German black metallers DARK FORTRESS will release their new album, Ylem, via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany/Austria/Switzerland - January 22nd, 2010

Europe - January 25th, 2010

North America - February 9th, 2010

The album will feature the following tracklisting:

'Ylem'

'As The World Keels Over'

'Osiris'

'Silence'

'Evenfall'

'Redivider'

'Satan Bled'

'Hirundineans'

'Nemesis'

'The Valley'

'Wraith'

A second EPK for the album has been released. Check out both parts below.

As previously reported, Dark Fortress have updated their MySpace player to stream the new track 'The Valley'. Check it out at this location.

Cenury Media Records recently reported:

Contrary to the last Dark Fortress album, Eidolon, Ylem is not strictly a concept album; however, most songs have a common theme - invocations of the death principle from different perspectives. Ylem is the term for the state of the elements before the Big Bang; in alchemy, it refers to the primordial matter from which all elements were created. The return to a state of Ylem automatically signifies the end of everything that exists now. There is a spark of life in every living cell, but also a seed of entropy and death. The insignificance of the feeble evolutionary detour that is man is evident, for our future is clear: we will be nothing but dust and bones on a scorched, lifeless rock waiting to be devoured by the sun. This vision is also the basis of Stephen Lenfestey's artwork for the album.

Musically, it is safe to say that they took the next step in their development - as Dark Fortress have always done.

“We all keep growing as musicians, and we would never make the same album twice. Where Eidolon was a compact missile, shot to kill instantly, on Ylem we explore the stylistic diversity inherent in this band deeper than ever before. There is a lot of slow, very heavy stuff going on, some truly rotten clean parts, but also insane blastbeats, some orchestral darkness, and tons of killer riffs to break your neck to. It is our ambition that every song is its own world and has a strong and unmistakable identity. We exploited this ambition to the fullest here”, explains Morean (vocals).

Dark Fortress recorded in V Santura's (guitars, also guitars in TRIPTYKON and NONEUCLID, and former live-guitarist for CELTIC FROST) Woodshed studio without any outside influences or distractions.

Dark Fortress will team up with SERPENTCULT, FARSOT and SARDONIS for a string of European dates in February, which include:

February

12 - Belgium, Hasselt - Muziekodroom
13 - Germany, Oberhausen - Helvete
14 - Germany, Landshut - Rocket Club
15 - Czech Republic, Prague - Exit Chmelnice
16 - Austria, Wien - Arena
17 - Switzerland, Zürich - Dynamo Werk 21
18 - Germany, Aalen - Rock It
19 - Germany, Bischofswerda - Eastclub
20 - Belgium, Ostend - Ostendfest
21 - Holland, Arnhem - Willemeen