The Chasm "Procesion To The Infraworld" Dwell Records 2000

Comparing this album to the one that came before it would be very unfair. Deathcult is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. I'm personally glad that The Chasm didn't release Deathcult part 2 here. I'm glad they went in a slightly different direction. It adds another sound, another personality to the band. But I can also see how some fans were let down and turned away by Procession to the Infraworld. After Deathcult every Chasm fan was expecting another death metal milestone, another reinvention of the genre. The bar was set so high and to many fans this album didn't reach it. I enjoy this album from start to finish. Is it as a whole better than Deathcult? No, not even close actually. But is it better than every other death metal album that was released in 1999? Yes (even better than Necrophagist - Onset of Putrefaction). Not comparing it to what came before or after, Procession to the Infraworld is a really great Chasm album.

Line up THE CHASM: 

Daniel Corchado Guitars, Vocals, Lyrics

Antonio León Drums, Percussion

Julio Viterbo Guitars

Roberto Valle Bass

This is the first Chasm album with Julio Viterbo on guitar and the first recorded while living in the States. A slightly different guitar style is here. The riffs are still melodic, only a different type of melodic than Deathcult. Kind of hard to put into words really. Daniel's voice still sounds amazing. The solos are also kind of different, still melodic but a bit less emotional and sorrowful sounding and some actually shred a bit.

Spectral Sons of the Mictlan is the first track and is an instrumental, and as I said in an earlier review The Chasm write the best instrumentals. At the Edge of the Nebula Mortis is a nice song with melodic riffing and a nice solo in there. Fading is the shortest Chasm song at just over 2 minutes. Not a bad song, but it does seem a bit out of place. Return of the Banished is one of the highlights of the album and has some nice solos and great riffs. Architects of Melancholic Apocalypse is the best song on Procession to the Infraworld with my favorite solo on the album at the 4 minute mark. Daniel's voice also sounds best on this song. Storms of Revelations ends the album with more great riffing and shredding.

This 4th album by The Chasm is quite different from the first three. The riffing is more aggressive, the solos are more shredding, the vocals are more high-pitched. If you go into this album expecting Deathcult part 2 you will be disappointed. If you go into this album just wanting to hear awesome death metal then you will be pleased. This is The Chasm's most underrated album. Highly recommended.

"The Dominant Symbol of the Supremacy, Which Flows and Invades our Furious Souls and Emanates from my Conquering Visions, Feeds the Ironwill of my Essence..."

Track list in this album: 

1. Spectral Sons of the Mictlan 03:31  

2. The Scars of My Journey 03:50   

3. At the Edge of the Nebula Mortis 06:22   

4. Fading... 02:14   

5. Return of the Banished 06:36   

6. Cosmic Landscapes of Sorrow 05:44  

7. Architects of Melancholic Apocalypse 05:36   

8. Storm of Revelations 07:02   

Marduk "Infernal Eternal" Blooddawn Productions (2000)

MARDUK, when one says this name, every real black metal fan shivers. Authors of the of the most powerful back metal songs thoughout legendary albums like Nightwing and Panzer Division Marduk, the Beast celebrates its 10th birthday, a magnificent present for the fans, a double live album! The set list is awsome, it perferctly resumes this black metal monument which is Marduk, with their greatest songs, it lasts quite long (1 hour 20)... actually it lasts really long, i don't know if my ears would have survived had I been there! The sound is great, the guitar riffs harass your ears with incredible velocity, very effective.

The drumming stays in rythm (which means nice and fast), it just never stops. And Legion's singing is actually screeching like hell, he just throws up his words into your face.

Globally this is a very powerful live which demonstrates Marduk's career 'beautifully' (if i may say so), good sound, maybe too good, it almosts looks studio recorded. Anyway, Marduk stays Marduk, which means awesome.

Get this release double disc.

Disc 1

1. Panzer Division Marduk

2. Burn My Coffin

3. Baptism by Fire

4. The Sun Turns Black as Night

5. Of Hell's Fire

6. 502

7. Materialized in Stone

8. Beast of Prey

9. Those of the Unlight

10. Sulphur Souls

11. Dreams of Blood and Iron

12. Fistfucking God's Planet

Disc 2

1. On Darkened Wings

2. Into the Crypts of Rays (Celtic Frost cover)

3. Still Fucking Dead

4. Slay the Nazarene

5. Departure from the Mortals

6. Legion

Marduk alive plays fast. That's the constant here. But they have some great ideas and variations that they should be doing in greater numbers. Doing so could bring some less speed-oriented playing and add blastbeats give another dimension to the music.

One of the aspects that brought my attention was the guitars. There are no "scary" melodies (aka minor or minor/harmonic scales). And since I have heard countless bands using this melodic stuff, listening to Marduk was almost refreshing. Most of the guitar/bass parts are solid. The band sounds 'infernal'.

A few examples about Marduk sound alive.

Hail MARDUK