The infernal fog covered the cemeteries. The ceremonies of blasphemy began, and the unholy bodies prepare to revive and blow a cold kiss of hell. The place is New Jersey—the city where Misfits first showed punk’s horror face inspired by the region’s cemetery zombies. Now, Disma, from the same region, delivers the ancient death metal punch and creeping menace inherited from the early ’90s.
Their first full-length feels like inhaling exhaust gas from the sevenfold depths of hell into your veins while graveworms devour your brain—thanks to Disma’s creepy low-tuned guitars, crushing and sweeping vocals, and an ominous sound that chokes your ears. You’ll be truly lost in the burial fog, or you’ll live the chaos apparition, as they say.
Of course, none of this should surprise you with genius Craig Pillard (ex-Incantation, Evoken) involved. The album constantly shifts between slower tempos and bursts of fast-paced destruction. It’s unbelievably heavy and dark, with chaos dominating every section. The riff-oriented tracks carry a damned chaos; guitarists Venner and Kahan deliver riffs from the deepest hell, embodying the darkest death metal, while Pillard’s profound growls depress you like a nightmare. Their varied songwriting perfectly completes the madness.
The cavernous pure death metal riffing signals grandiose dreadful ideas at a high level—it’s insanely epic, corrosive, and captivating. Although the riffs lean toward repetition, most are memorable and avoid monotony as they should. If you want complicated music, this album isn’t for you. Drumming is well done, with blastbeats that demolish and an ideal variety in tom usage. Some d-beat sections shred, throwing you from the floor to the ceiling. Overall, there’s a great balance between vocals and instruments. No catchy or melodic riffs here; it’s all about creating the heaviest, most oppressive ambience.
My standout tracks: “Chasm of Oceanus,” “Spectral Domination,” “Purulent Quest,” and “Lost In The Burial Fog.” The cover artwork is epic, though perhaps a more appropriate and uncolored piece reflecting cemetery rites, death, blasphemy, and evil might fit even better.
This is a fucking awesome record, and I don’t even know how else to describe it. It immediately joins my top 10 favorite albums in the new old-school death metal scene! I’m sure they will become a favorite for many fans addicted to the early years of the genre. If you like Autopsy, Asphyx, Incantation, or Miasmal, Krypts, Cruciamentum, Burial Invocation, then check this band out immediately.