Within the span of almost 70 minutes (making this the longest non-compilation, non-bonus track studio album in my collection), head honcho Daniel Corchado and his band of desperados have managed to create just about the most melancholic sound on a metal album anywhere outside the doom subgenre. This music is very dark, melodic (but not in a sickeningly sweet, Gothenburg way) and for the most part slow moving and very complex... the type of music that needs to be absorbed while sitting down in a dark room without distraction of any kind.

The guitar work and song arrangement on this album (and on any Chasm album, actually) is original, to say the least. The melodies here are comparable to the landmark riffing of Danny Coralles and Chris Cutler on Autopsy's Mental Funeral, shifting from melodic leads to sludgy, atonal tremolo riffing without a hitch (usually), broken up with some of the best solos extreme metal has to offer. But unlike the aforementioned Autopsy classic, the focus here isn't to create a horror/gore ambience, but to genuinely depress the listener, and this works like a charm, most of the time. The lead at the end of "I, The Pastfinder" is a perfect example of a trademark Daniel Corchado riff, created in the tradition of classical pieces like "Greensleeves" with simple, depressing minor key melodies. To further strengthen the somber mood of the music, The Chasm often juxtapose acoustic guitars and occasional synths over their leads for a truly spaced-out feel. Music this sorrowful and atmospheric is very rare in death metal, and The Chasm should be praised for creating it.

Corchado's vocals are also noteworthy, being some of the most emotive in extreme metal, despite being more subdued on this album than on The Chasm's other recordings. His growls actually sound tortured and demonic, helping to give the album an even more claustrophobic and evil overall sound. Likewise, drummer Antonio (don't know his last name) is also one of the genre's best, showing an impressive level of creativity, despite the fact that his playing is buried beneath a thick haze of sonic gloom most of the time.

Of course, From the Lost Years... is not without its pitfalls. One would assume that for Mexican musicians, money would be tight, and as such, the production on this album is less than perfect. The sound is clear, but the production is a bit inconsistent in giving the spacious guitars breathing room in the mix, making some riffs sound weak and thin. This is still a huge improvement, though, over the band's debut album Procreation of the Inner Temple which, despite equally potent songwriting, was entirely dry sounding. And also to the band's credit, the production would continue to improve on the next two albums. Something else I found a bit awkward, which is present on all of this band's efforts is the lyrical content... it simply makes no sense to me. The (absolutely terrible) cover art would lead one to suspect that the lyrics have some sort of tie-in with Central American mythology. But as someone who has no knowledge of the subject, I am completely baffled as to the literal interpretation of these lyrics. To me, they seem like collections of gloom 'n' doom-themed lines written in free verse, without any real meaning. But perhaps someone a bit more knowledgeable in the subject can clue me in as to what the hell Corchado is blabbering on about.

But in the grand scheme of things, these are really pretty minor quibbles. As a whole, From the Lost Years... is a thoroughly original, immersive and challening listening experience, with a focus on the depressive aspect. And unlike some *ahem* other death metal bands which focus on atmospherics above all else, this album can still be enjoyed on a riff-by-riff rudimentary level, rather than turning to atonal mush. Unfortunately, distribution problems (it's put out a small Mexican label) have rendered this album a bit difficult to obtain... but it's definitely worth whatever trouble you may go to to get your hands it.

This review is credited to:
The Havoc Vulture