Triptykon
Eparistera Daimones

This summer I almost accidentally discovered the return to the scene of Tomas G. Warrior (for those who don't know, the historical leader of the pioneering Celtic Frost and, even before that, the seminal Hellhammer) with the curious project named Triptykon. Having some euros left in my pocket at the end of the summer for the first time in years, I decided to buy "Eparistera Daimones" blindly, recalling that small gem named Monotheist, which four years ago brought the curtain down on the life of said Celtic Frost. Definitely the best 18 euros spent in years. To accompany the good Fischer in his madness and complete the lineup, we find guitarist/producer V. Santura (Dark Fortress), Vanja Slajh on bass, and on drums, Norman Lonhard from Fear My Thoughts.

But let's get into the LP's merit. First of all, the first thing that catches the eye is the cover: signed – as in the past for "To Mega Therion" – by artist HR Giger (the one from Alien); calling it unsettling is an understatement. The style, the colors, the individual details of the improbable creatures depicted; everything is abstractly incomprehensible but at the same time clearly functional to what will be revealed in the album. ''Goetia'' is the opening track and a shiver immediately runs down your spine; after a couple of introductory minutes, there's the classic and indispensable HU!! from Tom, and the song explodes in its wickedness under a guitar background of doom origin (but – truth be told – the tempo and rhythm changes take the track now into death shades and now into black hints) reaching its peak in the refrain. Simply devastating and harmful. ''Abyss Within My Soul'' continues in the vein of the opener: funereal atmospheres and an almost perfect instrumental section with Tom's despair looming over the chorus. After two tracks, 20 minutes of music have already passed, and the instinct is to press stop and listen to them both again. The next track ''In Shrouds Decayed'' allows us to catch our breath a bit; it is decidedly less aggressive but no less essential thanks to the almost recited interpretation of the lyrics. Interspersed by an instrumental bridge such as ''Shrine'', comes ''A Thousand Lies'' clearly the fastest track of the lot and the one that most recalls what was done in past masterpieces; notably, Warrior's anguished screams between verses that contribute to making the song a cornerstone of the platter. It continues with ''Descendant'', track 6: a doom-laden progression serves as the backdrop to the Lovercraftian themes of the lyrics; worth noting is a sublime vaguely thrash final solo. Follows ''Myopic Empire'' and the level does not drop even a bit, nor do the wonders; in this case, what shines is the female voice of Simone Vollenveider (also present in the subsequent ''My Pain'', a celestial jewel with suave trip-hop echoes) thanks to a truly well-conceived central piano break. At this point, overwhelmed by an indescribable aura of unease and anguish, the listener is literally 'knocked out' by the final blow: the last ''The Prolonging''—ladies and gentlemen, a suite of 19 minutes and more, the summa of Warrior's thought and alienating manifesto of black/doom where, among the impeccable instrumental pace, the enchanting violin of Nadine Rimlinger peeks through (which the most attentive will remember having already collaborated with Tom in the days of Into The Pandemonium) to seal a stunning piece.

My enthusiasm might seem excessive, but, truth be told, I strongly urge you to get hold of this Eparistera Daimones by any means, to free your mind from all positivity, and to dive into the degeneration of the occult and esoteric writings penned by a genius (the lyrics in the booklet are defined as Epistles) while you are overwhelmed by sudden accelerations counterposed to dark slowdowns; the risk of regretting it will be virtually nil. After Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, the circle (or rather the TRIPTYCH) has closed. A work to be listened to and re-listened to multiple times to grasp – it might sound monotonous, but trust me – day by day every single nuance. Highly recommended to all extreme metal fans, a mandatory purchase for anyone who loves the blend of avant-garde with refinement.

Without a doubt, time will ultimately tell, but I truly believe we are facing a work that will be remembered among the best in metal during this first decade of the century. Listen to believe.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR.