"Eparistera Daimones", the forthcoming debut album by TRIPTYKON, the group founded by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer and guitarist Tom Gabriel Warrior, is not only musically a leviathan. Remarkably, the album will also feature the epic artwork by renowned Swiss artist H.R. Giger and New York-based surrealist Vincent Castiglia.
In an exceptionally rare gesture, H.R. Giger has granted TRIPTYKON the use of his dramatic painting "Vlad Tepes" (work no. 412, 200 x 140 cm, acrylic on paper on wood, 1978). It is the artist's first authorized appearance on an album cover in 17 years, and the second time he collaborates with Warrior (following CELTIC FROST's "To Mega Therion" album in 1985).
Vincent Castiglia contributes "Triptykon", a specially created portrait of the members of the group, painted in the artist's own blood (86 x 86 cm, blood/iron oxide on archival paper, 2009). As Castiglia aptly put it, the amalgamation of works by H.R. Giger, Vincent Castiglia, and TRIPTYKON on "Eparistera Daimones" forms a creative triptych in itself.
Comments H.R. Giger: "I am very proud to work with TRIPTYKON. My art hasn't appeared on an album cover for quite some time, and I feel honored to have been approached by Tom about such a collaboration for TRIPTYKON's very first release."
Adds Vincent Castiglia: "It's been a tremendous honor to work with both TRIPTYKON and H.R. Giger on the forthcoming release of 'Eparistera Daimones'. It was a project of enormous depth for me, conceptually as well as visually. I think the resonance between TRIPTYKON's music, Giger's art, and my work is extremely powerful, and it coalesces in quite an amazing, and singular way."
States Tom Gabriel Warrior: "We feel deeply privileged to be able to adorn our very first album with the work of two artists we respect enormously. To us, their astonishing contributions convey significant symbolism both with respect to our personal frame of mind as well as for this particular album and its history.
"It is an immense pleasure to be able to work with H.R. Giger again. He was one of our most significant mentors during the days of HELLHAMMER and early CELTIC FROST, and he is an extraordinary human being and an artist without equal.
"Vincent Castiglia has become a close friend in recent years, and we both sensed that the time had come to create something truly unique together. I am infinitely grateful that he has lent us his incredible talent, not least because I know he incorporates as much passion, darkness, and pain into his work as I do, too."
"Eparistera Daimones" will also feature detailed credits, full lyrics and extensive liner notes to all songs and will be released via Century Media Records under exclusive license from Prowling Death Records Ltd. on March 22, 2010 (Europe) and March 23, 2010 (North America).
Two songs from "Eparistera Daimones" can already be heard at the band’s official MySpace page.
"Eparistera Daimones" will feature the following nine songs, at a playing time of around 70 minutes:
01. Goetia
02. Abyss Within My Soul
03. In Shrouds Decayed
04. Shrine
05. A Thousand Lies
06. Descendant
07. Myopic Empire
08. My Pain
09. The Prolonging
Upcoming TRIPTYKON shows:
April 16 - Tilburg, The Netherlands – 013 / Roadburn Festival
April 30 - Barroselas, Portugal – SWR Barroselas Metalfest
TRIPTYKON consists of V. Santura (guitar, vocals), Norman Lonhard (drums, percussion), Vanja Slajh (bass), and Tom Gabriel Warrior (voice, guitars). The group has unambiguously stated that it pursues the continuation and further development of the path Warrior began in HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST.
For further information, visit www.triptykon.net.
