The Black Scorpio Underground — Necrochasm

Founded in 2000 by Joe Tuck (world-renowned tattoo artist/musician), The Black Scorpio Underground have released numerous releases over their 16 year life. With a dedicated and expanding fan base and endorsements from the like of Watain’s Erik Danielsson and Trepaneringsritualen’s Thomas Martin Ekelund among many others, T.B.S.U. has generated an extensive catalog of releases including splits with such genre heavyweights as Richard Ramirez/Werewolf Jerusalem, The Vomit Arsonist, The Haters, Demonologists, Actuary, and Endometrium Cuntplow.

This latest features an appearance from Samantha Viola (T.O.M.B., Dreadlords and Skulsyr). “Necrochasm” is 7 track fusion of death industrial and harsh noise with elements of black metal.

The album can be seen as a long descent. We start with the opening track “Gardens Of Mutilated Saints”, a high pitched wall of noise from the outset that is like walking into a wall repeatedly (just for the fun of it!). “Mortuum” continues the assault, but is almost subtle by comparison. And then we have “Slave”, a cavernously empty piece that you know means there’s something ungodly lurking around the corner. And without fail, “She Who Cannot Be Saved” starts - a derranged vocal cacophony interspersed with noise and slow rhythmic metal bashing. “Venereal Liturgy” keeps the atmosphere haunting and unnerving.

The final two tracks are almost dark ambient in style, with the atmospheres of uneasiness and the sinister both still ever present.

“Necrochasm” is a stunningly good mix of elements. Yes other people dally with these, yes there are a lot of them. T.B.S.U manage to cut a path through the detritus of mediocrity that the harsh noise and death industrial scenes are littered with and stand out and above them. I just wish the artwork wasn’t as “black metal” as it is.