Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

(CD Album Review)

****1/2
Another masterpiece from Tom Fischer!

Very rarely do albums live up the anticipation that awaits their release. The main strength 'Melana Chasmata' had is that no one really knew what to expect therefore there couldn't be any real disappointment. Tom Fischer has never been one to repeat himself, throughout his career he has constantly evolved. Granted he has fallen flat on his face a times but he also has never been scared to get egg on his face either, he has taken all the blame as well as the credit. 'Melana Chasmata' really follows on from where 'Eparistera Daimones' took off and before that the last Celtic Frost album 'Monotheist'.

Opening track 'Tree of suffering Souls' is actually pretty typical sounding of Triptykon, it kind of gets the listener in a familiar space. It let's newcomers know what all the fuss is about while welcoming back the loyal followers respectively. It's 'Boleskine House' where the album takes it's own path, a dark beautifully haunted Gothic ballad with wonderful female backing vocals. 'Alter of Deceit' is a punishing, down treading Doom track that really impressed me with it's driving force. The whole album is very heavy but in a simple less is more way. Tom has never needed a complicated riff or a blast beat backing up his vocals, he says what he means and means what he says and what he has lacked in technical ability he has always made up for in the pure emotion of his delivery.

'Breathing' is the one as up tempo as the album gets and the closest thing Tom has done sine 'Vanity / Nemesis' that's flat out Metal and It's awesome. 'Aurorae' is the one of the best songs I've heard in years and is easily one of the best songs Tom Fischer has ever recorded. A brilliant melancholy track that builds and builds to an awesome climax, I mentioned earlier Tom's ability to put across his emotions in his songs 'Aurorae' perfectly takes to listener to the place where the writer is at, as he stands on the edge looking into the abyss your there with him! 'Black Snow' is the albums epic clocking in at just under fifteen minutes while the listener is given a "cool down" lap with "waiting" the albums closer. Don't worry that track still has an almighty crash in the middle!

As much as Tom Fischer is the mastermind behind Triptykon the rest of the band V. Santura, Vanja Slajh and Norman Lonhard and guest vocalist Simone Vollenweider that make these songs what they are. 'Melana Chasmata' is neither better nor worse than anything released in the past by Triptykon or Celtic Frost it's simply a great addition to a collection of work it slots in nicely next to the other records. After a dozen listens it's as if you had the record for years. It's one of those rare albums that draws you in and the World disappears and it's a devastating listen.

It's well worth getting the physical copy on cd or LP it's beautifully presented with a book case, amazing artwork and a little essay accompanying each song by Tom recounting how the song came together etc. Like Ishahn, Tom Fischer has completely shed the skin of his past and has no need to live in past glories. Celtic Frost died a bloody death but something much more powerful has risen in it's place!