DARK FORTRESS - Eidolon CD Review

DARK FORTRESS - Eidolon CD
Century Media Records

Here's your Extreme Metal Cultural lesson of the month. "Eidolon" is a Greek concept of an astral double or mirror. We're talking about a magic ritual in which the mirror functions as a gateway to another dimension. Musically on this release these Germans don't take you any further than your basic melodic/symphonic Black Metal style. Not at all bad considering that guitarist, V.Santurf, cuts loose alot of clean sounding thrash riffage amidst the plethora of keyboards. If you're waiting for a reference point think mid career EMPEROR, NAGLFAR, or even SATYRICON. Vocally there's plenty of tortured screams, growls and shrieks as if this was playing along to a template of sorts. That's not a complaint because DARK FORTRESS are really epic sounding and heavy as fuck at times. A special treat here is that there's guest vocals on the song "Baphomet" done by Tom G. Fisher. Another CELTIC FROST connection is that DARK FORTRESS guitarist, V. Santurf, was the second guitarist on CELTIC FROST's past reunion tour. And if you've been keeping up with the news out of that band's camp you'll know that will never happen again. But as far as this goes. "Eidolon" is a good Black Metal release but nothing that my tortured neighbors haven't heard me blast late at night before. And for all of you who were waiting for me to drop another Black Metal band's name who are also epic sounding like DARK FORTRESS. Sorry but I had to stay away from the fucking irony this time around.

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