review: CELTIC FROST "MONOTHEIST" :review

Celtic Frost - "Monothiest"
Release Date: 2006

1. Progeny
2.  Ground
3.  A Dying God Coming Into Human Flash
4.  Drown In Ashes
5.  Os Abysmi Vel Daath
6.  Temple of Depression *
7.  Obscured
8.  Domain Of Decay
9.  Ain Elohim
10.  Triptych: I. Totengott
11.  Triptych: II. Synagoga Satanae
12.  Triptych: III. Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)

* - Digipak Bonus track

    Wellp, already a lot of metal heads know that this band is legendary.  A staple in the early black metal sound, image and a fire-starter to Advante Garde metal.  With the help of a crappy and horrible label, the band was burnt out and by because of this made a glam metal rip-off called "Cold Lake".  This just about made all their fans disgusted and by the time they tried to go back to form with "Vanity / Nemesis", nobody really picked up on it and the band was burnt out (understandably).  The vocalist Tom G Warrior hated "Cold Lake" and that era with a vile passion.  After then, many many years passed and well with Tom being a musical person, would write possible songs and ideas from time to time until when he met and had a meaningful hang-out with Martin Eric Ain (the bassist) during the re-issue meetings of their older catalog.  The two reconnected, and from then on took Tom's work, found a drummer and reunited under the classic Celtic Frost name to record this beast of an album.  To be truthful, "Beast" is an understatement. 

  Right away you can tell this is not gonna sound like anything they have ever released,  The starting riffs easily reveal that the guitars have the most dense, thick, and darkest tones ever recorded.  No band really every had this style so up-front.  The tones are clear, yet sludgy and so incredibly dark that I sat in amazement as to what I was hearing (and this was the first album I ever got by them!).  The drums are lively, played awesome and have a real craftsman-ship to them.  The bass guitar is also done amazingly.  The tone is sludgy as well and easily has a presence, but not overbearing.  Tom's vocals are in top notch, ranging from the epic "UGH"'s, to a dark, pessimistic growling voice, to a clean, low Gothic type of commanding voice. 

  Now not every song is fast and blistering.  "A Dying God...." for example, is half slow and calmly serene parts with clean vocals done excellently by the bassist and half slow, crushing perfectly executed riffs, ending with a moderate paced riff-heaven.  Obviously the album ranges from some thrashy tunes, to some slow and crushing ones, poetic and calm ensembles, ending with the Triptych trio. 

  Triptych starts with Totengott and it is scary.  Keyboards that invoke horror, fear with Martin's voice booming in as a demon prying on your chest to rip your soul out.   One of the best instrumental-ish tracks, ever by far; careful if listened to at night...  Synagoga Satanae comes in and it's an epic one.  easily the longest song and is it incredible.  Many styles, many moods in a mid-paced sermon of pure evil, with the thirs Triptych, "Winter" ending the album with a calm, violin section that is beautifully done and ends the album perfectly. 

  If you love this band, you will love this album, and I think it's easily one of their finest moments. 
NIHIL VERUM NISI MORS