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An Exclusive Interview with Celtic Frost
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MP3: Hello. Tom: Hey. MP3: Hey, Tom. Tom: How are you doing? MP3: I'm doing great. How are you? Tom: Very good. MP3: I know you have a new record on Century Media coming out in May, called Monotheist. Tom: Monotheist, yes, right. MP3: The title of that record, the definition is "a believer in one god." I'm wondering why you chose that title? Tom: Because it reflects many of the things that have gone on within the band and around the band, and at the same time, it reflects the movement and society in our times, the increased fundamentalism, and we're seeing that all over the planet right now. MP3: That's a point I hadn't even thought of. Tom: We have a tradition of choosing titles that have various meanings at the same time. And coming from the rock-and-roll industry where bands are being treated like icons sometimes, this is the very beginning of Monotheist and especially the standing of Celtic Frost. And then, with all the things happening all around the world religiously, all the fundamentalism, with creationism, with the Islamic countries, and so on and so on--it's largely a philosophical title. It's kind of a view of the behavior of mankind right now. MP3: This record is very powerful, and I hate to categorize anything that you do, but just for the sake of the conversation, I'll say it's kind of on the doom side of things and just a bit more lumbering. Tom: That's a fair description. MP3: Yeah, but it's also very crushing and powerful. Tom: Right. MP3: That's not to say that your earlier records haven't been, as well. I've read that you are very conscious of writing things that are innovative and sort of fashion forward, and you want to be contemporary. Are you hyperconscious of that when you're writing, or does it just kind of flow? Tom: We try to be conscious of that, but it's not something that we purposely do. First and foremost, when we do an album under the name of Celtic Frost, it has to reflect our personal state of mind at a certain time. It's a very personal album and a very private album, even though it--this might seem absurd, given the power of some of the material, but we all had very, let's say, checkered lives in recent years. We all had very dramatic things happening in our lives. And I don't want to, like, drift into some cliché or something, but I'm trying to word this the right way. We haven't had the easiest lives, and I think a lot of these experiences are reflected in the darkness and the intensity of the album.

The other thing is that we're not a young band, and we didn't want to come out as a "golden oldies" group, wheeling out in wheelchairs and trying to just make an album for money. We wanted to create an album that can stand on its own in the modern rock scene. We wanted to show, yes, we can still do it. We believe we can, and we wanted to do an album that reflects that. Hopefully, our personal approach and this goal merge somewhere. MP3: I'm wondering, then, if you wrote anything that you ended up throwing out because it didn't satisfy that idea? Tom: About two-thirds of the material we wrote, we threw out. We threw out about two albums worth of material that we started recording, sometimes almost finished. We were extremely self-critical, and we evaluated everything whether it would fit the name Celtic Frost and whether it would be appropriate on this album. And we ended up throwing out much more material than you can actually hear on the album. MP3: How was it, working with Peter Tagtgren? Did he lend any influence into some of those that were thrown out? How did that all work? Tom: In a minor way, you have to understand, we worked for four years on this album. Of that time, about two months were worked with Peter. However, it was very important for us to involve somebody who is very current in the scene and who, at the same time, is a Celtic Frost fan and understands what Celtic Frost needs to sound like.

The experience from Peter was fantastic. We became rather close friends, not least because we share a lot of personal experiences. The mixing sessions with Peter weren't so satisfactory, and we ended up remixing the album on our own twice to get the sound we really wanted. But below the line, working with Peter was a great experience, and I think both parties went out rather proud to have worked together, and it's a friendship that will last. MP3: I really enjoyed it myself. I've spent seven or nine spins listening to it already. You know, I might be one of those people who puts a little too much glory into the past for your liking--as I admit. But I really think that it's a very powerful record, and it's definitely innovative. I think that you've probably succeeded in what you have set out to do. What do you hope listeners take away from this album? Tom: We hope listeners will be able to connect to some of the very intimate feelings in the songs and, of course, their selves in those lyrics. I know in nowadays very fast multimedia society that might be a little much to ask for. But on the other hand, people who know a little bit about Celtic Frost know that we do pay great attention to lyrical content and to musical content, and that we are not just a band for a quick consumption. And if you're looking for something that lasts a little longer than just such your average quick satisfaction song, maybe our album they would listen to.

We would just like to be a little influence on the scene in trying to make our music a little more organic, a little more real, a little more groovy, and not just lay hectic, quick stuff with lyrics that have no meaning and everything. That doesn't mean we're missionaries or we want to preach anything. It's just, I think, if you're representative of a generation and people listen to you, why not let it actually tell them something. MP3: Well then, I'm going to skip ahead in my notes a little bit then, because I was going to ask you something that you just kind of hinted at there and that is that I think all of your fans, and that all fans in general, understand that you do try to be innovative. But, I didn't know if that necessarily meant that you are hoping to be influential, as well. But you've sort of answered that. Tom: Yeah, but you know, being influential is something we cannot answer ourselves. This is something the audience and the media bestow upon you. It's entirely out of our hands. When we go to the studio, it's a very personal process, and we're just trying to do a good album that we ourselves like. Whether it's going to become influential or not, it would be rather pretentious if you would set out to do that.

It's a huge gift if another band comes up to you or if a fan comes up to you and says, "It has influenced me." It has happened to Celtic Frost, but the people who are most astonished about that are us because we are still very close mentally to our very beginnings, which were very humble. We come from tiny Swiss farm villages, and we started with, like, no money, no possibilities, no connections, no nothing. And that our band has created a name and that so many other heavy-metal acts come out and say we were an influence, it blows our minds, even today. And it's something we still get used to. MP3: Well, you obviously were extremely influential in many ways, and there are bands today that are still citing you as an influence, but even further, almost nearly mimicking the style of your early records. I credit you and probably most people credit you with the Death Grunt and the "HEY!" and that's almost iconic within metal as a genre. You obviously have been extremely influential on a lot of people. And I guess you might be torn at times on that, or...? Tom: No. I mean, it's a gigantic compliment. And you have to realize, I mean, as I said before, I started out as a heavy-metal fan trading tapes on the demo-trading circuit in the early 80s. And I, first of all, I never even thought that I would be in a band, and I never--when I was in a band, it was so humble. Everything was so small and humble, I would never, ever have thought that anybody would even listen to us, much less credit us as an influence. It's mind blowing. It's a compliment that I really don't know how to repay. It's amazing! What can I say? I'm just trying to do the music that's inside of me, and that I can--and Martin is the same way. MP3: I really enjoy your attitude about that. It's a pleasure to hear you say those things, because people into metal are very passionate about it, as you well know. And I think everyone has... Tom: Of course, metal is my life too, you know. MP3: Yes. But metal fans have a particular passion for what you do, especially, and I appreciate it. And I'll speak for others when saying that too. Tom: Thank you. MP3: I want to ask you about your packaging on the album. I know that the packaging and the symbolism and things have always seemed to be very important to you... Tom: Right. MP3: At this time, I haven't seen exactly how that's going to be on the new record. Can you tell me something about that? Tom: Well, as an album, we've pursued completely new territory. We wanted to create something much more modern than we usually did. The artwork of the album is a multilayered work, which is not just the front cover but every booklet page. And it's going to include a fold-out poster, which all ties together. It's a work created by Martin over a period of two years together with one of his best friends, who is an accomplished graphic designer. And it's a collage of images that relates to our lyrics and our feelings, our personalities. But the collage itself makes it look like a new, completely different image. And it's such a multilayered artwork that you can look at it for a long time and discover many things. And I believe it probably will create your own ideas and, depending on your own background, your own upbringing, your own perception of life, you will probably be able to have your own ideas of the artwork. MP3: Well, that sounds interesting. Well, I look forward to that. I did see the new logo that you're using on the site, and that's also very cool. Tom: The Heptogram? Yeah. It has evolved. It's also a creation by Martin. He has evolved it ever since the times in Hellhammer. With every new thing Celtic Frost does, he changes it slightly and makes it more modern. It's probably the most intensive incarnation of the Heptogram ever. MP3: I know that you're going to be touring in support of this record later in the year. That's correct, right? Tom: Very much so. Yeah, it's going to be the biggest tour we've ever done. MP3: Will you be doing some of your older material as well? Tom: Oh, yeah, of course. We will play material from our first three albums and from the new album, and we'll do some Hellhammer music as well. MP3: I noticed that you put your blogs back up this week and, just for the benefit of the people listening--you have been a very public and accessible person, and I think most of the fans would agree. You participate on the Internet, and you speak your mind, and you share e-mails people have sent you, but a few months ago you had some criticism by someone who I think is a peer, and you turned off your blog. But then, this weekend, I notice that it came back, and I applaud you for that because, you know, we all have the right to express our opinions, and you certainly do, too. Tom: Not everybody thinks that way. MP3: Well, I thought it was ironic that the very person who had a problem with you openly expressing your opinion on the Internet was openly expressing his opinion on the Internet. Tom: We could not help noticing that, too. MP3: Yeah. And I also noticed that you have moved it to a new address, which is sort of a commentary on that. Tom: Yeah. Well, I was allowed to have some fun, as well. That's always existed. I just took it away from the old address and moved it to the new one. But later on I had so many requests, and also we in the band talked about it at length, and we decided to put it back on because it is an important insight into the workings of the band, and we have always embraced modern technology. We have always embraced new tendencies and everything, so embracing the Internet is a natural for us. And I enjoy the blog. But it has been very controversial at times, not just that event that you mentioned. It has been very controversial also with some people from the industry that we work with, but I feel it's actually important. I mean, nobody forces you to read it, but I feel that if you actually care for Celtic Frost and like to have a little of the insight into it, then something like that blog is perfect.

