ANTIGONE's FATE was founded in 2015 as a side-project by multi-instrumentalist Ruun,
when the newly written songs - all of which created during a difficult phase of Ruun's life -
turned out to be too out-of-character for his other bands. Since 2017 the project has turned into a long-term outlet for his creativity. "Fragmente" is the artist's third full-length release and contains three long tracks.

"Vríka to thánato" opens the album. It's a 14-minute beast. It opens with a smooth and heavy sort of sound, reminiscent of KATATONIA for me. The vocals and clean guitars are easy on the ears. Then, it turns somewhat dark and sad with some semi-screams and distorted guitars. It picks up with some folky layers later, and this song has it all...powerful riffs, emotional vocals, done with a keen sense of melody. More layers come later, as the song rides that balance between hope and despair so well. Ending in a flurry of lead guitars, with that melody still in the forefront, they have laid waste to me emotionally.

"Den Königen Elend und Verfall" is over 21-minutes in length. It begins with some clean and distorted guitars, and a melody line that is so charming. Though the vocals are absolutely gut-wrenching, he never lets the melody fade. The song takes several twists and turns along the way, never running out of riffs. There are more layers here than a wedding cake. Ruun sure knows how to compose some high-level stuff here. It finally takes an acoustic pause around the half-way mark, but that jovial melody continues. It is of course sung in native German. It builds to a crescendo and this is perhaps the prettiest song I have heard in some time.

"Sonnenaufgang" closes the album, opening with those sounds of the first warm spring day. Birds are chirping, and you feel good, right down to your soul. The lead guitar notes place an emphasis on just how well this song makes you feel. It rounds a corner heading for the finish line...like watching a sunset on a tropical paradise. Life doesn't get much better than this.

This was fantastic album. At its core, I suppose you could call this Black Metal, but it so much more. Ruun is an expert composer, as evidenced by the sheer number of layers and instruments he is able to connect together to form a cohesive whole. Never once during the 21-minute middle song here did he lose me. Indeed, he injected me with a new life, with each passing note. Not afraid of taking any chances, he transforms Black Metal to new heights here with "Fragmente," and other artists in the genre should take note...this is how you compose great music.