Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones (Prowling Death/Century Media Records)
Monday, 18th March 2013
Essentially Celtic Frost with a new rhythm section (something we’ll hear Tom G. Warrior say repeatedly, no doubt), Triptykon continues in the dark, next-level-of-avant-garde-metal approach that CF took with 2006’s Monotheist. Subtract that album’s difficult, occasionally straining experimentation, and what you have is Eparistera Daimones. This re-branding should work in Warrior’s favor, as Eparistera Daimones is yet another crown jewel in the man’s…jewel throne. Sorry, had to throw in a Celtic Frost reference in there somewhere.
Joined by emerging producer/engineer/Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura, drummer Norman Lonhard (ex-Fear My Thoughts) and bassist Vanja Slajh, Warrior is able to stretch his immense songwriting capabilities even further. There’s no ceiling to the material here, a strange concept coming from a man (and band) that was supposed…to have no ceiling. Opener “Goetia” is a virtual labyrinth of churning, classic Celtic Frost riffs, while the mournful “Abyss Within My Soul” boasts a foreboding atmosphere that could eclipse the sun.
Similar avenues are explored during “In Shrouds Decayed,” and the pummeling “A Thousand Lies,” which could end being Warrior’s heaviest composition since the To Mega Therion days. The grinding “Descendant” (a song dedicated to estranged CF member Martin Eric Ain), industrial “Myopic Empire” and colossal closer “The Prolonging” both give glimpse as to where Celtic Frost was headed, albeit in a different form.
Bear in mind that this is elusive, challenging music. There are no easy “ins” with Warrior or any of his projects. Triptykon bears the stamp of Celtic Frost all over it, so calling this a new band might be a bit foolish. Rather, Eparistera Daimones is another hard serve and volley aimed against the rest of the metal underground from a man who virtually wrote the book on being experimental. Eparistera Daimones is utterly decisive and forward-thinking, therefore, one of the year’s first must-have releases.
(This content originally appeared on Blistering.com)
