Triptykon Requiem

Roadburn is probably the most important metal festival, especially for those fans that are not much into the mainstream and use to get excited with more avant garde approaches. Unfortunately this year the festival was cancelled (as any other music festival) due to the covid-19 crisis but in 2019 it took place with some great appearances and among them was the one by TRIPTYKON. It was a special concert because the band got on stage along with the multiple Grammy winning Dutch Metropole Orkest, which is the largest full-time ensemble of its kind in the world. So, it’s that concert that now we all have the chance to enjoy because it was recorded and will be released in all audio formats.

“Requiem” is a actually an epic project separated in three compositions that cover three different time periods of Tom Gabriel Warrior long career.

The first part is “Rex Irae” and it was actually started back in 1987 when the mighty Celtic Frost released the larger than life album “Into The Pandemonium”. With small changes over the original track it is the ideal opener for this project as it easily gets you into the mood.

The third part is “Winter” and take us back to 2006 when Monotheist (the swan song of Celtic Frost) was released. Through its slow pace closes nicely Warrior’s endeavor, the project that he actually worked for almost two years.

And in between? There you have “Grave Eternal” which isn’t just the second part but a whole new 32 minute long composition. It is obvious that this is not a metal oriented composition, and this is the reason that Triptykon were accompanied by the Dutch Metropole Orkest on Roadburn’s stage.

On the downside I must admit that no matter how much I wanted to be there and see this happening live the experience not even come close listening this on my stereo. The experience is way less intense but I can’t be sure if this is due to the lack of great dynamics or some grand climax via the classical orchestration or just the fact that there is no interaction with the crowd apart from the usual applause between the three parts.