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Monotheist

Celtic Frost - Monotheist Audio CD

A fair review of the Celtic Frost "Monotheist" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Celtic Frost reviews here, or go back to the Celtic Frost tabs.

Band: Celtic Frost
Title: Monotheist
Rating:

Release Date: 2006-05-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Progeny 2: Ground 3: Dying God Coming into Human Flesh 4: Drown in Ashes 5: Os Abysmi Vel Daath 6: Obscured 7: Domain of Decay 8: Ain Elohim 9: Triptych: Totengott 10: Triptych: Synagoga Satanae 11: Triptych: Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)

This is Celtic Frost?
And, I truly believe CF is one of the most innovative and original bands ever. I have been a Celtic Frost fan since the 80's. They were definitely the pioneers of the Black Metal and Doom genres. That being said words cannot describe the sheer disappointment I felt when I first heard "Monotheist". Their first release in years is utterly awful and unbearable to listen to. . . and I tried real hard. This album makes "Cold Lake" sound like a musical masterpiece. I gave this album one star out of respect to the band that released such classics like To Mega Therion, Into The Pandemonium and Vanity/Nemesis. If this was the direction CF was planning on taking before the drama queen Tom Warrior left the band. . . then I'm very glad.

Best of 2006.
They make all sorts of metal music. Celtic Frost are a crossover band from Switzerland and Germany. . . thrash, black metal, etc. , but on this album I would call this heavey metal drone or Gothic Doom Metal. I love the songs. . . verry intellectual lyrics. I think this is one of the best albums of 2006.

Okay, but I hate some of the songs.
On the one hand, this means I can't make any meaningful comparisons with their other albums, because it's been a while since I've heard their other albums. Firstly I'd like to say that I've never been much of a Celtic Frost fan. On the other hand, it means I can review this objectively because I don't care that it sounds different.

Having read that this was more doomy/gothicky than anything else, I was fully prepared to dislike it but somehow bought it anyway. I was unexpectedly quite impressed with "Progeny," though, like other songs on the album, it seemed a bit repetitive and plodding. It is plodding, but repeated listens made me decide this is a good thing. Tom G. manages to get some actual singing in here while still sounding extremely gruff and p***ed off. I mean, really p***ed off. It's hard to listen to this without frowning. This is just slow, heavy and bleak stuff.

"Ground" is another one I liked. Normally I'd laugh at anything with such melodramatic lyrics as "Oh God, why have you forsaken me?" repeated ad nauseam, but they are sung with enough conviction that it doesn't bother me. "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh" breaks up the pace a bit by starting off quietly before the general chugging sound of this album returns.

And then, suddenly, things take a turn for the worst with "Drown in Ashes" and "Obscured," with gothic-y female vocals. I have nothing against female vocals, it's the style that killed these songs for me. The less I say about these, the better.

Thankfully, things pick up with "Os Abysmi Vel Daath," possibly my favorite track, with more slow, chugging guitars and semi-melodic vocals. The weird midsection with sound effects and little else seems a bit drawn-out, but otherwise, this is nearing perfection. "Ain Elohim" has a nice groove to it, though also slow and chugging. The album ends with a triptych of 3 songs which don't really seem to add much, th last of which is a keyboardy sort of outro.

It does sound different than their previous albums, but after all these years, what would you expect? The pace is slow, the whole thing is plodding and repetitive, but the atmosphere of gloom and doom is amazing. There are a couple of tracks that I routinely skip, and you have to be in the right mood to listen to this, but for the most part I think it is a quality album.

The All New Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost has been around for quite some time now. Let's face it. Music changes over the years. One cannot compare their older material with the new. Or even try to judge them for all the changes in their careers because Thomas G. Fischer is different to any other producer. He is unique and he even states that his intentions are to simply bring new music within every release. He meant it that way. It is a way to keep the audience interested and expecting more from these pioneers.
Celtic Frost has come long ways adapting to the brave new world, yet keeping fans satisfied.
I personally think that Vanity Nemesis was their best production, but that is just my opinion. I bought this CD for collection purposes.
It's pretty good although more complex than previous albums especially with all the special effects and riffs involved in the recording. Their lyrics are still a bit poetic as well as senseless for the most part. Hey. Just like the Celtic Frost we know. .

old school fan who appreciates the experimentation
I swear for the first 45 min they didn't even get beyond songs from '86. First off, I just saw CF in chicago a few days ago and all I can say is that they absolutely killed. They only played 3 songs off the new one, a couple off Pandemonium & the rest were true classics. Cheers to the boys for assembling such a killer set list and for hiring a qualified sound guy (which is a lot more than what i can say for the Lamb of god show I saw the night earlier - yeesh!).
Now on to the album . . . . yeah it isn't as heavy as the old days but these guys have never put out an album that you could anticipate or expect. There are some truly heavy songs on here and Tom's trademark guitar sound is still there & the new drummer really does seem to fit well w/ the others. A few songs on here are a bit Bauhaus/Sisters of Mercy influenced & tempo (gee that wouldn't be Martin Ain now would it?)but at least it isn't that cold lake crap. It takes a few listens but it is truly a unique record for such a heavy band. If you get the chance to see 'em play live do it - they sound great and won't tour too much after this. Pick up this cd for sure but pick up all the pre-cold lake releases if you don't already have 'em first. Morbid tales is one of the best death metal albums ever. .

You can see a complete list of all Celtic Frost discography, or go back to the Celtic Frost tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.