Celtic Frost () was a Swiss heavy metal band from

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

. They are remembered for their strong influence on the development of several metal subgenres, particularly

extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...

,Bukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and for their

avant-garde In the arts and literature, the term ''avant-garde'' ( meaning or ) identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable ...

approach to music in general.Wagner, Jeff. '' Mean Deviation''. Bazillion Points Books, 2010. pp.116-124 In June 1984, guitarist and vocalist Thomas Gabriel Fischer and bassist Martin Eric Ain formed Celtic Frost after disbanding their previous band,

Hellhammer Hellhammer was a Swiss extreme metal band from Nürensdorf, active from 1982 to 1984. Although the band's sound and style were heavily criticized and poorly reviewed during their active years, they have been widely praised in retrospect and are ...

, a month earlier. Celtic Frost's debut record, '' Morbid Tales'', was released in November of that year. This was followed by the full-length studio albums '' To Mega Therion'' (1985) and '' Into the Pandemonium'' (1987). All three records are considered highly influential landmarks in heavy metal. While each contains elements of avant-garde composition, ''Into the Pandemonium'' is particularly noted for its unique style and experimentation with musical boundaries beyond the heavy metal genre. Celtic Frost's next album, '' Cold Lake'' (1988), featured a new lineup and a dramatic stylistic shift, which was widely criticized for its commercial and flamboyant tone. After releasing '' Vanity/Nemesis'' (1990), the band temporarily disbanded. Celtic Frost re-formed in 2001 and released the critically acclaimed ''

Monotheist Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only, or at least the dominant deity.F. L. Cross, Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. A ...

'' (2006), eventually disbanding permanently following Fischer's departure in 2008.September 9, 2008 – PRESS RELEASE
Retrieved from Internet Archive 6 January 2014. Throughout the band's career, their music incorporated elements from various extreme metal styles. Their early work is often classified as

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

with experimental tendencies, while their final album is described as

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

. Celtic Frost drew inspiration from early heavy metal bands such as

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest have also been referred to as one of the p ...

, and

Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

gothic rock Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...

acts like

Bauhaus The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the , was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined Decorative arts, crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., ...

Siouxsie and the Banshees Siouxsie and the Banshees ( ) were a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. Post-punk pioneers, they were widely influential, both over their contemporaries and later ...

, Christian Death, and

Joy Division Joy Division were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Salford in 1976. The group consisted of vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris (musici ...

, as well as

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

groups like Discharge and GBH.

History

Formation and first recordings (1984–1987)

Celtic Frost's frontman, guitarist, and singer, Tom Gabriel Fischer, adopted the alias Tom Warrior. With Steve Warrior on bass, he formed one of the earliest extreme metal bands,

, in 1981. Steve Warrior was later replaced by Martin Eric Ain – also a pseudonym. The band attracted a small international fan base, was signed to Noise Records in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, and recorded their debut EP, '' Apocalyptic Raids'', in March 1984. Many

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

-centered publications were skeptical of Hellhammer's musical efforts. ''

Metal Forces ''Metal Forces'' is a British heavy metal and hard rock music publication founded in 1983. It was well known for its coverage of unsigned bands through its ''Demolition'' feature and championed the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, HellsBel ...

'' loathed the group, sparking a lasting feud between the zine and Warrior, which prevented Celtic Frost from performing in England for several years.Gregori (2003), page 11. Writers at ''Rock Power'' were similarly critical of Hellhammer, describing it as "the most terrible, abhorrent, and atrocious thing 'musicians' were ever allowed to record". In fact, they were "receiving miserable reviews everywhere", Warrior concluded.Fischer (2000), page 80. Reflecting on the impact of his first band, Fischer said:

Way back in 1984 and 85, when Martin Eric Ain and I recorded Celtic Frost's first two albums '' Morbid Tales'' and '' To Mega Therion'', Hellhammer stayed with us almost like a curse. Even though Hellhammer was the very reason we had reconsidered our goals and conceived the Frost, HH's remnants kept being significant obstacles in our path. Many people viewed Frost as simply a renamed version of the same band. The lack of musical quality in HH made it almost impossible for us to get an unbiased reaction for Frost. To make a long story short, it nearly destroyed all our work and dreams.

