Dark Fortress - 'Ylem'

Another solid album from a veteran, semi-melodic black metal band.

Dark Fortress, a veteran semi-melodic black metal band from Germany, return with Ylem, their sixth full-length album in the nine years since the band’s inception. Ylem is yet another solid release from Dark Fortress, this time seeing the band branch out with a more varied approach to the songwriting.

Dark Fortress play black metal with crystal clear production and, in the past at least, a generally fast approach to the music. Ylem (a term that has physics connotations) features guitar driven songs with fast riffing that alternates with a good deal of slower moments of groove, a formula that works well with engaging songs that hold the attention of the listener. However, in a deviation from previous albums, Dark Fortress dramatically slow down on this album, and add some progressive moments.

The songwriting on this album is particularly strong, much more so than on Eidolon and Séance, Dark Fortress’ previous two albums that didn’t last too long in my rotation after an initial listen or two. That may change with Ylem, an album that immediately stands out with more varied songwriting than the band’s recent efforts. In fact, Ylem is probably the band’s best album since Stab Wounds, an album that moved Dark Fortress away from an overly symphonic style.

Ylem does feature fast songs, but moodier songs with slow grooves and hooks predominate. Melody appears in the form of acoustic guitar and keyboard work, but are used to enhance mood and are used more sparingly than with over the top, saccharine symphonic bands. Case in point is ”Evenfall”, a riff driven groove with moments of progressive melody and near clean vocals mixed with a heavy dirge.

Other songs feature some nice guitar work with some progressive, meandering soloing, such as “Silence”. The album’s closer, “Wraith”, is also atypical, with clean vocals and slow acoustical guitar. There are a few barnstormers present on Ylem, such as “Satan Bled”, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

Ylem is a definite departure for Dark Fortress. The concentration upon slow groove with moments of melody results in a long album with a dark, moody tone. Once again, Dark Fortress will probably not satisfy black metal purists with such an approach, but it’s an effective one.

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