The Chasm - Farseeing the Paranormal Absym (Lux Inframundis) By: Tom Findlay

[9/10] The Chasm, despite widespread coverage and critical acclaim of their 2004 album The Spell Of Retribution remain a bit of an anomaly. Scant live performances, a back catalogue that is mostly out of print and a large gap of around five years since an album might have led some to believe that The Chasm were calling it a day. However, announcements started appearing from Daniel Corchardo back in 2008 about a new Chasm release.

The chalice of potential was filled with the elixir of production for The Chasm's strongest album - 2000's Procession to the Infraworld, which many with which many readers will concur. The 2004 album and now second latest The Spell of Retribution was a firm statement and bastion of extreme metal darkness, and would have required something quite special to equal its highs or even top them.

Of the seven tracks on Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm, three tracks are instrumentals and one is a short introduction. Don't let this deter you - both “Callous Spectre/Vehement Opposition” and “Structure of the Séance” are brilliant extreme metal workouts - strong lessons in song structure and riff reprise while still maintaining that otherworldly and trance like aura.

The two flagship songs that were used as tasters on the official website, “Fiery Rebirth” and “The Promised Ravage” are both self explanatory, both fiery and ravaging in equal measure. A sensible starting point for the novice as some of the longer songs can take a while to sink in, as has always been with The Chasm.

However, instrumentals and songs adorned with vocals both still comprise of elegant sweeping black metal riffs and switching to chopping and galloping thrash at just the right moment. The slight overlapping of these two is still occurring – but it is not stepping on anyone's toes; it is constructive interference and works together.

So the song remains the same? Indeed, the epicentre of the music remains untouched, you are just reading a different chapter of the story. So simple and so elementary, Farseeing The Paranormal Abysm retains the spirit of the heavy metal of death that we so adore, yet creates such visions and induces such powerful emotive responses. Long live The Chasm...

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