATION OF THE INNER TEMPLE (1994-BELLPHEGOT RECORDS), AWAITING THE DAY OF LIBERATION (DEMO-1993)

BEST RELEASE(S): DEATHCULT FOR ETERNITY: THE TRIUMPH (1998), PROCESSION TO THE INFRAWORLD (1999), CONJURATION OF THE SPECTRAL EMPIRE (2002), REACHING THE VEIL OF DEATH (2001)

TRACKLISTING : THE CHASM: FARSEEING THE
PARANORMAL ABYSM: 01. Entering A Superior Dimension
02. Callous Apectre / Vehement Opposition
03. Fiery Rebirth
04. Farseeing...
05. Structure Of The Seance
06. Vault To The Voyage
07. The Promised Ravage
08. The Mission / Arrival To Hopeless Shores (Calling The Paranormal Abysm)

ITP RATING: ****

PRODUCTION: ****

SONGWRITING: **** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: ****


Our metal friends south of the border have always had a rabid extreme metal scene and fan base. Mexican extreme metal bands such as DISGORGE and THE CHASM have raised the bar for extreme death metal and are genre defining.
MEXICO's THE CHASM,( a three piece whom have relocated to Chicago, USA) have been writing consistently brutal releases for over 16 years spinning heads with the bands organic brand of riff-tastic extremity and dark occult energy.
It is of utter shock that after the dissolving of (major indie) EARACHE imprint Wicked World THE CHASM are reduced to releasing their latest masterpiece on their own smaller indie with limited distribution.
THE CHASM are as organic as a band can be, picking up the pieces with a DIY ethic as Daniel Corchado (vocals) still coordinates his own bands art work as he produced the bands latest release.. THE CHASM have picked up the pieces in stunning poise, as the bands latest masterpiece consolidates all of the greatest elements of extreme metal, from progressive death metal to the bands deeply rooted love of death/doom, into a brutal riff o rama of dark atmosphere, one for the ages.. Perhaps in a very good and competitive year in the death metal genre, THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE
PARANORMAL ABYSM" may challenge for one of the top releases of 2009.

THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" kicks off with the track entitled "Entering A Superior Dimension" as the song slowly creeps in and morphs into classic mid paced death metal riffage. "Entering A Superior Dimension" riffs are understated but very important as at 5:20 the song ups the ante to a faster pace with melodic riffing, and good soloing, hardly any repetition as riffs pass in the blink of an eye, with black metal rasps via Daniel Corchado.

that fit the music very well. Epic, and unique.

"Callous Apectre / Vehement Opposition" enters in as a melodic balladry, somber and doomy,
soaked in rain. "Callous Apectre / Vehement Opposition's" curtain opens as THE CHASM enter in as an instrumental band, and quite compelling, with a mid paced, progressive technical, twist and melancholic parts. "Callous Apectre / Vehement Opposition" features tons of riffs, enough to feast on, DEATH and CYNIC would be proud."Callous Apectre / Vehement Opposition" is a very compelling instrumental composition as perhaps vocals would distract from the music. This band is kick ass.

"Fiery Rebirth" enters in technical and heavy as intricate riffs dance like toes on glass as the tune segues into majestic, mid paced progressive death metal. Daniel Corchado vocals are prominent on this track as overall the track invokes an intimate atmosphere of melancholy, occult darkness.

"Farseeing", the shortest track on THE CHASM's FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM (I assume the title track @ 1:46) is an instrumental interlude of sorts, a melodic, dark, gloomy guitar ballad, segueing into the next track.

"Structure Of The Seance", another instrumental track, invokes an early 80's, progressive technical death metal dissonance, and dual guitar counter melodies. "Structure Of The Seance"
slows down the pace at 3:47 to a a melancholic doom atmosphere, with Corchado's vocals low in the mix. "Structure Of The Seance" is epic in it's instrumental character although I wouldn't mind if Corchado stepped it up a notch and joined the band on vocals.

"Vault To The Voyage" enters in with light down tuned strumming segueing into a mid paced
slug out of instrumental, dissonant progressive metal. "Vault To The Voyage" segues into a majestic composition of dual guitar melodies (3:51), beautiful, epic, and compelling as each riff builds upon another, like waves crashing onto a shore. "Vault To The Voyage" is one of the most epic, instrumental progressive metal tunes to ever grace my ears, RIFF-TASTIC. "Vault To The Voyage" picks up where the song started with melancholic, dissonant, dual guitar harmonies.

"The Promised Ravage", invokes a heavy bombastic early 80's blackened/ death metal atmosphere as Corchado's vocals are reunited with THE CHASM. "The Promised Ravage"
features a distinct free flow of blackened death riffs, very unique, technical and prominent.

THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" closes with it's longest track
(11:54), " The Mission / Arrival To Hopeless Shores (Calling The Paranormal Abysm)",
as the tune enters in epic with acoustic ambiance and lightly sprinkled keyboards, before
Corchado's vocals roar in with the tunes mid paced, technical dark atmospherics, guitar harmonics and mournful death doom.

Although half of THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" is instrumental,
the compositions on this release are EPIC in their scope, chock full of memorable riffs, with a
quality, creepy, production texture. I wouldn't mind if Daniel Corchado's sporadic vocals were utilized more often, as his vocals while not overwhelming, are emotive and perfectly suited in his unique delivery of black metal rasps.

THE CHASM cohesively meld progressive technical metal structures and dark atmospherics into epic compositions. THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" is a convincing delivery, a swirling vortex of progressive metal textures, and somber, dark, melancholy atmospheres, and not just mindless wankery.

It's an unfortunate circumstance that THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" is limited to one edition as that indeed is sold out, as the repressing date is unknown.

However, a vinyl edition of THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" should be released soon.

Otherwise, THE CHASM's "FARSEEING THE PARANORMAL ABYSM" is certainly one of this years sleepers from a criminally underrated band, and one of the most captivating, compelling releases of 2009, one for the ages, as one would be so lucky to own this awesome release.

ITP RATING: ****

PRODUCTION: ****

SONGWRITING: **** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: ****


Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-