Monotheist (album)

Untitled

Monotheist is a comeback album by Swiss metal band Celtic Frost, released in 2006. It is the first new recording released by the band in 14 years after a series of re-releases. Monotheist is available in a Digipak version with a bonus track, called "Temple Of Depression". Both the vinyl LP version and the Japanese CD release of Monotheist feature the bonus track “Incantation Against You”.

Compared to Celtic Frost’s previous works, Monotheist possesses a heavier, much darker atmosphere reminiscent of doom/ gothic metal, and eschews much of the black/death sound of their early work. According to the band's bassist, Martin Eric Ain, some of the lyrics are partially influenced by the writings of the English occultist Aleister Crowley. This influence manifests itself in tracks such as "Os Abysmi Vel Daath", which is partially a name of one of Crowley’s books.

The final track, “Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)” is the concluding part of Celtic Frost's requiem, which began with "Rex Irae" from 1987’s “Into the Pandemonium”. The second part has yet to be released by the band.

A video was made for the song "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh"

Track listing

1. "Progeny" – 5:01
2. "Ground" – 3:55
3. "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh" – 5:39
4. "Drown In Ashes" – 4:23
5. "Os Abysmi Vel Daath" – 6:41
6. "Obscured" – 7:04
7. "Domain of Decay" – 4:38
8. "Ain Elohim" – 7:33
9. Triptych I: "Totengott" – 4:27
10. Triptych II: "Synagoga Satanae" – 14.24
11. Triptych III: "Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)" – 4:32

Bonus tracks:

1. "Temple of Depression" - 4:59 [on limited digipack edition]
2. "Incantation Against You" - 5:06 [on vinyl and Japanese editions]

Credits

• Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer: voice, guitars, arrangements, programming
• Martin Eric Ain: bass, lead and backing vocals (most vocals on "A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh", all vocals on "Triptych I: Totengott", and spoken parts on "Triptych II: Synagoga Satanae"), and executive producer of album
• Erol Unala: guitars
• Franco Sesa: drums
• Lisa Middelhauve (Xandria): guest vocals on “Drown In Ashes”
• Ravn (1349): backing vocals in final chorus of “Temple Of Depression”
• Simone Vollenweider: backing vocals on “Obscured”, and lead vocals on “Incantation Against You”
• Satyr (Satyricon): brief segment of lead vocals on "Triptych II: Synagoga Satanae"
• Peter Tägtgren: backing vocals on “Triptych II: Synagoga Satanae” and co-producer of album

External links

• "The Great Beast Resurrected" – article in PopMatters covering the band’s comeback and an early review of the album