The Chasm is a band based out of Chicago, with Mexican roots. They began terrorizing the metal legions of Mexico City in 
1992 and with little exposure to the public since then, they remain a true underground band, releasing uncompromised albums 
of blackened death metal in its most pure form.

The album engages listeners from the outset with ‘From the Curse, A Scourge’, a completely engulfing instrumental, conveying 
the aura of an alchemic apocalypse. The introduction is hypnotic and really captures the inciting anxious conjuration of the 
album.

For those not familiar with The Chasm, they play a blackened death metal – with strong thrash influences. Vocally, it is a 
mixture of Attila (of Mayhem), David Vincent (Morbid Angel) and then Daniel Corchado’s own unique edge.

The best thing about this album, overall, is its purity, its natural and instinctive direction and progressions. Looking 
back over the releases, it is similar in its progression as from Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph to Conjuration of the 
Spectral Empire. Deathcult had the slower, atmospheric raw sound; Conjuration sped up with a little more production clarity 
and added intensity. Now with the Spell of Retribution, The Chasm develops the production a little further and has added 
some more eerie melodies, without detracting from the raw emotive feelings that makes the music so unique and interesting.

Musically there are a variety of styles used, yet producing a very focused and consistent sound. The styles represent a 
mesh of chaos, melancholy, incompleteness, disappointment and majesty. For a specific example, I suggest you listen to the 
‘Fortress – Retribution of Lost Years’ medley.

Aggressive thrash riffs coupled with passionate melody and captivating atmospheric tones (akin to many black metal releases)
are central to most songs on the album. I could start suggesting songs to listen to from the album that may give you an idea 
for what a listener should expect, but truthfully it would be misguiding and unfair on both listeners and the band. Truly 
each song needs to be taken in the context of the preceding and the next, a complete work of art, in all senses of the word.

I will divulge a few of my favourite tracks. One, which really stands out as a masterfully written piece, is ‘Conjuring the 
New Apocalypse’. It encompasses all the aforementioned features, but additionally contains many subtleties that I am still 
picking up on. Things such as the timing of instruments entering, the switching of riffs and the progression of the scales 
used in the guitar work, combine for a brilliant experience.

‘Eternal Cycle of Delusion’ gathers momentum with an eerie yet majestic hollow echo; symbols tentatively ring in on an 
irregular basis. A melodic guitar harmony leads the beginning of the hellish riffing that ensues. As the song develops the 
vocals enter with a very ‘Mayhem’ feel. In a wonderful combination of cold dead vocals and warm emotive riffs, the song is a 
tribute to the natural beauty this album contains.

There are also a few ‘hidden’ (and I use that term loosely) things on the album that I didn’t expect, so I’ll let you guys 
discover that for yourselves.

So I suppose if I had to say one thing, to wrap it all up, it would be; GET THIS FUCKING ALBUM….. do whatever you have to, 
it is killer.