Only Death Is Real Hellhammer/Celtic Frost Book Available for Pre-order

Bazillion Points Books is very proud to announce that pre-orders are accepted since January 1, 2010, for the massive hardcover book Only Death Is Real: An Illustrated History of Hellhammer and Early Celtic Frost by Tom Gabriel Fischer with Martin Eric Ain. These books will ship worldwide in March 2010. For more information and to place orders, visit Bazillion Points.

This formidable, oversized, high-quality hardcover runs 288 pages (including a 32-page color section), and combines hundreds of unseen early Hellhammer and Celtic Frost photos with a vast treasure trove of artwork and memorabilia. A substantial written component by Fischer details his upbringing on the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland, and the hardships and triumphs he faced bringing his bands Hellhammer and eventually Celtic Frost to reality. In addition, the book includes an introduction by Nocturno Culto of Norwegian black metal act Darkthrone, and a foreword by noted British author Joel McIver.

Significantly, the pre-order date of January 1 marks the anniversary of the first Hellhammer photo session in 1983, and also kicks off a new year which will bring the debut release by Fischer's new band Triptykon, along with his much-anticipated featured role as guest curator at Holland's respected Roadburn Festival.

According to Fischer: The earliest existing photos of Hellhammer were taken exactly 27 years ago, on January 1, 1983. At that date, I found myself at the dawn of a new period in my life, much as I do today. On that first day of 1983, we in Hellhammer conducted the first proper photo session as a band, at the tiny farm village of Birchwil, Switzerland. The year that had just begun would also see the recording sessions and release of Hellhammer's three demo cassettes, possibly the most important and enduring aspect of Hellhammer's legacy.

Now, at the beginning of 2010, I am yet again embarking on a new stage of the path that is my life. I am once more part of a new group, Triptykon, and this year will see the release of our first album, Eparistera Daimones. It is coincidental, but no less significant, that this release will be preceded by the publication of 'Only Death Is Real', the book chronicling the very beginning of this path.

Says Bazillion Points publisher Ian Christe: There is no question that this book goes farther than any other source in exploring the origins of underground heavy metal. The wealth of visual information is astounding, both in terms of documenting early 1980s headbangers and exposing the still-relevant imagery of the first Hellhammer and Celtic Frost photo sessions over 20 years ago. On top of that, the written chapters combine Tom Fischer's vivid stories with lengthy quotes from Martin Eric Ain and the other main Hellhammer members, all explaining in highly personal terms how and why extreme metal was born. I could not be prouder to play a role in making this remarkable book a reality.

States Fischer: This is a book about the real Hellhammer, the essence of that group, the aura it carried, and the truly unique spirit of revolution of the times in which it existed. It is a book about a group of outcasts—about persistence, dedication, and an utterly personal vision. I have worked very hard to make sure it will do justice to the work of a number of very unique people who shared the same ideas at a very unique point in time.

Bazillion Points

Triptykon / Prowling Death Records Ltd. Sign with Century Media Records

Triptykon, the group formed by former Hellhammer/Celtic Frost singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Warrior, is proud to announce that the groups' own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., has entered into a licensing agreement with renowned metal giant Century Media Records.

Under the agreement, Century Media Records will release Triptykon's massive debut album, Eparistera Daimones, in Europe and North America on March 22, 2010.

Eparistera Daimones was produced by Tom Gabriel Warrior and Triptykon guitarist V. Santura and recorded in V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany, in the course of the second half of 2009. Like Celtic Frost's highly praised Monotheist album, Eparistera Daimones was mastered by Walter Schmid at Oakland Recording in Winterthur, Switzerland. Eparistera Daimones is said to be heavier than Monotheist, dark, daring, and very diverse.

Tom Gabriel Warrior: I am very pleased about continuing my long-standing and very constructive affiliation with Century Media Records. After the demise of Celtic Frost, I was looking for continuity in every other aspect of my life, and the cooperation between Prowling Death Records Ltd. and Century Media Records has in the past already provided an outstanding platform for releases by Hellhammer (the Demon Entrails demo reissue album, 2008) and Celtic Frost (Monotheist, 2006).

Eparistera Daimones will feature the following nine songs, at a playing time of around 70 minutes:

1. Goetia
2. Abyss Within My Soul
3. In Shrouds Decayed
4. Shrine
5. A Thousand Lies
6. Descendant
7. Myopic Empire
8. My Pain
9. The Prolonging

A further three new Triptykon songs have also been recorded, and they, too, will be released in the course or 2010

The album will be further distinguished by stunning artwork from two highly acclaimed international artists, who, together with the group themselves, thus form their own artistic triptych.

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. The group’s onstage debut is scheduled to take place as part of the distinguished Roadburn Festival, on April 16, 2010.


