Orgazmatracks 4
Mayhem
Alienating the youth

Cryptopsy - Once was Not
Ihsahn - The Adversary
CELTIC FROST - Monotheist
SODOMIZED!!!!
ANATHEMA - Silent Enigma

CELTIC FROST - Monotheist
by ZombiePriest on

1. "Progeny" 2. "Ground" 3. "A 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 I: "Totengott" 10. Triptych II: "Synagoga Satanae" 11. Triptych III: "Winter"

Like any decent album should, this one kicks off with noisy guitar feedback. Seconds later, the full Celtic Frost onslaught takes a grip of your eardrums. Celtic Frost needs no introduction to most, but this album might take some getting used to. Fischer and Ain describe _Monotheist_ as "perhaps the darkest album Celtic Frost have ever recorded", and they may very well be right. The primal thrash-style riffing is still prominent, only the arrangements have a new kind of sophistication to them. There is nothing to quite match the brilliance of "Necromantical Screams" however, but for a band of this caliber comparison to former glories is hardly fair. Celtic Frost is clearly looking ahead, and for the most part it is successful.

After a solid beginning, the album hits a quiet patch which I found annoying at first. However, after listening to it several times, I either got used to it or found it to contribute to the overall feel of the album after all. This is mostly due to the atmosphere it creates - almost like a void in which the listener is sucked, lulled into a false sense of security before the harsher later tracks possesses him. Lyrically, the themes are delightfully dark although the choruses sometimes seem a bit irrelevant. One sometimes gets the idea that the lyrics were written first and forced to fit. Reading the linear notes is more fulfilling than hearing the lyrics. There are a few exceptions, notably "Obscured", "Ground" and "Progeny" which are all pristine in every way. "Obscured" may be closer to good Goth than Metal though! Celtic Frost purists beware. This album may not be for you. The third part of their Requiem, namely "Winter" does sound like the final part of something. Perhaps try listening to all three parts in succession to get the full effect?

The production is simply incredible. Peter Tägtren manages to put everything in its right place - especially the vocals. The different vocalists on the album sound like they are one Gorgon with throat cancer and an attitude. Celtic Frost still manages to capture the latent animal in man with each soundscape, although I can't help but feel that it should have been better. This is definitely not the best Celtic Frost record out there, but there are times when it spits forth pure venom from the speakers.

NOTE: All Century Media stock is now available through EMI. This means you should be paying local prices for them. This particular album should be retailing for roughly R130. Do not get ripped off and point this out to shops who are asking more!


Rating:

72%

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