Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion

Reissue of '85 album. Remastered, with all the original artwork, lyrics and never-before-seen photos. Includes the previously unavailable remix of 'Jewel Throne' and the bonus track 'Return To The Eve' (1985 Studio Jam). 1999 release. Standard jewel case. Album Description

Celtic Frost - 'To Mega Therion' (Sanctuary)

Originally released in 1985, this was the band's follow-up to their head-banging debut 'Morbid Tales' (see my review) and about as intense. Tunes I liked best were "Jewel Throne", the kick-in-the-BE-hind "Eternal Summer", "Circle Of Tyrants" and the hyperactive "Necromantical Screams". Basically, just more old school prime Swiss death metal to torment you neighbors with. Turn this baby to '10' ! The only way to go. February 21, 2007

one of the best metal albums period!

To Mega Therion (aka The Big Bang) is an amazing metal thuderhorse. Cletic Frost's best album. If you like thrash, black metal or music in general get this album! November 28, 2006

Celtic Frost-Innovators of Death Metal

Celtic Frost is a huge influence on most death metal bands today. From Anthrax to Dave Grohl they have been cited as "gods of metal", ushers of black (in the genre of Venom) and death metal. I fisrt heard these guys back in the early 90's, a little late, and after their prime. My fisrt exposure was into the pandemonium, nice start, with a few odd twists. Cold Lake was my next view, and I thought, where are these guys going, and are they supposed to be Metal? Then I heard this album...THIS IS CELTIC FROST. This is what I was told in Legend about.

Born from Hellhammer member Thomas "Warrior" Fischer, Martin Ain, and Stephen Priestly. They first debuted some material on the "Death Metal" compilation for Noise records, and soon released Morbid Tales in 1984. From their debut album Morbid Tales, this was the second album (1985 release) and an awsome follow up that set the standards high for this up and coming band from Swiss/German origins.

From the first song Innocense and Wrath set up a longstading good/evil play that Frost used for many of their albums. Other highlights include Eternal Summer, The Usurper, and Circle of the Tyrants.

If you are a metal fan and have not bought any Frost before, this is a good second choice album. Morbid Tales is the top pick, but you will not be disapointed with this one either.

It is good to see that they are still kicking and alive today, check out their new album Monotheist as well. August 9, 2006

THEE death metal album of the 80's

This album ushered in the NEW, more cohesive Celtic Frost sound (circa 1985). Nearly gone are the fast, hard-core influenced songs like "Into the Crypts of Rays" and "Morbid Tales." After the 'Emperor's Return' recording sessions, the band briefly toured, lost their bass player Martin Ain, and headed back into the studio to record the DARKEST, most GOTHIC, EVIL, SLOW-PACED deat metal album ever put on wax. Every song on this disc is terrific. The sound is still ahead of it's time, and it sounds like TG Warrior is playing 8 guitars at once. Mixed into the album are three tracks from the "Tragic Serenades" recording sessions ('86), where Martin Ain joins back up with the band and they re-do a few of the songs.

The ONLY negative I can say about the CD is that Ain only plays bass on the 'Tragic Serenades' tracks: "The Usurper," "Jewel Throne" and "Return to The Eve." He is such an important part of the band--lyrically and musically. In fact, this is the only CF album I would advise buying that he doesn't play on.

Highlights? ALL OF THEM! To point at a few stand outs though: "The Usurper" (they used to open with this song in concert back in the late 80's...probably their best song), "Circle of the Tyrants" (another CF classic), "Eternal Summer," "Necromantical Screams" (which made the set list on their current 06-07 tour) and of course "Jewel Throne."

Taking the terror a step further, Frost has included a couple of chilling, evil instrumentals again, but also they are starting to incorporate string orchestra instruments, tympanies and female backing vocals, all of which are gothic influences, and all of which make the songs that much scarier. It's not contrived, or "just for show," like King Diamond. It's very integral, and the lyrics prove they are intellegent and well researched. They take this all to a new level on their next album, "Into the Pandemonium," which in my opinion is the best metal album of all time. July 28, 2006

Still holds up

To Mega Therion, in my mind, is an absolute necessity if you like any metal at all. Thrash, black, death, doom and symphonic metal; The earliest inceptions of all these genres can be found within To Mega Therion's icy recesses. Celtic Frost's chemistry is simple. Tom's gravelly vocals. His vocabulary that seems to consist of "UH!", "HEY!", and "HEY-EY-EY!" Lyrics of forgotten lands and adventures. Crunching guitars that spit fire, as well as grind to slow dirges. But this album expanded the band's boundaries by integrating the nebulous backdrop of French horns, kettle drums, and female opera vocals into the band's soundscape, without pretention.

Every song is a classic. June 1, 2006

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