FUMES are a Canadian Death Metal band born and raised in the swamps with utter disdain for the modern. FUMES is currently a two member project and they also play together in GUTVOID. Interestingly, the vocalist Brendan Dean is also part of WEXLER’S PRIME, another amazing band. “Assemblage Of Disgust” is a compilation of 2 EPs and 1 single. Right from the first track ‘Faded Reality’, FUMES drown you in the murkiness, they completely strip out the current timeline from their vision and rest comfortably in the decay of gore. At a time when there are so many bands approaching Death Metal in a similar way, FUMES manage to inject an atmosphere enveloped in horror right from the get go. They’re not stuck with the hangover of early to mid 90s and this shows up in the drumming. Granted, they’re programmed but the approach is very refreshing, particularly on ‘Drain The Ichor’. There are no riffs reverbing across millennia here, the band clearly focused on dirty, sludgy, doomy atmosphere and added to it a no-nonsense approach of old school horror which takes shape perfectly with every passing minute. The band should definitely look to get a full time drummer to add in further depth to their sound. Otherwise, in an era where bands gloriously invoke the muddy remnants of past with modern cruelty FUMES stick to their guns and provide to us a fantastic approach which manages to sound fresh and engages you completely from start to finish. I’ve to definitely highlight the production on this compilation, at no point does it feel excessive, all the instruments are given their due and frankly this sounds kickass. Highly recommended! Kudos to Morbid Chapel Records for unearthing and releasing this. For more information please check out: www.facebook.com/fumesdeathmetal, www.facebook.com/morbidchapelrecords