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Melana Chasmata

Switzerland Country of Origin: Switzerland

Melana Chasmata
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Type: Full-Length
Release Date: April 14th, 2014
Genre: Black, Death, Doom


Review by Adam M on April 16, 2014.

I couldn't be more impressed with the new Triptykon. They make nods to the past, but push forward to the future in so many grand and enjoyable ways here. The moments that are pure early Celtic Frost glory are nicely interspersed with much better experimental material. There were a couple moments on Eparistera Daimones where the band became a bit like a jam session and wandered too far off into oblivion. This album is tighter and these moments are more concise and better fleshed out than the last time around.

The punishing To Mega Therion-esque opener in “Tree of Suffocating Souls” is counterbalanced with more avant-garde songs like “Aurorae” to perfection. I was highly impressed by the second track on the disc “Boleskine House”, which starts in a typical fashion then becomes a nice duet between Tom G. Warrior and a lady. Then there are the epic tracks like the long “Black Snow” that do indeed have several doom moments as well. There is so much variety to be found on this disc that there is very little fault with it. The track “Demon Pact” is perhaps the low point, though it’s still a great track. The guitar riffing is intense and foreboding and more than appropriate for whatever atmosphere needs to be attained. The vocals of Tom G. Warrior vary between the old Celtic Frost growls, some midrange types and the chant that he so effectively used on Into the Pandemonium.

Modern production values really help the band’s vision over the old Celtic Frost discs as well. The infusion of the dark atmosphere is heard in a crisp and powerful manner which is aided by the production throughout. After all of these years, it’s great to see Tom G. Warrior at the top of his game. Melana Chasmata is a dense, thoughtful and massively invigorating recording. Any fan of Mr. Warrior’s previous material with Triptykon or Celtic Frost will find lots to be enamored with on this disc.

Overall: 9.5/10

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