Band:	Dark Fortress
Album:	Ylem
Style:	Melodic black metal
Release date:	January 2010

01. Ylem
02. As The World Keels Over
03. Osiris
04. Silence
05. Evenfall
06. Redivider
07. Satan Bled
08. Hirundineans
09. Nemesis
10. The Valley
11. Wraith
12. Sycamore Trees [bonus]

It's always nice seeing this melodic black metal combo from Germany striking back in welcome amounts of time, on 2010 it was Ylem's turn to see the light of day, the second one with Morean on vocals after the pretty strong Eidolon.

On this new attempt a darker air is distinctive, the overall atmosphere breathes something either menacing or with the essence of a pleasant nightmare, no matter how contradictive this may sound. The guitars apart from the railway or more upbeat groovy moments offer some really wonderful and inspired melodies, chords, even solos and every now and then you are able to cherish some very interesting passages that evoke a sense of distress or a more oriental vibe. Seraph behind the drumkit delivers an awesome performance with a wide variety of tempos and techniques. Very often, thanks to the very good production, you get to listen to some well-thought ideas that actually make the composition more complex and above all, they partake in the atmosphere since they add this something that will lend another air to the way it flows.

Larynx: The larynx (plural larynges), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protecting the trachea and sound production. It manipulates pitch and volume. The larynx houses the vocal folds, which are an essential component of phonation.

Morean definitely owns a gifted one as he offers a multifaceted interpretation behind the microphone ranging from growls to grunting lines and boiling recites and I have to admit I pretty much enjoy his sardonic laughs, the ough-s and the various spit-like parts. In "Wraith" (and a bit on "Evenfall" and the bonus track as well) we also get a glimpse of melodic singing with clean, high-pitched or more hoarsing vocals which is quite interesting nevertheless! And who knows maybe we'll get to see a different face of the band in the future.

All in all, Ylem is a very good album having a lot to say in terms of inspiration, melodic aggression and atmosphere, slowing down and speeding up depending on the song, with the keyboards making their appearance without overabusing the sound of the band, after all the guitars, the drumming and the vocals work on that factor, the keyboards just enrich the overall climate. Yet, the album may tire a bit at times since along with the bonus track it reaches 74 minutes, there are only a few albums of such length that manage not to make you feel distracted by anything else since they devour you in all manners, Ylem succeeds in that only under mood conditions (it may reach 9/10).

And so as to conclude, the fans of the band won't get dissapointed, at least I think so, personally I am satisfied, Ylem is a sincere effort on behalf of Dark Fortress that definitely keeps their course above the vast sea of mediocrity.

Highlights:
-The title-track that grabs the listener from the face in the very beginning with the awesome arch riff.
-"As The World Keels Over" that works as a drug with the seducing, floating guitar melody.
-"Osiris", the marching menace.
-"Evenfall" with its epic vibe.
-"Nemesis" and its clinical atmosphere.
-"Wraith", the hallucinating gas chamber.
-"Hirundineans" and its groove.