Search - Celtic Frost :: Parched With Thirst Am I and Dying

Why does everyone think this is a 'Greatest Hits' CD?

T.A. | South Florida | 07/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"3.5 STARS.............I first have to say that NOWHERE on the CD jacket, the booklet or the CD itself does it say "Greats Hits" or "Best of." This CD, compiled in 1991-92, is a release much like Helmet's "Born Annoying" and Metallica's "Garage Days Re-revisited," in that it is a mish-mash compilation of Celtic Frost's many unreleased recording sessions from '85-91, with many different line-ups, the songs most of which ended up as B-sides, outtakes, and general jam sessions. Hardly any of the tracks were released on any of their CD's! Don't listen to reviewers who write reviews before they even read the booklet enclosed !!!!



The best songs on the compilation, in my opinion, are the old songs. "Return to the Eve," (originally on 'Morbid Tales') is re-recorded here with sensational new drummer Reed St. Mark. It was released as the "Party Mix" on the backside of the 'Tragic Serenades' EP (1986). "The Usurper" (originally on 'Mega Therion') was re-recorded here when Martin Ain came back to the band on bass, and you can hear the difference. "Journey Into Fear" was supposed to be included on the 'Emperor's Return' EP, but was cut for whatever reason. It's a great song, and would have fit in well with that mini-album. I believe the information in the booklet regarding "Circle of the Tyrants" is a misprint. It say it's the version from 'Mega Therion," but I believe Martin Ain is on bass, and it's the 1985 'Emperor's return' version--a much better sound.



Then, we have "The Inevitable Factor" (a great song, similar to "Inner Sanctum," and recorded during the 1987 'Pandemonium' recording sessions, but omitted from the album) and "In the Chapel in the Moonlight," a warm-up, jam song they ended up releasing as a limited-edition single. There's also the shortened radio edit of "I Won't Dance," probably one of CF's most versatile, drum-set destroying, rockin' songs, not to mention the brightest spot on 'Pandemonium.' They add "Tristesses" as well here, the rare alternate, string-orchestra arrangement of "Sorrows of the Moon" also from 'Pandemonium.'



Unfortunately, this compilation also includes some of the 'Cold Lake' jam sessions. None are horrible, except for "Mexican Radio." They first covered this song on 'Pandemonium' (87) and it was brilliant. St. Mark's drums, Warrior's rhythmic, mathematical guitar drones, Ain's harmonizing, eerie bass...it immediately got played LOUDLY up at my dorm in college, nightly. This 1991 jam session version sucks. Warrior has replaced all of his bandmates for this one, and it sounds like the group Poison after a proctology exam. The other 'Cold Lake' session songs actually sound better than the album versions, but that's still not very good.



Surprisingly, the 'Vanity/Nemesis'session songs are very, very good. The unreleased "Descent to Babylon," and V/N's "The Name of My Bride" and "The Heart Beneath" are the best post 1980's songs they've done, and "Idols of Chagrin" is pretty good, too, just be ready for the drum machine. You hear some drum machine as well with "Under Apollyon's Sun," a song which would begin TG Fischer/Warrior's journey into Industrial music, which he tangled with during the mid-90's as frontman of his new group, Apollyon's Sun.



This is CD of rarities and jam sessions. With that in mind, I think it's a pretty cool collection of decent songs. In the end, I think Thomas Gabriel Fischer felt compelled to release all the rest of his stash of stuff, and put it out on one last CD for all CF's fans to enjoy. There IS a "Best of" CD for all those who really need one. It's called 'Are You Morbid?' and it's been out for a decade. As long as you have 'Morbid Tales,' 'Mega Therion,' 'Pandemonium' and the new 'Monotheist' (2006), you're set. Get 'Parched With Thirst' and 'Vanity/Nemesis' when you have the extra $$$, because both are pretty good (not gothic, dark metal, though), and save 'Cold Lake' for the serious collectors, and those who really like to rock out (with their cock out) to Motley Crue, Autograph, Def Leppard and Whitesnake."

The best Celtic Frost you've never heard

Metalbutt68 | New York, NY | 02/25/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite their enormous influence on extreme metal, Celtic Frost are just too weird and their work has been too inconsistent to allow them to attract a huge following. However, their fans are as loyal as they come, and those fans will find much to enjoy on this CD.



As other reviewers have mentioned, this is not a greatest hits collection. It predates Monotheist and contains very few tracks from Morbid Tales and To Mega Therion, their two best albums. Instead, it is an incredible overview of their music and contains some brilliant rare material from various phases in their career that even the casual fan will enjoy.



I will discuss the songs by chronological order rather than track listing, since it illustrates the evolution of the band's sound. "Journey Into Fear" (1985) is a demo-quality recording with Reed St. Mark and was never released. It is a fascinating if not great song with bits of "The Third Of The Storms", "Into The Crypts Of Rays", and "Jewel Throne" thrown in. "The Inevitable Factor" (1987) is an Into The Pandemonium-era song featuring Warrior's "tragic" vocal style that is quite good and could have easily made it onto the album. "In The Chapel In The Moonlight" (1987) is a catchy thrash version of the Dean Martin classic that is just plain fun. The underrated Vanity/Nemesis record is well represented with "A Descent To Babylon" (1989), a very good B-side release, as well as "The Heart Beneath", "Wings Of Solitude", and "The Name Of My Bride".



Two gems on the record are "Juices Like Wine" and "Downtown Hanoi" (1991), re-recordings of songs off the much-maligned Cold Lake record which sound much heavier and more aggressive than the original versions. History would regard Cold Lake more kindly if the entire album were re-recorded this way (and if they got rid of the violet cover and hideous band photographs).



Finally, what really makes this collection worth buying are two songs that were recorded for an album that Celtic Frost would never complete. "Idols Of Chagrin" (1991) has a bit of a funk groove but typical Celtic Frost heaviness and "Under Apollyon's Sun" (1991) is a crushing, doomy behemoth. Both are great songs that sound unlike anything the band had previously recorded. Alas, what could have been.



All in all, a unique collection of rarities and a definite must have for the Celtic Frost aficionado. For the neophyte, a good album to own if only to see that there is so much more to this group than just Monotheist.

"