Andrew Danso

Triptykon appears to have identity crises. The project has untested personnel, claims of experimentation, one would think new ground to follow aloft the name much bigger than the project itself. Thomas Gabriel Fischer. Triptykon is his understudy that was announced following the departure from Celtic Frost, and without his well-documented presence, Eparistera Daimones would be torn to shreds with a criticism based essentially on ripping off Monotheist. So, how does one make fair foundations to criticise Triptykon on? If this is the pure successor to Monotheist then why on earth didn’t Fischer simply reassemble Celtic Frost? How can you justify labelling a brand new project with precisely the same envisionment? This is Monotheist Mark II, so why not just call it that? It simply feels hungover, and otherwise exploitive. The saving grace perhaps, Fischer has came out and gave us the warning we so desperately needed, “Triptykon will sound as close to Celtic Frost as humanly possible”. Giving Triptykon an identity when the disc spins though, is more than simple, and the critic should only be asked of what’s heard in front of him. My notes read, Celtic Frost. Monotheist. Different personnel.

And with that, underlining what content is in Eparistera Daimones is very predictable. There’s the odd deviate off the trail from Monotheist to Triptykon’s credit, in adding darker ambient sections to the music, that can at times feel out of place (a bit 80’s too), but otherwise add a different flavour to their sound. Apart from that, this is very much in the same kettle of fish that Monotheist swam in. Expect more of the same.

That does not necessarily mean an entirely bad thing (Monotheist has been a personal favourite since it’s inception in 2006), but perhaps does show a lack of ambition, in starting a new project just to showcase a sequel intended for the same audience; you only need to head to MySpace to find copycats, and without Fischer present, Triptykon may as well live in those same webpage’s. Not that the Celtic Frost legend doesn’t know how to piece together his own music, he just did it much better in 2006. Such a wasted opportunity.

6.5/10 Metal-Mayhem UK

Celtic Frost's comeback stroked climacteric perfection with the release of Monotheist, and was my favourite of 2006. It is beautifully paced, poised, challenging, excellent, and meritoriously unconventional. The release being unconventional, I believe is one following its stylistic movement within the genre, and on the topic it's difficult to really home onto placing it within a simplified genre or six. A modern doom feature, perhaps? Or more avant-garde modern gothic doom may be a further suitable generic standpoint.


"Progeny" contains more obvious, (typical blackened thrash metal) CF qualities we've heard throughout the years, and as we change gears, and carry onto "Ground", we're introduced into an album riddled with degree-less atmosphere, and motionless characteristics which follow suit. There's a delicacy, and sheer brute within "A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh". It's characterised by the teeth (and fist)-clenching grind its choruses appear to have, along with the contrast of the absolve, the tracks beginnings and bridges appear to have, which are tense and still. The doom idler follows throughout the next phase of the album. One of my favourites is "Os Absymi Vel Daath", whereby its movement is simply drone-ful and indulgent, carrying heaps of brutality, and simplicity, I'm often retained contemplating "Why haven't I thought of this already!” We also get a dose of that industrial ambience within "Os Absymi Vel Daath" and, "Obscured". Furthermore Monotheist is intricately complex, accompanied with wildly towering expectations; which it arises too. Finally departing with "Synagoga Satanae", we finish with the lush fourteen minute harmony and feedback tracking combined with the slow rot doom riffing toward the last third of the track. It feels brilliantly dark, sombre, plaintive, and brutal.


Another definitive design by Celtic Frost, which complemented there comeback justifiably - 5/5.