Toil

Obscure Chasms

Ruin Productions 2007

Beginning despondently, Obscure Chasms from America's Toil are a purveyor of raw and somewhat depressive black metal.  The title track quickly picks up the pace towards a blast intensity, yet never loses its sorrowful soul.  Fuzzed out guitars and a hypnotic wailing main riff float out of the speakers like a phantom in the ruins of a neglected cathedral on Within the Damp Earth.  The third track Mistress of the Deep Part 1 has a melodic main riff that is reminiscent of Katatonia's melancholic patterns.  But beneath the surface of the song lies Burzum-ic sensibilities.  Those Burzum influences come more to the forefront on Mistress of the Deep Part II with the guitars taking on more of a "wall of fuzz" approach giving the song a claustrophobic feel.  However the song doesn't really do much for me despite having all the right ingredients.  The next song, Ashen Sky is more traditional black metal though the little accent on the end of the main riff is great and it has me humming it every time it comes around. The Final track is a 10+ minute odyssey through trance inducing black metal similar to Velvet Cacoon or perhaps really basic Xasthur.   Shrill and sorrowful melodic leads dominate the landscape in Desolate Reflection.  Lurker's vocals are echoing shrieks that sound as if they were recorded in some empty catacombs.  Taking a less American stance with the style of black metal they play, Toil run against the grain of many of their countrymates.  Not the greatest black metal release I have heard in the recent past but certainly a worthwhile journey through sadness and negativity.