CELTIC FROST - Vanity/Nemesis (1990)

MM

Often described as 'too little, too late', this is actually the sound of a confused band running dry of ideas. Celtic Frost were a band who thrived on being 'different' throughout their career and so for them to make an album this dry, conformist and, frankly, dull is a sad epitaph to a great outfit. It's all oh-so mediocre and weak that it's a struggle to get through the whole thing. Taken in isolation a few of the tracks might pique your interest, but by the end of this album you'll not want to listen to it again for a very long time. I can only assume that after the debacle that was 'Cold Lake', the record company demanded a straightforward Metal album. And whereas with 'Into the Pandemonium' CF got away with making a crazy album because it was succesful, this time the boot was on the other foot. The band split up a few dates into an unsuccessful UK tour to support the album.

CELTIC FROST: Morbid Tales (1984)

MMMM

Hard to believe this mini album was created by (largely) the same people that spewed up the hugely overrated 'Apocalyptic Raids' e.p. just a few months previously. For early dark Thrash Metal you can't go wrong here, awesome guitar tone, simple but effective riffs and superb aesthetics, Celtic Frost certainly made their mark here and went a long way to putting 'Hellhammer' behind them.

CELTIC FROST - To Mega Therion (1985)

MMMMM

I have no hesitation in awarding this album 5M's whatsoever, everything about it is perfect. Probably the darkest, most doom-laden Thrash imaginable all wrapped up in what is undoubtedly the best album cover of all time. With this album Celtic Frost gave the world their uniquely luxurious take on Thrash and because it doesn't really sound like part of any particular 'scene' it still sounds fresh and vibrant to this very day.

CELTIC FROST - Cold Lake (1988)

M

As a Celtic Frost album this deserves nothing but scorn, taken on it's own merits it's not too bad, I guess... well, it's still pretty bad. Rose Without Thorns is half decent, though Tom Warrior's assertion that it was 'the ultimate Thrash song' is (and always was) plain laughable!