By May 1984, Hellhammer had disbanded. Fischer and Ain, initially along with drummer Isaac Darso and later with session drummer Stephen Priestly, regrouped as Celtic Frost. Their 1984 debut EP, '' Morbid Tales'', was well received in the underground metal scene, and the band embarked on its first tour, through Germany and

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. This was followed by the EP '' Emperor's Return''. Both of these early releases have since been packaged together and are available on a single CD. The next of Celtic Frost's influential recordings was 1985's ''To Mega Therion'', which did not feature Ain on bass, but instead used stand-in bassist Dominic Steiner. The cover artwork is a painting by

H.R. Giger Hans Ruedi Giger ( ; ; 5 February 1940 – 12 May 2014) was a Swiss people, Swiss artist best known for his airbrushed images that blended human physiques with machines, an art style known as "biomechanical art, biomechanical". He was part of th ...

entitled ''Satan I'', which Giger gifted to the band after corresponding with Fischer through the mail. The album was a major influence on the emerging genres of

death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...

and

. Ain rejoined the band after the album was recorded.

Stylistic changes, internal struggles, and first breakup (1987–1993)

In 1987, Celtic Frost released their second full-length studio album, '' Into the Pandemonium''. The album is noticeably eclectic compared to the band's previous works, featuring love songs, industrial rhythmic pieces, symphonic and operatic influences, female vocal parts, and an unlikely cover of

Wall of Voodoo Wall of Voodoo was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California who were active from 1977 until disbanding in 1989. Though largely an underground act for the majority of its existence, the band came to prominence when its 1982 single " ...

's " Mexican Radio." The album is often regarded as a unique departure from the band's earlier material and helped solidify their description as an

band. It marks a shift away from the heavier, more direct style found on the band's previous releases, '' Morbid Tales'' and '' To Mega Therion'', although these albums also contained elements of experimentation and symphonic collaboration. ''Into the Pandemonium'' blends a heavy metal foundation with elements of industrial and

, and even includes an

electronic body music Electronic body music (EBM) is a genre of electronic music that combines elements of industrial music and synth-punk with elements of dance music. It developed in the early 1980s in Western Europe, as an outgrowth of both the punk and the in ...

-inspired rhythm, particularly evident in the song "One in Their Pride." Despite this stylistic evolution, the album retains sparse elements of extreme metal, noticeable in Fischer's vocals and guitar work. During a North American tour, the band added a second guitarist, Ron Marks. However, shortly thereafter, financial difficulties, along with tensions between band members and their record label, led to a brief dissolution of the group. Six months later, Warrior reformed the band, with Stephen Priestly returning on drums, Oliver Amberg on guitars, and Curt Victor Bryant on bass. This lineup recorded the studio album '' Cold Lake'', released in September 1988 by Noise Records. Despite being marketed to capitalize on the mass appeal of glam metal, the album was poorly received, failing to resonate with fans of the band's extreme style. Afterward, Bryant dismissed Amberg, leading to the return of former live guitarist Ron Marks for the recording of '' Vanity/Nemesis'' in 1990. Another significant change was the return of early bassist Martin Eric Ain. Despite these changes, Celtic Frost's reputation never fully recovered from the backlash caused by ''Cold Lake''. In 1992, the band's label released a collection of rare recordings titled '' Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying'', the title of which is derived from an ancient Roman prayer.Raggett, Ned
"Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying – Celtic Frost"
. ''AllMusic.com''. Retrieved 26 September 2011. This compilation featured unreleased material, re-recorded versions of older songs, and studio session tracks. A final proposed album titled ''Under Apollyon's Sun'' was never completed, although Fischer would later co-found a new group called

Apollyon Sun Apollyon Sun was a Swiss industrial metal band formed by singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer and guitarist Erol Unala in early 1995, after the termination of Celtic Frost, Fischer's prior group. The group was unofficially dissolved in 2001 whe ...

Post-breakup (1993–2001)

Several years after Celtic Frost disbanded, Fischer co-founded a new group called

with his friend Erol Unala on guitar. They recorded an EP, ''

God Leaves (And Dies) ''God Leaves (And Dies)'' is the debut EP by Swiss industrial metal band Apollyon Sun, released in 1997 via Mayan Records. "God Leaves" and "The Cane" were taken from the band's 1997 ''Industry Demonstration'' and were remastered for this relea ...

,'' and a full-length album, ''Sub''. Although rooted in Celtic Frost's more experimental sound, Apollyon Sun was an

industrial metal Industrial metal is the fusion of Heavy metal music, heavy metal and industrial music, typically employing repeating Heavy metal guitar, metal guitar riffs, sampling (music), sampling, synthesizer or music sequencer, sequencer lines, and Distor ...

project. During his hiatus from metal music, Fischer also completed an autobiographical book titled ''Are You Morbid?'', which was published by London-based Sanctuary Publishing to fan acclaim in 2000.

Reunion and ''Monotheist'' (2001–2008)

In late 2001, Fischer and Ain began writing music together, with Unala on guitar and, soon after in 2002, Swiss drummer Franco Sesa. Their goal was to develop and record a new dark and heavy album. The completion of the project took longer than anticipated, partly due to the DIY nature of the project and its financing, but it ultimately resulted in what Fischer and Ain described as "perhaps the darkest album Celtic Frost has ever recorded." The final Celtic Frost album was financed by the band through its own label, Prowling Death Records. This label had originally been self-founded to release the Hellhammer demos and manage Hellhammer's career in 1983 and 1984. The album was produced by Celtic Frost with Peter Tägtgren and mixed by Fischer and Ain. Celtic Frost and Prowling Death Records eventually entered into a worldwide licensing deal with Century Media Records. The album, titled ''Monotheist'', was released in May 2006. It was well-received by both critics and fans of the band. While experimental and heavy in nature, it is viewed as an evolution from the extreme metal styles first developed on ''Morbid Tales'' and ''To Mega Therion'', as well as the avant-garde style of ''Into the Pandemonium''. On 29 May 2006, Celtic Frost embarked on the most extensive tour of the band's career, the ''Monotheist Tour''. They initially headlined festivals (e.g.,

Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a Heavy metal music, heavy metal music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all ...

) across Europe and the United States/Canada in 2006, followed by the group's first-ever shows in Japan in early 2007. The European leg of the tour took place afterward, followed by a return to the United States to complete the tour with

Type O Negative Type O Negative was an American gothic/doom metal band formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1989 by Peter Steele (bass, lead vocals), Kenny Hickey (guitar, co-lead vocals), Josh Silver (keyboards, backing vocals), and Sal Abruscato (drums ...

. Additional festival appearances and concerts continued in mid-2007. On stage, Celtic Frost performed with an additional touring guitarist to handle

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a guitar technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse (music), pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., d ...

parts. This position was initially filled by Anders Odden, and later by V Santura.

Second breakup (2008–present)

There has been no discussion of recording a new album since the band's most recent breakup. Celtic Frost's final two performances took place in Mexico: one on 12 October 2007, in Monterrey, and the last on the following day in Mexico City.

Fischer resigned from Celtic Frost on 9 April 2008, with the following message displayed on the band's official website:

Celtic Frost singer and guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer has left Celtic Frost due to the irresolvable, severe erosion of the personal basis so urgently required to collaborate within a band so unique, volatile, and ambitious.

After this announcement, bassist Martin Eric Ain stated that the band was "still alive, albeit in a coma of sorts." He added that the remaining members would not "continue recording or touring," as it would be "preposterous" without Fischer. Fischer went on to form the band Triptykon with Celtic Frost's touring guitarist V Santura, former Celtic Frost drummer Reed St. Mark, and bassist Vanja Slajh. Fischer stated that his new band would pursue a sound similar to the direction Celtic Frost took on their final album, ''Monotheist''. On 9 September 2008, Celtic Frost's founding members, Martin Eric Ain and Tom Gabriel Fischer, confirmed on the band's official website that they had "jointly decided to lay Celtic Frost to rest for good". On 21 October 2017, Martin Eric Ain died at the age of 50 following a heart attack. In a 2021 interview with Heavy Culture, Tom Gabriel Fischer discussed the possibility of performing "one or two" Celtic Frost tribute shows in memory of Ain, featuring former members. He clarified that he had no interest in reforming the band since his departure, but might reunite former members for tribute shows: "Should this ever happen, it would not be a permanent project, nor would it be 'Celtic Frost,' despite the fact that it would Celtic Frost alumni. It would simply be a means to pay deference, perhaps for one or two concerts, to the deceased co-founder of the band." On 8 December 2022, Fischer's current band, Triptykon, announced they would be performing a Celtic Frost tribute set during the Saturday special guest slot at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the United Kingdom, following the withdrawal of

Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...

from that slot.

Musical style and influences

Celtic Frost's sound has undergone significant evolution over the years, making them difficult to categorize. The band's early work has been described as

and

. Celtic Frost are also often described as

, though some dissent, such as authors Axl Rosenberg and Christopher Krovatin, argue that the band's "music was too tight, and its connection to old-school rock 'n' roll music too readily apparent, to be black metal." In some instances, Celtic Frost is described as

due to a combination of ambient, classical, and

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...

elements in their music. Celtic Frost's later work, particularly ''Monotheist'', has been described as

. Fischer has stated that two main genres influenced Celtic Frost: heavy metal and new wave. "In Heavy Metal, it's fair to say bands like

, Angel Witch, and

influenced us. Martin and I were heavily influenced by the New Wave music of the time too, such as

, Christian Death, and I think it's a mix of these musical directions that influenced the sound of Celtic Frost." Ain was also noted for his interest in

, while Fischer's taste originated in a jazz and prog background. "I loved the '70s prog bands like

Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock Supergroup (music), supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitars, producer) ...

and early

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry (lead vocals/keyboards/principal songwriter) and Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson (bass). By the time the band recorded their Roxy Music (album), first albu ...

." The online music website The Quietus published an interview with Fischer about his favorite albums, comprising a list of 13 notable influences. At the top of this list was the album '' Gula Matari'' by

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

. Additionally, the band was influenced by

Killing Joke Killing Joke were an English rock music, rock band formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Killing Joke ...

Legacy

When Fischer was asked to comment on their influence on heavy metal, he replied: "No, I try to stay away from that. I'm a musician, I don't want to get involved with all that. It's not healthy. I want to do good albums. I'm still alive and I feel there's still so much in front of me. I don't want to be bothered with who has influence and where we stand and all that. I think it's a negative thing." Despite this, Celtic Frost have influenced a variety of metal bands. The band Therion, for example, took its band name from Celtic Frost's album ''To Mega Therion''. Other metal bands which have either cited Celtic Frost as an influence or covered Celtic Frost include:

Darkthrone Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band hailing from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991, Darkthrone transitioned to a black metal style influenced by Bathory (band), Bathory and Celtic Frost and ...

, Entombed, Tormentor,

Godflesh Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham. The group formed in 1982 under the original title O.P.D. (later Fall of Because) but did not release any complete music until 1988 when Justin Broadrick (guitar, vocals, programmi ...

, From Ashes Rise, Repulsion, Crowbar,

Integrity Integrity is the quality of being honest and having a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and Honesty, truthfulness or of one's actions. Integr ...

, Rorschach, Shai Hulud, Deviated Instinct,

Doom Doom is another name for damnation. Doom may also refer to: People * Doom (professional wrestling), the tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed * Daniel Doom (1934–2020), Belgian cyclist * Debbie Doom (born 1963), American softball pitche ...

, Moonspell,

Obituary An obituary (wikt:obit#Etymology 2, obit for short) is an Article (publishing), article about a recently death, deceased person. Newspapers often publish obituaries as Article (publishing), news articles. Although obituaries tend to focus on p ...

Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

Benediction A benediction (, 'well' + , 'to speak') is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service. It can also refer to a specific Christian religious service including the exposition of the eucharisti ...

Brutal Truth Brutal Truth was an American grindcore band from New York City, formed by ex-Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, and Stormtroopers of Death bass guitarist Dan Lilker in 1990. The group disbanded in 1999, but reformed in 2006 and continued to release mu ...

Neurosis Neurosis (: neuroses) is a term mainly used today by followers of Freudian thinking to describe mental disorders caused by past anxiety, often that has been repressed. In recent history, the term has been used to refer to anxiety-related con ...

Eyehategod Eyehategod (also abbreviated and referred to as EHG) is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana, who formed in 1988. They have become one of the better known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene. Their core lineup has r ...

Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...

Marduk Marduk (; cuneiform: Dingir, ᵈAMAR.UTU; Sumerian language, Sumerian: "calf of the sun; solar calf"; ) is a god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of Babylon who eventually rose to prominence in the 1st millennium BC. In B ...

Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...

, Goatwhore,

Sepultura Sepultura (, "grave")Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 17. is a Brazilian heavy metal band formed in Belo Horizonte in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera.Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 16. They were a major force in the groove metal, thrash met ...

Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

, Asphyx, Pro-Pain,

Gorgoroth Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. It was formed in 1992 by guitarist Infernus, who is the sole original member remaining, and has released nine studio albums. Gorgoroth are a Satanism, Satanic band and have drawn contro ...

