"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 is a prominent figure in the German heavy metal music scene. He is best known as the founder and owner of Noise Records, a renowned record label that played a significant role in the development and promotion of heavy metal music, particularly in Germany.
more...
Walterbach founded
Noise Records in 1983
in Berlin, Germany. The label quickly gained recognition for signing and releasing albums by some of the most influential bands in the heavy metal genre. Under Walterbach's leadership, Noise Records became synonymous with the German thrash metal movement of the 1980s, which included bands like Helloween, Kreator, and Running Wild.
Walterbach's vision and passion for heavy metal music led him to become not only a label owner but also a producer and executive producer for numerous albums. He played a crucial role in shaping the sound and production of many German heavy metal records during the 1980s and 1990s.
These albums, along with countless others, played a crucial role in establishing Noise Records as a powerhouse label for heavy metal music. Walterbach's dedication to the genre and his ability to spot and nurture talent helped shape the landscape of German heavy metal.
However, it's important to note that Noise Records faced financial difficulties in the late 1990s, leading to its acquisition by Sanctuary Records in 2001. Despite the label's eventual dissolution, Walterbach's contributions to the heavy metal music industry and his impact on the German scene remain significant. His work as a producer and executive producer, as well as his role in founding and running Noise Records, solidified his reputation as a key figure in the history of German heavy metal.
Some of the Bands he has worked with:
Helloween
Kreator
Running Wild
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 Information:
Black Noise N 0031
|
Packaging:Gatefold (FOC) 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
|
