"To Mega Therion" Album Description:
Celtic Frost's debut studio album, "To Mega Therion," released in 1985, stands as a seminal work in the realm of thrash metal. Beyond its groundbreaking musicality, the album is also celebrated for its iconic cover art, a surreal masterpiece created by the renowned Swiss artist H.R. Giger. This article delves into the creation history of "To Mega Therion," exploring the synergy between Celtic Frost's sonic vision and H.R. Giger's visual prowess.
Celtic Frost's Sonic Alchemy:
"To Mega Therion" marked a significant departure from conventional thrash metal, introducing a blend of avant-garde, doom, and gothic elements. The album's title, derived from Greek mythology, translates to "The Great Beast," setting the tone for the dark and atmospheric journey that awaits the listener. Tom Gabriel Fischer's guttural vocals and the band's intricate instrumentation created an immersive experience that defied genre norms.
The Creation of "To Mega Therion":
The collaboration between Celtic Frost and H.R. Giger was a stroke of artistic genius. Giger, renowned for his work on Ridley Scott's "Alien," brought his distinct biomechanical style to the album cover. The illustration features a nightmarish creature, a fusion of organic and mechanical elements, capturing the essence of Celtic Frost's unorthodox sound. The intricate details and surreal imagery provided a visual counterpart to the album's avant-garde musicality.
H.R. Giger's Artistic Influence:
Hans Rudolf Giger, known as H.R. Giger, was a visionary artist whose work often explored the intersection of the organic and the mechanical. His unique aesthetic, characterized by intricate and disturbing imagery, found a perfect canvas in the world of Celtic Frost's "To Mega Therion." Giger's collaboration with the band extended beyond the album cover, with his art influencing the overall visual identity of the band during this era.
|
Music Genre:
Swiss Death Thrash Metal
|
|
Album Production Information:
The album: "To Mega Therion" was produced and engineer by by: Horst "The Only One" Muller
Horst Mueller - a sound engineer from Germany and has engineered the records of several German Metal bands, notable Destruction, Running Wild, Warrant and the Swiss Celtic Frost band, as well as many others. He has used several different aliases/pseudonyms, aliases used by Horst Mueller include: Horst "Hoddle" Muller, Horst H.I.F. "The Crazy Frog" Muller, Horst "The Only One" Muller, "Mad" Horst Muller
Executive producer. Karl-Ulrich Walterbach
Karl-Ulrich Walterbach: German music producer who transformed the heavy metal scene. Founder of the iconic Noise Records, he launched the careers of Helloween, Celtic Frost, and countless others.
Walterbach's Career Description
Album cover art by: H.R. Giger
H.R. Giger a Swiss artist, achieved fame for his dark, biomechanical style that blends human and machine. His airbrushed paintings often depicted disturbing dreamscapes. He designed the terrifying xenomorph in the movie "Alien," which earned him an Academy Award. The H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland showcases his work.
See some of his most famous designs:
Sound Engineer: Rick "Lights"
Producer, Sound Engineer, Artwork, Design, Music by Tom G. Warrior
Steve Warrior (real name: Urs Sprenger)
a Swiss Bass player and singer mainly known while performing in the Swiss Heavy Metal band "Hellhammer". On Celtic Frost's albums "Morbid Tales" and "To Mega Therion" he has worked on the album artwork and typography.
Artwork Typography - Urs Sprenger
Design - Martin Eric Ain
Photography - Ernst Wirz
|
|
Record Label & Catalognr:
Black Noise N 0031
|
Packaging:Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design with artwork / photos on the inside cover pages.
This album "To Mega Therion" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos. |
|
Media Format:
12" Vinyl Stereo Full-Length Long-Play Gramophone Record
Album weight:
290
gram
|
|
Year & Country:
1985 Made in Germany
|