Triptykon is managed by Antje Lange (antje.lange@thealabel.com).

Triptykon's concert agency is Twisted Talent.

For further information and a full band biography, visit Triptykon’s website and MySpace page.

This is MySpace, no more but also no less.

There have been some 5300 of you who have trusted us. Who have become friends of Triptykon here on MySpace on the strength of but a brief few minutes of music called "Crucifixus". Ever since we formed Triptykon in May of 2008, "Crucifixus" has served as a mere placeholder. It is a Triptykon song by all means, but an atypical one and thus a mere fraction of a glimpse at Triptykon's full musical spectrum.

More of Triptykon's music shall be revealed shortly, and "Eparistera Daimones", Triptykon's first album, will follow in early 2010, accompanied by the unleashing of Triptykon's raging force onstage.

Right now, however, you are the original 5300. There have been many who were skeptical after the obliteration of Celtic Frost. There have been those who waited and still wait, and there have been those who ignorantly dismissed Triptykon as an "ambient band" due to the nature of "Crucifixus", in spite of the fact that we have always unambiguously stated that Triptykon is the continuation and further development of Celtic Frost's path. You, on the other hand, were loyal. You are the true followers, the true faithful ones, the true believers.

We owe you infinite gratitude for your confidence, and we will work hard not to disappoint it. We feel honored by your presence, and we bow to you.

Only Death Is Real.

Tom Gabriel Warrior & Triptykon

© Shelley Jambresic, 2009
www.shelley-j.com

As Celtic Frost arose from Hellhammer’s ashes, so arises Triptykon from Celtic Frost’s ashes.

Triptykon will follow the release of Eparistera Daimones with a number of festival appearances and a full tour. The group’s onstage debut is scheduled to take place as part of the renowned Roadburn Festival, in April 2010.

Triptykon is managed by Antje Lange (antje.lange@thealabel.com)

Triptykon's concert agency is Twisted Talent

Roadburn is very pleased to announce that Tom Gabriel Warrior, founder of the illustrious Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, has agreed to act as the curator for our festival on Friday, April 16^th 2010, and host a special event at Roadburn, called Only Death Is Real.

Tom's duties as curator include personally selecting the bands that will play on Only Death Is Real, as well as to perform the first major headlining set with his latest incarnation, Triptykon. Tom will be Roadburn’s third curator, following up on David Tibet in 2008 and Neurosis earlier this year, and we would call his election a perfectly natural progression.

We are overjoyed to have secured Tom's involvement in Roadburn this year, as he stands as a truly groundbreaking artist, with his previous bands having been extremely divisive, as is often the case with truly unique and original works of art. Ultimately his canon of work would prove not only legendary but hugely inspirational for an entire generation of musicians in the metal, doom and dark psychedelic scenes.

Tom has always enjoyed pushing the envelope musically and challenging boundaries, and it was entirely that mindset that made him a perfect fit to act as our curator. It has been a constant goal of ours to keep Roadburn a festival that not only celebrates the established but charts new territory, and we could think of no better spirit guide than Tom Gabriel Warrior. We are looking forward to the new ideas that he will bring to our festival, as we feel that we are truly kindred spirits.

Holland’s very own Roadburn Festival has become Europe’s leading underground festival for psychedelic, avant-garde, doom or any other variation of leftfield sonic pleasure at pushing the boundaries of music.

In addition to the music, Roadburn has earned a reputation as having a unique camaraderie between the festivalgoers, bands, organizers and staff, and ranks as one of the best and most laid-back festivals to be experienced.

Roadburn 2010, including Tom Gabriel Warrior's Only Death Is Real, will run for three days from Thursday, April 15 to Saturday, April 17 at the 013 venue and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland. There will be an additional afterburner event on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

Roadburn Website

Roadburn MySpace

Norway's Sarke, featuring Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone) and Sarke (Tulus, Khold), will be joined by legendary Tom Gabriel Warrior (Triptykon, ex-Celtic Frost and Hellhammer) for their performance on this year's Wacken Open Air. Together, they will perform the Celtic Frost classic "Dethroned Emperor".

The Sarke band comments: "We are all massive fans of Tom and his music, and we are honored to share the stage with him at Wacken!"

Tom Gabriel Warrior adds: "It's an honor and a privilege to be invited to appear onstage with Sarke, a group whose line-up doesn't only contain personal friends but also musicians I respect deeply. We shall make our appearance at Wacken a truly special event!"

Sarke has since the recording of the debut album "Vorunah" grown to become a real band, and the live line-up is now officially part of the band. Sarke..s line-up is completed with Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect, Thornbound, ex-Borknagar), Cyrus (Susperia) and Anders Hunstad (El Caco, Autopulver, Morten Abel). The band is already working on new material, and a new album is expected in 2010.