[Psycho] Was it now a warm-up show… to get ready for Roadburn Festival?
[Dajana] Or maybe a label release show?
[Psycho] A secret show? Maybe it was meant to be a goody for die-hard fans? I have no idea. But I though wonder why it was tried to introduce the legitimate Celtic Frost follower quasi to the exclusion of audience. However, for this show right after the release of the band’s first blackened work of art Eparistera Daimones, no announcements were made. No promotion, no ads. So it didn’t wonder that only 150 fans found their way into the Zeche Carl.
Your special interest magazine for nebulous show action of course made it, even much on time. But it did not prevent us from missing the intro and the first song, since no one really knew when the show was set to kick off… *hmpf*

[Dajana] Yeah, we all sat in the café to take a bite and talks. I even had a look around the corner, but doors were still closed. And then the first one started to run…
Much odder was the thing with the photos. First a strict interdiction was announced, of course without any meaningful reason. Prior the show it got suddenly cancelled, but no one told. When I realized the show was almost over *grrr* Nevertheless, I had a hectic run to the car, grabbed me cam (I luckily have always with me) and tried me best. All's well that ends well, so let’s get started…

:: pics ::

[Psycho] With the last tunes of Goetia we entered the hall and had the luck to get the rarely (never?) played Babylon Fell to hear. Immediately the atmosphere had its impact on us. Stage was permanently covered in smoke; lights were dark, mostly apocalyptic blue and green spots. Mr. Warrior focused on his singing and exactly did 2 announcements but did not get beyond 4 words. Ok, it suited well the context of the performance and it did not bother me at all. Besides, I never heard Tom singing that great, no matter if the growls or the clean passages.
Also the playlist was a wellspring of pleasure. :: TRIPTYKON :: managed to blend the tracks of a rising new era with many Frost classics to an excellent mélange. And the songs were played with a proper power and heaviness. I rarely ever have heard such wicked version of Dethroned Emperor or Procreation (Of The Wicked) for example. No doubt, this line-up might be the strongest Tom Warrior has ever worked with. So, has anyone missed Martin Ain?
And yes, the new tracks likewise convinced. Absolutely. They seamlessly fitted the black celebration. At the end TRIPTYKON afforded themselves and us a triumphal finish with the extra long double feature Synagoga Satanae and The Prolonging. Pure black and intensive emotions creeping under your skin. What a stunning closure of a breathtaking and grandiose concert experience. I can well imagine how the corpse paint of so called evil and dark black metal bands turns into pink with envy facing such performance and lived darkness ;)
Afterwards the outro Winter Requiem followed and the lights flamed up. No encore? Nope, not at all. Somewhat of forceful I’d say. With the end of the show the musical message was brought to the point with a maximum of atmosphere. What more they could have delivered? The finish was outstanding. Maybe, for the icing on the cake Into The Crypt Of Rays would have been perfect, anywhere in between? ;)
Setlist: Crucifixion (Intro), Goetia, Babylon Fell, Circle Of The Tyrants, Abyss Within My Soul, Procreation (Of The Wicked), Dethroned Emperor, Descendant, Necromantical Screams, The Ursurper, Synagoga Satanae, The Prolonging, Winter Requiem (Outro)

[Psycho] Eparistera Daimones is an incredibly strong album and so the show was. Everything was perfectly arranged, old and new songs harmonized. Typical Frost- characteristics retained unchanged yet added by new shades, with even more new influences in the future.
I really would like to thank Tom for not having given up after the bitter split of Celtic Frost. Instead he was searching for a new musical perspectives and obviously has found them in TRIPTYKON. And he does it without denying and refusing his musical heritage. I am much curious what to expect from this band in the future.