DARK FORTRESS – Ylem CD
Century Media Records
I thought this German band’s 2008 release Eidolon was fairly decent even though it was the first with new vocalist Morean behind the mic. It was also a concept album which is not a great way to start your new dig. Tom G. Warrior of CELTIC FROST/TRIPTYKON made a cameo appearance on that one. I considered it more like feeling their way around in the dark. Two years later we have this new one which is basically melodic black metal that drips off along the edges of the template enough to make it a fairly interesting listen. Sound wise there’s plenty of newer era SATYRICON sounding musical influences but that’s easy to over look once the blackened doom dirges enter the ear drums. To me that’s the best part of this release. “As the World Keels Over” is a slow moody cut with a freezing atmosphere that’s more doom than melodic black wallpaper paste. The same can be said about “Osiris” although it’s much harsher and would be my pick for a show opening cut. It’s a militaristic headbanger that takes a few melodic breaks. It has an amazing old school cadence with riffs sounding more from a Finnish fjord than the black forest. For face ripping demon spawned numbers there’s “Satan Bled” and “Silence” albeit the title is an oxymoron. Nice opening screams by Morean on that one. Actually Morean is more comfortable in the role of death growler leading the sermons of dread. Guitarist V. Santura, who use to be the touring second guitarist for CELIC FROST and now also plays in TRIPTYKON, adds some non black metal technical solos to the songs. There’s also a few groove riffed cuts that totally take this off the mainstream melodic black metal map. Ylem is not your typical German black metal that’s for sure but if you are willing to step off the treadmill you’ll find it memorable.
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