Within two months, 'Awaiting the Day of Liberation' was unleashed upon the masses. This demo sold 1500 copies worldwide and started the spread of the Necrocult plague. 1994 marked the release of 'Procreation of the Inner Temple.' This full length CD unfortunately was doomed to only 1000 copies. Despite the primitive nature of the recording, '...Inner Temple' contained the most grotesque and experimental music the band had recorded to date. '...Inner Temple' has become a collector's item and a pivotal release for those who have since dared to enter The Chasm.
Alas, the journey had only just begun. In 1995, the second full-length album and one of the most obscure to emerge from the Mexican scene was released. 'From the Lost Years...' contained over 70 minutes of pure slow, grey and depressive Metal of Death. By this time, the feeling and intensity of The Chasm's creations had become totally familiar to the followers of the band. The style was refined and maintained, yet was becoming ever more and more advanced. 1997 marked the final year of The Chasm in their homeland. During the recording sessions for 'Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph' several key decisions were made. The most vital for the health and continued improvement of The Chasm was relocation. But during this time, physical movement was not the only problem facing them. The release of 'Deathcult….' was delayed for over a year after the initial recording! Again, however, despite suffering from a primitive recording, once unleashed, it was hailed as a classic piece by the Metal underground. The ferocious power and utter intensity was stronger than ever. Those who witnessed The Chasm's first live US appearance at Milwaukee Metal fest XII (1998) felt the force of the Necrocultic attack -- ugly, extreme and dark Death Metal at its rawest and finest.
After relocation to the United States, things temporarily turned for the worse. A big decision was made to look for a better deal/ label, and as a means of furthering this quest, the infamous 'Promo '99' was recorded and pressed just a few weeks before Milwaukee Metalfest XIII to aid in this quest. Several labels expressed interest, but in the end, Dwell Records won the contract. In this period only Dwell had the faith and believed in the music and the band. During the falling leaves and the bleak air of October 1999, the 'Procession to the Infraworld' recording began at Sheffield Studios (Sheffield, Indiana). The result? The band's most uncompromising, darkest and extreme creation with the new line-up, the unbridled fusion of the elements from a wide spectrum of Musical Metal Knowledge with daring variety and insane moods & atmospheres provided the listener with an impressive and chaotic experience while remaining authentic and refreshing.
A key factor in the sonic aura of 'Procession...' was the 1998 addition of veteran deathmonger Julio Viterbo (ex-Cenotaph (Mexico), ex-Shub Niggurath) to the already deadly mix of original members Daniel Corchado and Antonio Leon (percussive devastation). Early in 1999, The Chasm welcomed their new warrior, bassist Alfonso Polo (ex-Allusion). Throughout all this time, The Chasm had established themselves as a strong force in the live circuit. They shared the stage with bands such as: Therion, Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Nile, Disgorge, Unleashed, Rotting Christ, Scepter, Thornspawn,Cianide, Bloodstorm, Black Witchery, Mayhem to name a few; in addition to several appearances in the American Metalfest series (Texas, New Jersey, and Milwaukee).
A few months after the successful release of 'Procession…' the relationship with Dwell began to break down, leading to the bands decision to leave them for good. The search for a new label became like an impossible task,
because as they had experienced in the past, as the total lack of interest from the pseudo Death Metal labels turned into just a waste of time for a band as adventurous as The Chasm. In the meantime the band already had the new hymns of death ready to be recorded and unleashed for the next opus macabre, so something had to be done, something dramatic and definitive...
In August 2001, the decision was made: Lux Inframundis Productions was created by Corchado with only one simple and important purpose: releasing The Chasm's upcoming attack 'Reaching the Veil of Death', completely produced by The Chasm. Recorded by Corchado at the bands headquarters and at Lux Inframundis Studios this short but deadly new evocation quickly became a Dark and Devastating inspiration for those involved with the Chasmcult. Without any kind of support from any label the band had shown once again the most important point of their Cult and it must be emphasized: The Chasm's motivation for creating such extreme music comes directly from mind and soul. They follow their instincts and feelings, not caring about any trend. The utter anxiety to reach the portal to the other side is THE core concept of this Deathcult.
A few months after the release of 'Reaching...' the small/underground label Witches Brew offered The Chasm a one record deal for the European release of the Ultimate Invocation of total Death: 'Conjuration of the Spectral Empire', again totally produced by Corchado at Lux Inframundis. This new chapter become available in December 2002, and has already been hailed and praised by such magazines as worldwide, as once again the band accomplished another chapter in their chaotic odyssey....
In March 2003 Alfonso Polo decided to leave the band, with this change the band decided to stay at their main core as a 3 piece force, with no replacement added. In stepped Earache imprint Wicked World to reward the eternal persistence and daring of The Chasm by signing the band in July 2003. Now the future plans are focused in 2003-04, to the creation of the New Hymns of Death and the continuing, single minded epic vision that is The Chasm.
Chapter #8, "The Spell of Retribution", was released in Nov. 2004 via Wicked World, marking the beginning of a new era for the band, this prompted THE CHASM to focus in getting as many shows as possible to promote the spell, and in the end, 2005 became the busiest year of the band in the live circuit, starting the year with their first US tour ever, with the help of Roberto Lizarrage (Infinitum Obscure), Alfonso Polo and George Velaetis (Darkness Eternal) in the 4 string attack duties.
After the band returned from this journey Viterbo was diagnosed with kidney failure, dramatically changing the plans and perspective of THE CHASM in the touring area, since then the band has been fully concentrated in creating destructive music with the strong idea of being more than ever a studio band, with only scarce live appearances planned in the future. THE CHASM is more than ever facing the challenge, but the vision continues to evolve in darkened ways.
Chapter #9, Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm, was released in Sept. 2009.
Fortress
The Chasm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A vitue of those who have perished
And for their everlasting dominance I sealed my fate
A will so strong it vanishes the damnation
Yes, the power to reign, to dominate again
In fury and in honor, through my eyes I seek the lost
Torch
Visions of my inner conflictuality, joined by the birth
Blood-Red sun bathed crypts of Abysmal Chaos
Since the early stages of this defined Retribution
Never surrender, and fight 'till the end
So we walk in grief, but we march in Victory
Because this destiny is my own creation
Failure is unknown, Triumph is the all.
Hammering the last nails of their Fragmented coffins
(A symbol of their own impending defeat)
Rebuilding the Fortress
The lyrics in The Chasm's song "Fortress" are about a person's strong will to regain their power and become victorious again. The person has witnessed the deaths of others and the echoes of those experiences have helped to shape their perception of the world. They have sealed their fate and have a will so strong that it can overcome any challenges they may face. They seek to dominate and reign once again, even if that means facing their own inner conflictualities.
Line by Line Meaning
The blasting echoes of a real perception
The harsh reminders of reality and truth that we cannot ignore
A virtue of those who have perished
Those who have lost their lives have left us with a valuable lesson
And for their everlasting dominance I sealed my fate
I have made a commitment to honor those who have passed and strive to keep their memory alive
A will so strong it vanishes the damnation
The strength of my conviction overcomes any doubts or threats
Yes, the power to reign, to dominate again
I have the ability to overcome any obstacle and achieve success
In fury and in honor, through my eyes I seek the lost
I am fiercely determined and motivated by a sense of ethical duty to those who are gone
Torch
I am the one who illuminates the path ahead
Visions of my inner conflictuality, joined by the birth
The struggle inside my heart is intensified by the events surrounding me
Of Mourning
My emotions are heavy with sadness and grief
Blood-Red sun bathed crypts of Abysmal Chaos
The dismal and terrifying situation is wrapped in a shroud of darkness and fear
Since the early stages of this defined Retribution
From the very beginning, my desire for justice has been unwavering
Never surrender, and fight 'till the end
I will never give up, no matter how difficult the challenge
So we walk in grief, but we march in Victory
Although we are filled with pain and sorrow, we press on towards a triumphant end
Because this destiny is my own creation
I take full responsibility for the outcome, as I am the architect of my own fate
Failure is unknown, Triumph is the all.
I refuse to accept defeat, and am determined to achieve victory
Hammering the last nails of their Fragmented coffins
Putting the final touches on their ultimate defeat
(A symbol of their own impending defeat)
(A sign that they have been defeated and will soon fall)
Rebuilding the Fortress
Starting anew, with a sturdy foundation built to withstand future challenges
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW COPELAND, JEFF BERES, KEN BLOCK, MARK E. TROJANOWSKI, RYAN CARTER NEWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind