Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Century Media - CD 8200-2 - 2006
By Philip Whitehouse
Possibly the second most anticipated comeback album after Chinese Democracy, Celtic Frost's return to the metal scene after around thirteen years has been awaited with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. After a series of hugely influential albums, the Swiss-American group's spectacular fall from grace following the disastrous Cold Lake album left many wondering whether they could ever claw back their fanbase and their credibility. Well, if there is any justice in the world, the jet-black monument of despondently crushing metal that is Monotheist help them do just that.
Co-produced by Pete Tagtren and Tom Gabriel Fischer himself, Monotheist has been around six years in the making, and combines most of the best aspects of Celtic Frost's back catalogue with Fischer's apparently relentless drive for musical experimentation, resulting in a lead-heavy album laced with trappings of brutal thrash, massively down-tuned doom, EBM vocals, dark ambient soundscapes with insanely distorted vocals, and a frighteningly impressive atmosphere.
Whether it be the funeral march pace and chanted, mantra-esque lyrics of 'Os Abysmi Vel Daath' suddenly giving way to a burst of double-kick adrenaline before collapsing under its own weight to give way to another plodding march, or the gradual building of seven-minute 'Obscured' from skeletal drumming, subliminal bass and sparing feedback to a heartbreakingly epic crescendo with only subtle changes in the song's arrangement throughout, or the hauntingly gorgeous orchestral album closer 'Winter' bringing Monotheist to it's final resting place, the entire album feels like a veritable torrent of emotion has gone into it's creation. There's hardly a weak point throughout. Tom's vocals are amazingly varied throughout, going from wildly aggressive strangled screaming to Sisters Of Mercy-esque goth vocals, to despondent moaning and through just about every point in between except perhaps for falsettos. Oh yeah, to my count, there's only one 'ugh' on the album. I'll let you listen out for that, because this is definitely an album that deserves a place in your collection.
9/10
Celtic Frost's Official Website
Century Media's Official Website
Century Media - CD 8200-2 - 2006
By Philip Whitehouse
Possibly the second most anticipated comeback album after Chinese Democracy, Celtic Frost's return to the metal scene after around thirteen years has been awaited with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. After a series of hugely influential albums, the Swiss-American group's spectacular fall from grace following the disastrous Cold Lake album left many wondering whether they could ever claw back their fanbase and their credibility. Well, if there is any justice in the world, the jet-black monument of despondently crushing metal that is Monotheist help them do just that.
Co-produced by Pete Tagtren and Tom Gabriel Fischer himself, Monotheist has been around six years in the making, and combines most of the best aspects of Celtic Frost's back catalogue with Fischer's apparently relentless drive for musical experimentation, resulting in a lead-heavy album laced with trappings of brutal thrash, massively down-tuned doom, EBM vocals, dark ambient soundscapes with insanely distorted vocals, and a frighteningly impressive atmosphere.
Whether it be the funeral march pace and chanted, mantra-esque lyrics of 'Os Abysmi Vel Daath' suddenly giving way to a burst of double-kick adrenaline before collapsing under its own weight to give way to another plodding march, or the gradual building of seven-minute 'Obscured' from skeletal drumming, subliminal bass and sparing feedback to a heartbreakingly epic crescendo with only subtle changes in the song's arrangement throughout, or the hauntingly gorgeous orchestral album closer 'Winter' bringing Monotheist to it's final resting place, the entire album feels like a veritable torrent of emotion has gone into it's creation. There's hardly a weak point throughout. Tom's vocals are amazingly varied throughout, going from wildly aggressive strangled screaming to Sisters Of Mercy-esque goth vocals, to despondent moaning and through just about every point in between except perhaps for falsettos. Oh yeah, to my count, there's only one 'ugh' on the album. I'll let you listen out for that, because this is definitely an album that deserves a place in your collection.
9/10
Celtic Frost's Official Website
Century Media's Official Website
