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, Hellhammer, in 1982. Steve Warrior was later replaced by Martin Eric Ain - also a pseudonym. The band attracted a small international fan-base, got signed to Noise Records in Germany and recorded their debut EP "Apocalyptic Raids" in March 1984, now a rare finding on e-Bay or second hand record stores around the world.
By May 1984, Hellhammer had disbanded. Fischer and Ain, along with session drummer Stephen Priestly, regrouped as Celtic Frost. Their 1984 debut LP, Morbid Tales was a hit on the underground metal scene, and the band set out on its first tour, through Germany and Austria. This was followed with an EP “Emperor's Return”. Both early releases are now available on one CD. One of their more influential recordings was 1985's "To Mega Therion", followed in 1987 by "Into the Pandemonium". These albums were some of the pivotal LPs for underground metal and inducted a new and more varied sound. Celtic Frost, along with Venom and Bathory were pioneers in the still underground black metal scene, although Celtic Frost were much more experimental with the addition of classical instruments, opera vocals and sampling. They were given the new title of avant-garde metal.
After a subsequent North American tour (which saw the addition of a second guitarist, Ron Marks to the groups ranks), financial trouble, personal tension between the band members and an ill-fated relationship with their record label led to a complete dissolution of the band. Six months later, Warrior decided to reform the band with Stephen Priestly back on drums, Oliver Amberg on guitars and Curt Victor Bryant on bass. The resulting album "Cold Lake" was a disappointment to most of the group's established fan-base but achieved notable success in the North American market. Bryant fired Amberg and former live guitarist Ron Marks returned as a guest for the recording of "Vanity / Nemesis" in 1990. The most significant change, however, was the return of early bassist Martin Eric Ain. But Celtic Frost's reputation did not fully recover. The group’s next (and, as it would turn out, last for several years) album was a collection of rare and unreleased recordings called "Parched With Thirst Am I and Dying" in 1992. The compilation's title was inspired by an old Roman prayer. It featured unreleased material, re-recorded versions of older songs and some studio session versions, closing the chapter on one of the most important underground and experimental bands of all time.
A final album titled “Under Apollyon's Sun” never eventuated under that title, although Fischer co-founded a new group called Apollyon Sun. Celtic Frost were disbanded in 1993.
In late 2001, Fischer and Ain began to write music together again, along with Unala on guitar and, from late 2002, experienced Swiss drummer Franco Sesa (also known within the group as the Inverted Cross). The aim was to develop and record a new, very dark and heavy album. The completion of the project took far longer than anticipated (in part due to the DIY nature of the project and the project’s financing) but finally resulted, in late 2005, in what Fischer and Ain describe as “perhaps the darkest album Celtic Frost have ever recorded”, based on a combination of the musical aura of "To Mega Therion" and "Into the Pandemonium".
The newest and seventh Celtic Frost album was financed by the group itself through its own imprint, “Prowling Death Records”, and publishing imprint, “Diktatur des Kapitals”. Prowling Death Records originally was the self-founded underground label which released the Hellhammer demos and managed Hellhammer’s career in 1983 and 1984. The album was produced by Celtic Frost with Peter Tägtgren (of Bloodbath/Hypocrisy/Pain fame) and mixed by Fischer and Ain. Celtic Frost and Prowling Death Records subsequently entered into a worldwide licensing deal with Century Media Records. The album, titled "Monotheist", was released on May 30th, 2006.
On May 29, 2006, Celtic Frost embarked on the most extensive tour of the band’s career, the “Monotheist Tour”, initially headlining festivals (e.g. the Wacken Open Air festival, in front of an audience of 50,000) across Europe the United States and Canada in 2006, and the group’s first ever shows in Japan in January 2007. In early 2007 the European leg of the tour took place and a return to the United States as a special guest to Type O Negative. Further festival appearances and concerts followed in mid-2007.
Fischer tendered his resignation from Celtic Frost on April 9th, 2008, with this 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.”
