Harry: Within less than 48 hours, here I am again with Manolis to Kyttaro Live Club, this time to watch TRIPTYKON. After releasing the very good "Eparistera Daimones", they hit the road and the Athenian fans were fortunate enough to see them live. So with me stuck in the traffic, we arrived outside the venue while ALCEST had begun their set. We rushed inside to watch what this quartet from France had to give us, since there was quite a noise around their name.

Harry: After trying to reach the front rows for some pics, not the hardest thing to do since there weren't many Metal fans in the venue at that moment, I tried to focus to their music. And I did. I tried hard to understand what they had to say. But eventually I didn't. And I wasn't the only one. The majority of the crowd was bored and found more interesting to talk to each other enjoying their drinks, sending sms and trying to find out the score to a soccer match that was taken place at the same time. ALCEST came on stage with good sound but without nerve. Their music felt colorless and most of the songs sounded the same, with the exception of the last one. Musically, it was like the soft moments of OPETH , a band that I never liked to be honest. Oh, and the lyrics were all in French, so I couldn't understand a thing. I don't know if this wasn't their night, or they just passed by without touching because they didn't have anything in common with the other two bands, but one thing is sure: They didn't gain a single new fan that night. But the good things were about to follow.

Manolis: After the Frenchies (ALCEST) came off-stage (ps: their music is good to my ears but not for a live gig), something started trembling below our feet. Hell was empty and all the devils were on stage, setting up their equipment for a (literally!) hell of a show! ANAAL NATHRAKH do not tour often, in fact they rarely do. But when this happens, it sure is something that worth the experience of watching. After the installation of their equipment and that fancy yellow guitar on the right was tuned, that was it. The next 1 hour (that is the time V.I.T.R.I.O.L., Irrumator and their pals stayed with us) can be described with one word: chaotic! In terms of music, on-stage appearance, the band blew our minds off. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (in case you don't know he is also the lead singer of BENEDICTION) was the definition of the term 'frontman' and the rest of the guys of professionalism. Their brutal Black Metal (if we can describe their music that way as it is a combination of Black and Death Metal taken to the extreme with some "avant-garde" touches) was straight out of the sickest minds. Adding to the above were the the lyrics which play an important role the entire "philosophy" of the band. Leaving none unsatisfied, we heard tracks from almost all of their discography, including their latest album, "In The Constellation Of The Black Widow" which I believe is one of their best works.
The band had some great communication with the fans as well with lots of stage diving, lots of (good) talking. That fact alone shows that the band appreciates the fans and knows that without them they would not have reached the point they are now at. Thumbs up for that! Overall, it was the greatest and most brutal appetizer for what was about to come…

Manolis: Sometimes words are not enough to describe and depict an experience. Because I can think of no other word than that for what followed. I had the honor and privilege to watch TRIPTYKON live for the second time this year after 'Summer Breeze' festival. Despite the fact that I more or less knew what was about to come, I still felt the same chills on my spine during the set of the legendary Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Warrior) and his newest band TRIPTYKON. It was spectacular! Quoting a friend who was at the CELTIC FROST gig in 'Hellfest' a couple of years ago: "It was like a giant snake was slowly crawling around us, lurking for prey!".That pretty much says it all. No matter if the chose to play songs from the CELTIC FROST era, or their debut album "Eparistera Daimones" everything was so sinister that you would say "Hell's gates opened before and now we are in for sure!" It's not exaggeration, it's the truth. No reason to talk about on stage performance as everything was pitch perfect. Warrior was at his best form most probably, V. Santura was perfect as the second guitarist and in times lead vocalist as he had many singing duties to do throughout the setlist. As for the rhythm section of the band, both Slajh (gentlemen, hats off to that lady, she's got more balls than all of us!) and Lonhard were just top notch.

Judging from that night, TRIPTYKON surely redefined what evil in music is. Everyone who was there knows! The rest of you rest in eternal damnation as seeing them live again here will be kind of hard. We bow before the majestic presence of Tom Gabriel Warrior and his music.

TRIPTYKON setlist:

1. "Procreation (Of The Wicked)"
2. "Goetia"
3. "Circle Of The Tyrants"
4. "Babylon Fell"
5. "Abyss Within My Soul"
6. "Dethroned Emperor"
7. "Descendant"
8. "Necromantical Screams"
9. "Synagoga Satanae"
10. "The Prolonging"
11. "Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)"

(photos by Harry)