adg211288 Abysmal Thresholds (2014) is the debut full-length studio album by Finnish death metal act Corpsessed. The group have been going a few years already and have previously released the EP's The Dagger & the Chalice (2011) and Corpsessed (2012). While the first EP features material unique to it the second one, consisting of just two songs, is entirely represented on Abysmal Thresholds.

The music on the album is raw, dirty, old school death metal with deep growling vocals that, as with many death metal performances, defy casual interpretation. It's probably about as dark and evil sounding as death metal can get. But while Abysmal Thresholds doesn't want for a great atmosphere, it does lack anything particularly memorable to make me want to keep coming back to it. When it comes to death metal the one thing I really want to dig above all else is the riffs. I don't particularly care if I can't make out a word of the lyrics so long as the riffs hit home, and they don't on Abysmal Thresholds. The production/mixing work comes across as being a step too far into unpolished territory so it rarely allows anything to properly stand out within Corpsessed's barrage of sound, though it does have its moments of hinted at greatness. Because of this it's difficult to get a feeling for each individual composition in order to identify them from each other. This is actually a problem I find with many death metal releases though, the difference to other releases is I usually can appreciate the riffs throughout.

Abysmal Thresholds is not an awful album by any means. Even with its faults it's okay for a casual listen, although nothing more. I guess I expected more from the band; although this was only my first time experiencing their music they'd already released two EP's via their record label which seem to have earned a growing regard for their take on old school death metal. Well I have to say I don't get it based on my experience with Abysmal Thresholds. Not one bit. This album falls into all the pitfalls that sit in the way of making a straight up death metal release good and memorable.

J-Man American label Dark Descent Records has had quite a few excellent releases recently, and it looks like they've snatched up another instant classic with Corpsessed's The Dagger and the Chalice. This short, 23 minute EP takes everything from the darkest depths of underground death metal and creates an unforgettable journey of evil, misery, and despair. If dark and twisted old school death metal is your preferred poison, The Dagger and the Chalice should prove to be one of the best releases 2011 has to offer. This isn't the release to listen to if you want to be put in a cheery mood, but if your mind ever becomes perverted by demons and maggots... this is the album to put on for sure.

Corpsessed plays a style of old school death metal with obvious influences from the likes of Immolation, Entombed, Grave, Deicide, and Morbid Angel. Mentioning a modern band like Contaigeon would also be pretty accurate when describing these guys. The Dagger and the Chalice is an absolutely filthy, evil, and sinister album - this EP just reeks of misery, and the fact that the band manages to create such a hostile atmosphere in 23 minutes is truly admirable. Expect heavily distorted guitar riffs, deep undecipherable vocals, frantic drumming, and a muddy production to top it all off. The Dagger and the Chalice creates one of the most evil atmospheres I've ever heard in death metal - just listen to those haunting keyboards in "Nameless Cult" or the eerie riffs in "Altar of Worms"! This EP is top-notch stuff, and is surely one that all death metal fans should snatch up as soon as possible. I have a feeling this will remain unsurpassed as "2011's darkest death metal record".

As you can tell by my enthusiastic review, I absolutely adore The Dagger and the Chalice. I just can't get enough of this EP and I can't wait to hear what Corpsessed has next up their sleeve! Dark Descent made a spectacular decision snatching these guys up - they can claim one of the year's best death metal releases. If you like your death metal to be filthy, extremely hostile, and filled with rotting maggots, Corpsessed is an absolutely essential group. 4 stars and a high recommendation are worthy here. Fans of Immolation, Contaigeon, Entombed, and Morbid Angel need to check this one out immediately.