I actually supported the blog because we recorded so long on the album and a lot of fans on the Celtic Frost discussion forum asked me to put out something like a diary. And that blog before was my personal blog, and I turned it into a diary of Celtic Frost. MP3: Well, I quite enjoy it myself, and my friends and peers enjoy it as well, and we all have had discussions based on your comments in there at times. I was kind of disappointed in you when I saw it go down and for the reason, but I've also reacted that way myself at times, and I'm really happy to see that you put it back and that it's intact. Tom: I fully understand that it must have been very difficult to understand why it was gone. All I can tell you is that person in question was not just somebody. It was somebody who knew us rather intimately from the very beginning in Hellhammer and who took that chance in time that he was from that point that--and defined himself everywhere, not just on the Internet, as the "insider" of the band. That person's life centered around Celtic Frost wherever he went. He made his name by quoting Celtic Frost and saying he knew us intimately and everything. And yet, at the same time, he turned around and stabbed us, basically, in the back. And to me, that was overstepping a border you don't overstep. And I was endlessly disappointed in that person. MP3: I'm sorry about that, but... Tom: It's OK. MP3: It looks like you're recovering quite fine. Tom: It's taken care of. MP3: Yes. That's great. Well, congratulations for putting that back, and I'm sure a lot of other people are happy it's there. Tom: I enjoy the blog, and I'm very happy about it. I get tons of mail about the blog, as you can imagine, and not all of it is, like, supportive. I have no problems dealing with criticism. It was just a very special case with that person. And I stand for criticism. I actually if the criticism is well founded, I think it's very interesting. And I want to be the last person to shut myself off from criticism. I like the discussions that the blog sometimes provokes. MP3: Well, that's a very brave attitude, and again, I applaud you for that. Tom: Thank you. MP3: Well, I have a kind of a question that sort of leads off of that because you mentioned how you embraced technology and enjoy technology. MP3.com is an Internet entity, and we do promote digital music, so I was wondering, how do you feel about digital-music delivery and consumption, and how do you consume music, personally, yourself? Tom: I also do consume digital music. I actually think it's a fantastic thing. I listen to MP3s all the time. I have an MP3 player. I load down music from the Internet. Yet, still, it's a two-sided thing for me because there are certain acts, which to me go a little further than just a song. And I realize they do albums basically as an entity, and the entity also includes the cover, the artwork, the booklets, the lyrics. And in cases like that, I like to buy the whole album. I like to have the whole package, because it's an aura.

