INTO THE PANDEMONIUM

Celtic Frost includes: Thomas Gabriel Warrior (vocals, guitar); Andreas Dobler (guitar); Martin Eric Ain (bass); Reed St. Mark (drums). All tracks have been digitally remastered. Having already cornered the market on hellacious riffs, war-god-channeling rhythms, and darkly mythological lyrics, Celtic Frost could have stayed the course for their third record. They do no such thing. This 1987 death metal classic showcases a band with a wildly ambitious sonic palette--from classical overtures to pulverizing metal riffs--and the chops and vision to unify the expanding extremes. Vocalist/guitarist Tom Warrior, bassist Martin Eric Ain, percussionist Reed St. Mark, and new guitarist Andreas Dobbler build on the blueprint TO MEGA THERION by following whatever inspiration their dark muse presents: string sections punctuate the guitar attacks; female singers--one of whom sings "Tristessa De La Lune" in French, another sings Latin on "Rex Irae"--duet with Warrior; and French horn and timpani dominate "Oriental Masquerade". Despite the flourishes, Warrior and Dobbler's twin guitars consistently remind the listener of what they came for--heaviness--and INTO THE PANDEMONIUM delivers it in spades. But perhaps in a nod to the pandemonium of the title, Celtic Frost buck all accusations of self-importance by covering Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio" as the lead-off (!) track. The choice reveals that at the core of their apocalyptic vision lies a serious sense of humor.