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".
Rex Irae
Celtic Frost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those who saw: Essence or fall
Floods of dramatic silence
And words, from whom we don't know
[OVERTURE/KING WRATH:]
Let me dream ...
I have tasted the weight of lust
My hands on the skein of height
... A pallid death
Mirage into dark
The horizons echo your glance
Following a detractive sleep
I am the wrath beneath the heavens
The downfall's monologue
Fallen into the vision of effect
Quiet as gods can be
(Joining the king's words)Orgies of fear
lnbreeding and death
I have walked Carthagia's sands
l've touched those buried walls
I am the ...
All mortal is love?
Remembrance has won
Breathing glorified innonce
Quiescence has died therefore
I am the ...
[REMEMBRANCE I:]
We stood before the portals of Babylon
And saw it's petrified fall
... Have seen your decline's symbols
But carried another life
We tasted the wine of Persepolis,
As mute as our era's breath
Death was never a fragment of
Exalting fantasy ...
[REMEMBRANCE III (?):]
This last region - Last of fire
Orgasmic cries - Tears and words
Wrath and strenght - Oh, gods! For you!
Before the throne ... - Death
[OVERTURE: FINALE:]
Fright and praise
A faded light
Intimate rests my book
Unwritten what seems true
I am the ...
Art of might!
You remaining king
Take your predesessor's hand
You son of my Jade gift ...
I am the ...
The lyrics of Celtic Frost's song Rex Irae are both cryptic and intense. The verses seem to be a narrative of a king's death and subsequent journey to the afterlife, as well as his legacy left behind. The opening lines are a reference to the king joining his father's feast, an allusion to the afterlife or perhaps the underworld ruled by a powerful deity. The following lines speak of floods of dramatic silence and unidentified words, which could be a metaphoric representation of the king being overwhelmed by his own impending mortality.
The rest of the song is challenging to interpret, as it seems to mix together themes of love, death, power, and destruction. The repeating chorus of "I am the..." could be a rallying cry to those left behind or a proclamation of the king's own greatness, even in death. The song's sense of urgency and darkness is intensified by the ominous chanting, heavy guitars, and ominous drumbeats.
Overall, Rex Irae is a complex, vivid, and brooding work of art, which requires multiple listens to appreciate fully.
Line by Line Meaning
You ...... have joined your father's feast
You have died and gone to the afterlife where you are reunited with your father.
Those who saw: Essence or fall
Some people saw the essence of your being, while others just saw your downfall.
Floods of dramatic silence
There is a heightened emotional intensity, but no actual sound or noise.
And words, from whom we don't know
There were words spoken or written, but it is unclear who said or wrote them.
Let me dream ...
I wish to dream or imagine something.
Flee from false ...
Escape from anything that is deceptive or untrue.
I have tasted the weight of lust
I have experienced the heaviness or burden of desire or passion.
My hands on the skein of height
I have reached a high level, but it may not be stable or secure.
... A pallid death
A pale, lifeless form of death.
Mirage into dark
An illusion or something unreal in the darkness or unknown.
The horizons echo your glance
The distance or future seems to reflect or be affected by your presence or gaze.
Following a detractive sleep
After a restless or negative state of unconsciousness.
I am the wrath beneath the heavens
I am the intense anger or punishment from a higher power.
The downfall's monologue
The speech or expression of the ruin or failure.
Fallen into the vision of effect
Become part of the outcome or result of what has been seen or imagined.
Quiet as gods can be
Perfectly silent, like the gods.
(Joining the king's words)Orgies of fear
The collective terror of many people.
lnbreeding and death
Reproduction between closely related individuals resulting in death.
I have walked Carthagia's sands
I have traveled through Carthage and its desert.
l've touched those buried walls
I have come into contact with the ancient, hidden walls.
I am the ...
I am the embodiment of something significant.
All mortal is love?
Is love the only thing that makes us truly mortal?
Remembrance has won
The ability to recall memories or experiences is victorious.
Breathing glorified innonce
Existing in a state of blissful purity and perfection.
Quiescence has died therefore
The state of being calm, peaceful, or inactive has ended.
We stood before the portals of Babylon
We were present at the entrance to the mystical city of Babylon.
And saw it's petrified fall
Witnessed the once-glorious Babylon turn into stone or ruin.
But carried another life
Despite seeing Babylon's fall, we continued to live and carry on with another existence.
We tasted the wine of Persepolis,
We drank the wine associated with the historical city of Persepolis.
As mute as our era's breath
Silent in the same way the current era is.
Death was never a fragment of
Death was never a small, insignificant part of something.
This last region - Last of fire
This final area or territory is characterized by flames or intense heat.
Orgasmic cries - Tears and words
Moans and weeping sounds mixed with spoken language.
Wrath and strenght - Oh, gods! For you!
Intense rage and power are directed or presented to the gods.
Before the throne ... - Death
Facing the throne or the highest authority, often understood as death.
Fright and praise
Simultaneous fear and admiration.
A faded light
A diminished or weak source of illumination.
Intimate rests my book
My book is privately and comfortably at rest.
Unwritten what seems true
What appears to be authentic or genuine is not written down or verified.
Art of might!
The skillful and formidable power or ability.
You remaining king
The ruler who has survived or persisted.
Take your predesessor's hand
Literally or figuratively, take the hand of the previous ruler for guidance or to carry on the legacy.
You son of my Jade gift ...
You, the offspring or inheritor of something precious and valuable.
I am the ...
I am the embodiment of something significant.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: FISCHER THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drew25kra
Way, way ahead of its time...the origins of symphonic black metal start here. Beautiful and dark.
@maniaque37
there is not much symphonic black metal actually. this song does not have alot symphonic sounds compared to what tom did with triptykon and metropol orkest which i do not like at all. but in rex irae its more guitar and drum and vocals than anything else and it sound good.
@moumouzel
This was sooooo ahead of its time...
@angelledo5732
Relax metal.
@bricharsstormsmeadowlakesk2653
Fell asleep to this music countless times when I was a young teenager here in Canada 🇨🇦. Love it!
@enoughisenough1384
Same here. Your American neighbor 👍🇺🇲 great time to grow up in 👍👍👍👍
@TheMrSlyxx
The sound is ancient treasure unearthed.
@annodomini1991
Love it.
@sergeykolosov4272
Very good thanks
@liamwaters702
I am the wrath beneath the heavens