Celtic Frost “Into the Pandemonium” (1987) Review #2

Celtic Frost were able to convey brash thrash stylings to perfection on two of their previous outings Morbid Tales and To Mega Therion, the latter of which hinted at the beginnings of interesting approaches that would be elevated to full blown experimentalism with the advent of this album. They would shed some of their pure metal thoughts on the album too with the introduction of such delights as “I Won’t Dance”, which features a fun rock vibe, but enough of a heavy approach to be suitable for the album. Similarly, the remainder of Into the Pandemonium goes through a variety of metal landscapes to create a different feel than what we were used to in their earliest offerings of harsh metal delight.

Tom G. Warrior must utilize his voice more greatly as he needs to become operatic at times to suit the background music at hand. Altogether, the album comes at a nice point in their discography where they show the need to add some experimentation to their normal formulas to craft an ingenious work. The tracks don’t carry the pure metal delight of Jewel Throne, for example, but we can see songs like “Mesmerized” and “Rex Irae (Requiem Overture)” entertaining to a higher plane of thought with more adventurous vocals as well. Furthermore, we can sense the presence of a female vocalist on the album at times to bring a greater dimension to their sound.

Overall, Into the Pandemonium brings an excellent experimental edge to Celtic Frost‘s sound and though some may long for their pure metal style, the variety is a strong point to adding charisma to such an excellent discography as theirs.

-Adam McAuley

VITALS:

Release:  1987
Label:  Noise Records
Avantgenre:  Progressive Thrashy Metal
Duration:  39:24
Origin:  Switzerland
Official site:  http://www.celticfrost.com/
Review online since:  24.02.2009 / 20:06:19

TRACKLIST:

01 – Mexican Radio (Wall Of Voodoo Cover)
02 – Mesmerized
03 – Inner Sanctum
04 – Sorrows Of The Moon
05 – Babylon Fell (Jade Serpent)
06 – Caress Into Oblivion (Jade Serpent II)
07 – One In Their Pride (Porthole Mix)
08 – I Won’t Dance (The Elder’s Orient)
09 – Rex Irae (Requiem: Overture)
10 – Oriental Masquerade

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