REVIEW: Triptykon “Melana Chasmata”
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Triptykon is the musical brainchild of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, who is also the founder of the bands Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, and Apollyon Sun. Formed in 2008, the band released their first album in 2010. Eparistera Daimones was an extreme metal album that was brutal in all the right was, earning the band numerous praises from critics. Back again four years later, the new album is a perfect follow up to such a dark, demented album. Melana Chasmata is a nightmarish musical hellhound, combining elements of doom metal, gothic metal, black metal, and death metal to form a sound that is dark and demented.
It’s hard to find an album that so perfectly captures the despair and gloom that Melana Chasmata gives the listener. Eeriely soothing but extremely unnerving, each track is a trip that takes you deeper and deeper into the depths of your mind, unleashing a new demon that takes over your thoughts as you give all control to the darkness. The vocals are a work of beauty, taking somber female vocals of Vanja Ċ lajh and mixing them with both eldritch cleans and unearthly growls of Thomas and V. Santura. Backed by some of the most disconcerting melodies that I’ve ever heard in metal music, I can’t find much to fault here. The only reservation I have is that after I listened to Eparistera Daimones, this album isn’t as triumphant. It feels like it’s missing one extra step to push it beyond the success of the last album.
Regardless of that small gripe, his is what extreme metal is about: Pure hopelessness that leaves the listener feeling disheartened and demoralized. disconcerting. The whole record is a spine-chilling, hair raising, and harrowing effort by one of the most prolific names in extreme metal today. It’s amazingly composed, and I highly recommend picking this album up if you’re even remotely a fan of dark and extreme metal music.
