Celtic Frost
Monotheist

THE REVIEW

The Swiss-metaller Messer Thomas “Warrior” Fischer, after some wavering, if not indecisive, musical adventures, reunites [un poquito fondoraschiobarilescamente] the shattered ice-Celtic pieces, relaunching the eighties' note to the most avant-garde/metal creaturam.

Called back to himself the equally veteran companion of ferocious adventures (Monsieur Martin E. Ain), he strengthens after more than a good fifteen years, the Frosteggiante joint-venture, restarting makeup/iconographically and [especially] soundwise from the inexplicably interrupted path, with the arduous perspectiva of achieving, through the substantial neo-trabajo, the super-classic and nth (geronto/qratico) case of a comeback as improbable as it is credible.

Fruit of a o[c]cul(t)ate and prolonged gestation in the background and through the endorsement of the hyper-metallic Century Media, the work "Monotheist" shapes up as what one would have expected years-et-years-or-so ago from the recalcitrant post-thrash/metal-esque congregation, that is, Materiam Superabat Opus: an adequate and, above all, intriguing follow-up {on the less than mediocre "Vanity/Nemesis" ['90], but especially the unspeakable "Cold Lake" ['88], (vulgar metal disguised as pseudo-glam/rock), I would cover with a thick layer of heavy alpine/winter qùoperte} to the spectacular ultra/progressive "Pandemonium" work [in other words: at eighteen years, the pre-collapse synapses perceived it as such... (it is known: in youth, one often exaggerates in innocent bursts of abundant generosity)] dated millenovecent/eighty-seven.

The diversified yet troubled up-to-date work in quaestionem, results in sound-provided sound-productionem which to define effective is to commit a grave injustice to the density and resoluteness of the perceived sonorities. The Celtic moreover chilling trabajo unfolds through eleven tortuous new de-compositions endowed with a recognizably aggressive/middle-European flair: thank heaven (perhaps inferno, would be more appropriate..) no monotonous "squared heaviness" is present within the multiphorme Frost-trabajo; a more than abundant hour of impeccable [often overwhelming] neo-metallic/substance, episodically marked by an unexpected and brave variety in the promulgated sonorities: a work which, in all sincerity, goes far beyond any rosier (or obscura, you do your thing) sensible-prevision.

The fearsome unhealthy and invasive para-Hellhammerian guitaristics contained in the murky and dark “Ain Elohim”, the authentic abyss inflicted upon the intimidated listener named “Os Abysmi Vel Daathla”, the derailing “My Domain Of Decay” or again the proemial duo formed by the massive and smashing (but with tact) “Progeny” and the subsequent, saturated, “Ground” sound exactly as one would expect today from a credible (and intelligent: few, to be honest) contemporary sulfur-band: a significant sound-density often intensely engaging, not the result of shoddy and reiterated paroxysmal speeds and/or assorted sound-clowneries, mais simplement since endowed with overwhelming as well as highly turgid (vehement) personality. There are also some albeit willing pieces, bearers of a celtic-unusual and frost-expansive sound-intentionality with explicitly serious/dark peculiarities [see the Apollyon’s Sun-influenced “Drown In Ashes” or the slightly redundant “A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh” ] which, though not at all despicable, seem not to fully penetrate the intriguing potentials expressed in much of the work, not blending coherently with the caustic (but reasonable and reasoned) general surrounding climax.

Presumably, today-come-aujourd’hui, if in the dark packaging there wasn't engraved the veteran-monicker Celtic Icelike [the nostalgia of youthful times, in this sense, plays an intriguing breccia-di-porta-pia/role], I don't know if I would have {erroneously..} granted repeated attention to a work of such massive metal-nature [tempus fugit, gustatos modificandum]: it stands here de facto at the end of the audio-journey, one experiences the unexpected as well as natural finger-phalanx instinct to reiterate (ad infinitum) the intrigued and satisfied listening.

“Innovative. Avant garde. Brave. Brutal. Bizarre. Electrifying. Unique.”
States the generous and “partisan” Celtic Frostian web-brochure… forgot only a not at all negligible last detail: UH !!!!!