Celtic Frost Question

Well, thanks to this board I am now interested in acquiring some Celtic Frost. My question for you all is: where should I start? Not necessarily what your favorite album is, but what album do you recommend a new listener get first when delving into Frost's catalog? Thanks!

I'd say the same as before: 'To Mega Therion', a snapshot of a fully mature Frost which has plenty of roots while still experimenting. You could compile it with 'Morbid Tales' which really is just Hellhammer Pt 2: Better Production Values.

Some people will say only the Hellhammer stuff is worth it as it is the most but it's 'To Mega Therion' where the thrash, the doom, the atmosphere, everything comes to a head.

Unless you want to completely die, not partially, then I would recommend 'Monotheist'.

Start with To Mega Therion and then on to Morbid Tales. Then jump to Vanity / Nemesis which (IMO) is their most mature record. After that Monotheist should be next on your list. If you like weird, then try out Into The Pandemonium, but I can't recommend it. (Listen to Believer's Sanity Obscure for this type of metal done correctly) Then after years of listening to Celtic Frost, pick up their ode to glam metal, Cold Lake.

So far it seems I need to get To Mega Therion followed by Morbid Tales.

Start with Cold Lake, it defines them.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Start with Cold Lake, it defines them.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Start with Cold Lake, it defines them.

I just gotta say it, all joking aside, I LOVED Cold Lake. K got that off my chest.

corplhicks wrote:

I just gotta say it, all joking aside, I LOVED Cold Lake. K got that off my chest.

I'll probably get Cold Lake eventually. However, it's probably not the album I'm gonna choose as my first from Frost.

Fat Freddy wrote:

"Whatever happened to Celtic Frost?
Is it true that they got lost
In the Pandemonium
Never to be seen again?"

Is that from S.O.D.'s "Celtic Frosted Flakes?"

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

"Whatever happened to Celtic Frost?
Is it true that they got lost
In the Pandemonium
Never to be seen again?"

Is that from S.O.D.'s "Celtic Frosted Flakes?"

Yep.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

"Whatever happened to Celtic Frost?
Is it true that they got lost
In the Pandemonium
Never to be seen again?"

Is that from S.O.D.'s "Celtic Frosted Flakes?"

Yep.

I thought so.

Morbid Tales/Emperor's Return is probably still my favorite, it's just so damn CATCHY for a dark metal album. All these songs are permanently embedded in my brain.

To Mega Therion (as OCI indicated) is their most mature and fully-realized effort.

Into The Pandemonium does have some tracks that just don't work (I Won't Dance for example) but it also contains some of my favorites; Mesmerized, Inner Sanctum, Babylon Fell, Caress Into Oblivion, Requiem Irae.

Monotheist is the perfect soundtrack for the end of the world, I think playing this album can cause dangerous storm fronts to form in the area.

I'm not a fan of either Vanity/Nemesis or Cold Lake.

Start with Hellhammer. The go into Morbid Tales & continue from there. No reason not to start from the beginning.

In some ways I think that starting at the beginning and Morbid Tales is a great way to go. Yes it's raw, but it's simple, easily digested and contains some of the greatest riffs Sabbath never did. You can pick up a CD with Morbid Tales/Emperors Return fairly cheaply. Then prepare to be blown away by To Mega Therion when you have a good idea of what Frost are all about, then you will appreciate the other stuff more. (which others have explained pretty well)

When you are completely in love with this band, check out Triptykon & Hellhammer as both have CF members and are completely awesome, but probably not going to appeal to the unfamiliar (definitely not Hellhammer)

yeah, I would venture into Triptykon maybe close to last, I like that record but it is not quite as on the mark as 'Monotheist', a few songs are, but the focus isn't there..

Cold Lake and maybe Vanity/Nemesis, that's all you need, you will see.

I used to play in a band called "Colder Lake", a Celtic Frost tribute to that classic but sadly short lived incarnation of the band.

Listening to Into The Pandemonium now, it's never my go to record when I'm in a Frost mood but for the life of me I can't think why not!

Great album.

Thanks all! I'm thinking of starting with the combo of Morbid Tales/Emperor's Return. That way I'm starting at the beginning (not counting Hellhammer) and I also checked out some samples from the album and really liked what I heard.

DEATH ROWNED EM PEAR UGH

stormspell wrote:

Cold Lake and maybe Vanity/Nemesis, that's all you need, you will see.

That you have questionable taste, I can see that just fine.

Morbid Tales/Emperor's Return is the best!! Start there imo.