, Gallhammer,

Paradise Lost ''Paradise Lost'' is an Epic poetry, epic poem in blank verse by the English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The poem concerns the Bible, biblical story of the fall of man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their ex ...

Evoken Evoken is an American funeral doom band from Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States. Evoken is one of the earliest U.S. death-doom bands that are still active today, along with Novembers Doom and Rigor Sardonicous. History Founding years T ...

Napalm Death Napalm Death are an English grindcore band formed in Meriden, West Midlands, in 1981. None of the band's original members have been in the group since 1986, but since ''Utopia Banished'' (1992), the lineup of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mi ...

Coroner A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death. The official may also investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within th ...

, another pioneering Swiss extreme metal band, originally started off as road crew for Celtic Frost.

Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...

and

Mark Tremonti Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed (band), Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other ...

have both stated on several occasions that Celtic Frost were an influence. Grohl consequently invited Fischer to participate in the recordings of his 2004 solo album, '' Probot'', resulting in the song "Big Sky". Alternative country singer

Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American Rock music, rock and Country music, country singer-songwriter. He has released 30 studio albums and three as a former member of Whiskeytown. In 2000, Adams left Whiskeytown and released ...

has also claimed influence from Celtic Frost. In 1996, Dwell Records released '' In Memory of Celtic Frost'', a collection of Celtic Frost songs covered by other bands. Notable bands that appeared in this tribute include Enslaved, covering "Procreation of the Wicked";

Opeth Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. The band incorporates folk music, folk, blues, classical music, classical, and jazz elements into its usually lengthy compositions, as well as strong influences from deat ...

, covering "Circle of the Tyrants";

Grave A grave is a location where a cadaver, dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is burial, buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of buria ...

, covering "Mesmerize"; Slaughter, covering "Dethroned Emperor";

(featuring Fischer himself), covering "Babylon Fell";

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

, covering "Massacra", and Mayhem, covering "Visual Aggression". This hard to find CD is now out of print. In 2015, Corpse Flower Records released a tribute of their own entitled ''Morbid Tales! A Tribute to Celtic Frost''. It too compiles a number of Celtic Frost covers by other bands, including Child Bite, Acid Witch,

Municipal Waste Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to food waste, a ...

, and Hayward, among others. In 2018, British deathcore band, Black Tongue covered the song "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh" on their second album, Nadir which was released on Halloween of 2018. The hip-hop group "Circle of Tyrants" featuring Necro,

Ill Bill William Braunstein (born July 14, 1972), professionally known by his stage name Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York City. Having gained fame in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known ...

, Goretex, and Mr Hyde also took their name from the Celtic Frost song.

Band members

;Final lineup * Thomas Gabriel Fischer – guitars, lead vocals * Martin Eric Ain – bass, co-lead vocals * Franco Sesa – drums, percussion ;Live members * Ron Marks – guitars * Anders Odden – guitars * V Santura – guitars ;Former members * Isaac Darso – drums * Dominic Steiner – bass * Reed St. Mark – drums, percussion * Curt Victor Bryant – bass , guitars * Oliver Amberg – guitars *

Erol Unala Erol Uenala, also known as Erol Unala, is a Swiss industrial and metal musician. He was a member of the industrial metal band Apollyon Sun and the thrash metal band Celtic Frost. Career Uenala and his brother Kurt grew up in Aadorf Aadorf is ...

