by Kim Kelly

Tom Warrior at Gramercy Theater (more here)

Thomas Gabriel Fischer - Tom G. Warrior to you - is one of extreme metal's truly legendary figures. He is the definition of a lifer. From the first primal screams of Hellhammer through the incredibly influential and ever-tumultuous Celtic Frost to his latest endeavour, the darkly cathartic Triptykon, the man has spent well over half his life creating, appreciating, and inspiring metal, and his fans love him dearly for it. However, as he was quick to remind your humble narrator, Tom is still a mere mortal, made up of the same flesh and blood and heartache as you, me, and the legions of metalheads the world over that call him their hero. He has had his doubts, his failures, and his own demons to fight, but has risen above to offer us yet another chance at redemption.

Our interview took place in a cramped office backstage at New York City's cavernous Gramercy Theatre. As paint-streaked members of 1349 wandered by and the dull roar of excited fans outside filtered through the door, Tom offered up an deeply personal and intensely honest look at his new band, his past, and himself. It was an honor and a great pleasure to speak with him, and I hope you enjoy delving into this admittedly gargantuan account. Only one question remains...are you morbid?

continued below...

Continue reading "The Emperor's Shattered Throne: A Conversation with Tom G. Warrior (of Hellhammer, Celtic Frost & Triptykon)"

words and photos by BBG

"Very late in the evening of October 5, 2010, Triptykon arrived at John F. Kennedy airport in New York, flying in from London. The very next day, we played the group's first concert on North American soil, at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, thereby embarking on the Weltenbrand co-headlining tour of the US and Canada, together with 1349.

"The Gramercy was filled with long-time friends and new acquaintances alike. Painter/tattoo artist Vincent Castiglia, who is such a major contributor to Triptykon's first album, publisher Ian Christe of Bazillion Points, who gave me the astounding news that my second book Only Death Is Real will already go into its third printing run, the extraordinary Kim Kelly, HR Giger's US agent Les Barany, who photographed and filmed the concert, master sculptor Eli Livingston, the artist behind HR Giger's jewelry and Celtic Frost's pendant, who showed me the prototype of a proposed miniature sculpture based on 1984's The Sitting Death Hellhammer EP cover drawing. There were many more. How good it felt to return to touring in North America, finally, after the past three eventful years." [Tom G Warrior]

Ungh! Gramercy Theater echoed with the trademark Tom Warrior grunt as Triptykon played their first show on US soil in NYC on Wednesday night (10/6). The show, which featured appearances from 1349, Yakuza, and locals Immolith was the first for the Trip/1349/Yakuza package, which will last through the end of the month.

Although Triptykon did play some choice Celtic Frost material (setlist below... "Circle of Tyrants", no "Usurper"!), all three bands are touring in support of their latest recorded output: Triptykon has the new Shatter EP along with the Epistera Daimones full-length. 1349 unleashed Demonoir earlier this year, and Yakuza's Of Seismic Consequence is out now via Profound Lore.

More pictures from the show, including Triptykon's setlist, are below...

Continue reading "Triptykon (Tom Warrior), 1349 & Yakuza kicked off a tour @ Gramercy Theatre in NYC (pics & setlist) "

by BBG

Triptykon's set was one of the most highly-anticipated of the entire fest. Would Tom G. be able to pull it off? As the curtains lifted and the first few notes were struck, my fears were immediately laid to rest. Warrior and his three compatriots tore through new material off their debut Eparistera Daimones like men (and woman!) with something to prove, and whipped the hundreds of longhairs in the audience into a headbanging frenzy by dusting off a handful Celtic Frost chestnuts ("Circle of the Tyrants", "Procreation of the Wicked", "Dethroned Emperor", and more), and bringing out Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone) to do some guest vocals. Here's hoping they make it overseas sometime soon! - Kim Kelly at Roadburn

The full tour routing hasn't been announced, but it looks like the US will get paid a visit from the great Tom Warrior and his new project Triptykon along with 1349 and Yakuza! Those dates include Gramercy Theater on October 8th (!!!) and tickets go on Live Nation presale at 10AM on 7/23, with regular sale 24 hours later.

Triptykon, 1349, and Yakuza have all released new LPs in the past year. Triptykon's year-end-list-topping LP Eparistera Daimones and 1349's Demonoir is out NOW via Century Media. Yakuza's Of Seismic Consequence is out now via Profound Lore. All three LPs are fantastic, with Eparistera Daimones in particular being an absolute must hear.

All known dates, as well as a few videos, are below...

Continue reading "Triptykon touring US w/ 1349 & Yakuza (dates include NYC)"

by BBG

Only Death is Real is the extensive history of Thomas Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer, Eric Martin Ain, Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost:

[Only Death Is Real] 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 the visions of his groundbreaking bands Hellhammer and eventually Celtic Frost to reality.

Without question Only Death Is Real goes farther than any other source in exploring the origins of underground heavy metal.... the written chapters combine Tom Fischer's often shocking stories with lengthy quotes from Martin Eric Ain and the other main Hellhammer members, explaining in intimately human terms how extreme metal was born.

For a fan of any of those bands it's a killer look (in photo and verbal history) into the mind of the band. It also details the pre-Hellhammer days and Tom Warrior's early band Grave Hill.

Though I can't really confirm that the name of Tom Warrior's band was their inspiration, I do know that the current band named Gravehill (one word), from the bleak stretches of California, toil in some of the same murky waters as Hellhammer. The old-school death metal team are on the road with Cardiac Arrest and HOD, and will team up with Philadelphia's Gorephobia for an NYC show at Fontana's on July 13th. They hit Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ one day earlier.

Cardica Arrest's Haven For The Insane impacts on June 8th on Ibex Moon. Gravehill's Rites Of The Pentagram is out NOW via the same label.

Full Gravehill dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Gravehill touring (dates) - not to be confused w/ Grave Hill (whose Tom Warrior is the author & subject of a new book) "

words by Kim Kelly, photos by Erik Luyten

Eyehategod

It's been a long few days for Kim Kelly, who is currently gallavanting around Europe with Mike Scheidt and YOB, but the metal maven filed the below Roadburn report to tie up the rest of her time at the 2010 edition of the epic festival that took place during an equally historic time. If you're just joining us, check out Kim Kelly's report from Day 1 before continuing below... - BBG

Continue reading "Roadburn Festival 2010 in review"