Celtic Frost

Celtic Frost is a Swiss Black Metal band. The frontman, guitarist and singer Thomas Gabriel Fischer, changed his name to Tom Warrior early in his career. With Bruce Day on drums and Steve Warrior on bass, he formed a band called Hellhammer in 1982. Steve Warrior was soon replaced by Martin Eric Ain. The band attracted a small local fanbase, got signed to Noise Records in Germany and recorded their debut EP Apocalyptic Raids.

Related Topics:
Black Metal - Thomas Gabriel Fischer - Bruce Day - Steve Warrior - Hellhammer - 1982 - Martin Eric Ain - Noise Records - Germany - Apocalyptic Raids

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By 1984, Hellhammer had disbanded; Tom and Martin, along with session drummer Stephen Priestly, reappeared with an new lyrical and musical concept under the moniker of Celtic Frost. Their 1984 debut LP, Morbid Tales was a hit in the European metal scene, and the band set out on its first tour, through Germany and Austria. Their second album was To Mega Therion, with cover artwork by H.R. Giger and recorded with new drummer Reed St. Mark. To Mega Therion was just as successful as their first. However, their most influential recording is 1987 Into the Pandemonium. The album was one of the pivotal LPs of heavy metal in Europe, and innovated a new, more varied and, with the addition of classical instruments and sampling, more experimental sound in death metal. After a subsequent American tour (which saw the addition of a second guitarist, Ron Marks to the groups ranks), financial trouble, personal tension between the bandmembers and an ill-fated relationship with their record label led to a complete dissolution of the band. Six months later, Warrior decided to reform the band with Stephen Priestly back on drums, Oliver Amberg on guitars and Curt Victor Bryant on bass. Despite his willingness, Warrior did not take much interest in the album and producer Tony Platt and Amberg took control of the recording of Cold Lake. They mutated the death metal/black/thrash metal sound into radio-friendly thrash/glam rock sound. The album was an utter failure in both mainstream and heavy metal markets, and the band was ridiculed by its former fans as a sell-out.

Related Topics:
1984 - Stephen Priestly - Morbid Tales - Austria - To Mega Therion - H.R. Giger - Reed St. Mark - 1987 - Into the Pandemonium - Death metal - Ron Marks - Oliver Amberg - Curt Victor Bryant - Producer - Tony Platt - Cold Lake

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Warrior fired Amberg and convinced former live guitarist Ron Marks to return for the recording of Vanity/Nemesis in 1990. Though it was critically successful, Celtic Frost's reputation had not recovered yet. Marks soon left again, Curt Victor Bryant switched from bass to guitar and Martin Eric Ain returned to the fold. Their last album was a collection of rare and unreleased recordings called Parched With Thirst Am I and Dying (1992).

Related Topics:
Ron Marks - Vanity/Nemesis - 1990 - Martin Eric Ain - Parched With Thirst Am I and Dying - 1992

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the split, Tom founded a new band called Apollyon Sun with his friend Erol Uenala on guitars in the mid-nineties and recorded an EP God Leaves... ... and Dies and a full-length album Sub.

Related Topics:
Apollyon Sun - Erol Uenala - God Leaves... ... and Dies - Sub

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As recent as 2005, the band has reunited with Thomas and Martin, along with Erol Uenala on guitar and Franco Sesa on drums and recorded a new, very dark and heavy album. So far, the band describes the sound as a combination of Morbid Tales, To Mega Therion, and Into The Pandemonium.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~