– guitars * Stephen Priestly – drums

Timeline

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:60 top:5 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:06/01/1984 till:09/09/2008 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1985 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1985 Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_release id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:EP id:bars value:gray(0.95) BackgroundColors = bars:bars LineData = at:11/01/1984 color:other layer:back at:08/15/1985 color:other layer:back at:10/27/1985 color:black layer:back at:06/30/1986 color:other layer:back at:11/02/1987 color:black layer:back at:09/01/1988 color:black layer:back at:04/11/1990 color:black layer:back at:05/29/2006 color:black layer:back BarData = bar:Warrior text:"Tom Gabriel Warrior" bar:Ain text:"Martin Eric Ain" bar:Steiner text:"Dominic Steiner" bar:Bryant text:"Curt Victor Bryant" bar:Amberg text:"Oliver Amberg" bar:Unala text:"Erol Unala" bar:Darso text:"Isaac Darso" bar:Priestly text:"Stephen Priestly" bar:St.Mark text:"Reed St. Mark" bar:Sesa text:"Franco Sesa" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Warrior from:06/01/1984 till:03/01/1987 color:Vocals bar:Warrior from:06/01/1987 till:06/30/1993 color:Vocals bar:Warrior from:09/30/2001 till:end color:Vocals bar:Warrior from:06/01/1984 till:03/01/1987 color:Guitar width:3 bar:Warrior from:06/01/1987 till:06/30/1993 color:Guitar width:3 bar:Warrior from:09/30/2001 till:end color:Guitar width:3 bar:Amberg from:01/01/1988 till:06/30/1989 color:Guitar bar:Amberg from:01/01/1988 till:06/30/1989 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:Ain from:06/01/1984 till:06/30/1985 color:Bass bar:Steiner from:06/30/1985 till:12/31/1985 color:Bass bar:Ain from:01/01/1986 till:03/01/1987 color:Bass bar:Ain from:06/01/1987 till:12/31/1987 color:Bass bar:Ain from:06/01/1987 till:12/31/1987 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:Ain from:02/01/1990 till:06/30/1993 color:Bass bar:Ain from:02/01/1990 till:06/30/1993 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:Ain from:09/30/2001 till:end color:Bass bar:Ain from:09/30/2001 till:end color:Vocals width:3 bar:Bryant from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1990 color:Bass bar:Bryant from:02/01/1990 till:06/30/1993 color:Guitar bar:Bryant from:01/01/1988 till:06/30/1993 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:Unala from:09/30/2001 till:12/31/2005 color:Guitar bar:Darso from:06/01/1984 till:07/30/1984 color:Drums bar:Priestly from:08/01/1984 till:12/31/1984 color:Drums bar:Priestly from:03/01/1988 till:06/30/1992 color:Drums bar:Priestly from:03/01/1988 till:06/30/1992 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:St.Mark from:01/01/1985 till:03/01/1987 color:Drums bar:St.Mark from:06/01/1987 till:03/01/1988 color:Drums bar:St.Mark from:06/01/1987 till:03/01/1988 color:Bvocals width:3 bar:St.Mark from:06/30/1992 till:06/30/1993 color:Drums bar:Sesa from:06/30/2002 till:end color:Drums

Discography

Studio albums * '' Morbid Tales'' (EP, 1984; re-released in 1999) * '' To Mega Therion'' (LP, 1985; re-released in 1999) * '' Into the Pandemonium'' (LP, 1987; re-released in 1999) * '' Cold Lake'' (LP, 1988) * '' Vanity/Nemesis'' (LP, 1990; re-released in 1999) * ''

'' (LP, 2006) – US Ind #43, US Heat #37 EPs * '' Emperor's Return'' (1985; re-released as part of '' Morbid Tales'' in 1999) * ''

Tragic Serenades ''Tragic Serenades'' is an EP by Swiss extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal s ...

'' (1986; re-released as part of '' To Mega Therion'' in 1999) * ''I Won't Dance'' (1987) Singles * "Wine in My Hand" (Germany, 1990) Compilations * '' Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying'' (1992) * ''Are You Morbid?'' (2003) * ''Innocence and Wrath'' (2017) Video albums * ''Live at Hammersmith Odeon'' (1989; VHS & Japanese Laserdisc) Music videos * "Circle of the Tyrants" (1986) * "Cherry Orchards" (1988) * "Wine in My Hand (Third from the Sun)" (1989) * "Jewel Throne" (live) (1989) * "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh" (2006)

Bibliography

References

Sources

External links

*
Interview with Martin Eric Ain
''Broward-Palm Beach New Times'', 19 October 2006
Interview with Tom Fisher about new album
''Metal Underground''
Interview with Gabriel Tom Fischer
''Avantgarde Metal'', 2010
Former Celtic Frost Guitarist Joins DSN Music For New Release
''Blabbermouth.net'', 13 July 2012 {{Authority control Swiss thrash metal musical groups Swiss heavy metal musical groups Avant-garde metal musical groups Doom metal musical groups Century Media Records artists Musical groups established in 1984 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Musical groups reestablished in 2001 Musical groups disestablished in 2008 Swiss musical trios Metal Blade Records artists Noise Records artists 1984 establishments in Switzerland 2008 disestablishments in Switzerland English-language musical groups from Switzerland