Dark Fortress – Ylem (2010) Review

Dark Fortress‘ new album “Ylem” has a lot to offer.  The sound is a bit deeper than many black metal bands out there in that you can actually hear the bass.  Also, the music is a little slower and more melodic than the typical black metal album.  There are plenty of fast and aggressive tracks on this album, but even those get slowed down in spots for a bit of moody melody.  This music is atmospheric, yet the band relies on strong songwriting and instrumentals to create the atmosphere.  The melodies in these songs are at times beautiful, and the music is always complicated enough to keep things interesting.  These guys understand how to layer instrumentals to create compelling harmonies.  I’d definitely recommend listening to this band if you like black metal but want something with a bit more bass and a bit higher production value than is typical of the genre.