Bassist Ain stated that the band “is still alive, albeit in a coma of sorts.” He went on further to say that the remainder of the band is “not going to continue recording or touring,” saying this “would be preposterous” without Fischer. Fischer has himself gone on to form a new band called Triptykon, featuring Celtic Frost touring guitarist V Santura, original Celtic Frost drummer Reed St. Mark, as well as bassist Vanja Slay. Fischer has also said that his new band will sound similar to the direction Celtic Frost took on their 2006 album, "Monotheist".
Jewel Throne
Celtic Frost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Empty eyes are staring now, to my feet a land of sorrow
I'm the king, sitting in the dark hiding from the shadows of the wind
Wafts of might, wine of fire, I was called to taste
Silver horses brought us here, to the edge of the universe
We left the falling walls as the stars' collapse began
Now I rest on the highest steps, revealed the eternal frontier
Fallen have the "chosen ones", debris remain in the dust
Far behind, beyond the sands, the wind sings to those who fell
Forever now, my hands laid down the poisoned weapons
I will pray to my gods, searching for the mysteries
The lyrics of Celtic Frost's song "Jewel Throne" describe a king who has been brought to a place of sorrow and darkness. He reflects on his past, where he once sought guidance from his gods and tasted the "might" and "fire" of the wine. He remembers a journey through the universe on silver horses, leaving behind crumbling walls and arriving at the "Jewel Throne," where he contemplates the infinite. He also acknowledges the fallen and the debris that remain from their demise.
The lyrics of "Jewel Throne" are open to interpretation, but they seem to explore themes of power, mortality, and the search for meaning. The king in the song has reached a point where he has achieved great power and knowledge, but is still searching for answers. The imagery of the "Jewel Throne" and the portal of infinity suggests that he is contemplating the infinite possibilities of existence, while the debris left behind by the "chosen ones" serves as a reminder of mortality and the transience of power.
Line by Line Meaning
Once prayed to my gods, searching for the whistled memories
I used to pray to my gods trying to remember something significant
Empty eyes are staring now, to my feet a land of sorrow
Now, I see only despair and hopelessness in my surroundings
I'm the king, sitting in the dark hiding from the shadows of the wind
I'm the king, but have to hide from the winds that follow me everywhere.
Wafts of might, wine of fire, I was called to taste
Feeling powerful as if I was called to indulge in strong wines and unquenchable fires.
Silver horses brought us here, to the edge of the universe
We traveled here on silver horses, to the very edge of the known universe.
We left the falling walls as the stars' collapse began
As the stars were collapsing, we escaped from the crumbling walls behind us.
Now I rest on the highest steps, revealed the eternal frontier
I'm now resting on the highest steps and gazing forward to the infinite frontier.
As I gaze from the Jewel Throne to the portal of infinity
I'm staring at the portal of infinity from the Jewel Throne.
Fallen have the "chosen ones", debris remain in the dust
Those chosen have fallen, leaving nothing but their remains behind in the dust.
Far behind, beyond the sands, the wind sings to those who fell
The winds carry the songs for those who have fallen beyond the sands.
Forever now, my hands laid down the poisoned weapons
I have given up the dangerous ways of my past.
I will pray to my gods, searching for the mysteries
I will continue to pray to my gods, seeking enlightenment amidst life's mysteries.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GABRIEL FISCHER THOMAS, THOMAS GABRIEL FISCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
andxmenx
Jewel Throne
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Once prayed to my gods, searching for the whistled memories
Empty eyes are staring now, to my feet a land of sorrow
I'm the king, sitting in the dark hiding from the shadows of the wind
Wafts of might, wine of fire, I was called to taste
Silver horses brought us here, to the edge of the universe
We left the falling walls as the stars' collapse began
Now I rest on the highest steps, revealed the eternal frontier
As I gaze from the Jewel Throne to the portal of infinity
Fallen have the "chosen ones", debris remain in the dust
Far behind, beyond the sands, the wind sings to those who fell
Forever now, my hands laid down the poisoned weapons
I will pray to my gods, searching for the mysteries
Bill
I'd love to have that album cover as a print on my wall. Awesome artwork.
David Gadea
Celtic Frosties Forever !!! Cheers and Life On !!! Salud y Vida Pa'lante !!!
Raw Lego Short Videos
Love it
JAMM BARJAMM
This is death metal...
Primitive In The Extreme
🤘👺🤘
Bozo Baggins
Ooooough