I note that feeling gets a little lost the more we move forward in time, and I think that's kind of a shame. And it's just certain acts where I think it's important to have that whole package. So, I looked at it with mixed feelings being a user and, at the same time, you know, being a lover of the whole concept. I don't know how the two things will merge or be able to coexist or whether they even will be coexisting. It's something I follow with interest myself. MP3: I tend to agree with you. I like to own the physical package, and I like to, feel it and smell it even, you know. Tom: There's something magical about it. MP3: Yeah. But then, also, I like the ease of digital use, so I own the disc but then on my day-to-day use of it, I'm kind of handling it with MP3s. So, I kind of get the best of both worlds, I think, myself. Tom: That's actually the way I do it too. I agree. I agree. MP3: When I knew I was going to have this opportunity, I thought that I should share the opportunity with some of my friends. So, I went and asked a few people what they would ask you and I have a few random questions for you, if you don't mind. Tom: That's interesting. No, I enjoy that. That's interesting. MP3: OK. One of my friends in Pittsburgh asks me if you're aware of the "Stormtroopers of Death" song that is written about Celtic Frost? Tom: Yes, I am. MP3: And what is your opinion on that? Tom: I loathe it. MP3: Do you? Is it a sore subject for you? Tom: Kind of, and it also has a personal reason. We used to be quite close friends way back when, but in the meantime, I have a personal incident with a member of that band, and I prefer not to listen to them any more. MP3: That's fair. Tom: It's fine and dandy if they would write whatever songs about us, but maybe they should also write a song about themselves. That's all I can say about that. MP3: OK. Tom: I don't mean to offend anybody who likes them. It's my personal opinion. MP3: No. I think that because of the way you interact with your fans and how honest you seem on the blog and on your message board, I think people felt like it's OK to ask you questions like that. Tom: Yeah, of course. MP3: This one's from a friend here in San Francisco. He wants to know...in the past you've made references to Lovecraft, Crowley, Egyptian Mythology, the Old Testament, and other ancient texts. Was there an overall theme or concept to your lyrics then? Or did you just list bits and pieces here and there to create an atmosphere? In what direction have your lyrics evolved since then? Tom: No. That is a very deep topic of study within the band and especially so for Martin. It has always been like that and actually the band arose from that. I don't want the impression to exist that the band just uses these bits and pieces to create some macho atmosphere or something. It goes much, much further than that, and it's much more serious than that. And Martin, in particular, is a very, very serious and competent student of Occultism. I'm not saying Satanism. I'm saying Occultism, on purpose. And we are very intrigued by the various forms of religion and relating to the title of the album, Monotheism, and behavior of mankind in that context, and this has always been a main topic for the band. And Martin's and my friendship that now lasts for in excess of 23 years actually started in discussions--all-night discussions for maybe a year, one and a half years, before we even played together on that topic. So, it was only natural that we would use, at times, topics of our discussion as lyrical themes. MP3: What are some of your favorite metal lyrics besides your own? Tom: That is a very, very difficult question. I'm very particular and maybe a little peculiar as far as metal lyrics are concerned. That is a very good question. As a first reply to that what comes to mind immediately is lyrics such as those of the Fields of the Nephilim, for example, which is not metal. It's very often in themes like that where I find lyrics that actually intrigue me deeply. MP3: Are there new artists today that you find innovative and exciting? Tom: When I actually listen to new music, I very often turn to electronic music, which has been a passion of mine for nearly as long as heavy-metal music. I began to listen to heavy metal in the mid '70s and soon thereafter I discovered the German electronic band Kraftwerk. Both these musical directions have always fascinated me, and to this day I love innovation inherent in the electronic music.

Having said that, some of the bands from Northern Europe have totally fascinated me, such as Arch Enemy or much more particular, Gorgoroth, who I've seen live twice now, and I've listened to all their albums. I know them personally, and I find that this is a band with an aura and an intensity that I can only dream of. I know the band is controversial and they have a criminal record, and I have my own opinion of that too. But musically speaking, as an artist, I have yet to see a band that comes close to the aura that that band has--the intensity, the impact that band has on stage. And I'm not just talking about brute power. I'm talking really about personality and chemistry. MP3: I would agree with you on that point. Tom: Fantastic. MP3: Oh, here is a guitar geek question for you, which they always seem to sneak in. A friend wants to know do you still play an Iceman? And what position was your pickup selector switch during the recording of Morbid Tales? Tom: Oh, Jesus Christ! [laughs] Well, yes, I do play Iceman's. In fact, all the written guitarists on the new album have been recorded with an Iceman, and that's what I'm also playing on the road. I love the Iceman. I've tried many guitars over the years, but I always come back to the Iceman because there's just no...no more aggressive guitar around, in my book. And as far as pickups are concerned, I've been using the pickup selector once. That was like 1983, and I have never touched it since then. And it's always the pickup closest to the tremolo, and I never use the pickup close to the fretboard. It's useless. I could...I might as well just, like, disconnect it. MP3: Would you ever play Ozzfest? Tom: That's a very good question, and I really don't know if I should actually state an honest opinion. I dislike some of the things that happened on Ozzfest recently. I find they have nothing to do with heavy metal and a good time and the whole life of the heavy-metal movement anymore. I have a hard time with corporate attitude in heavy metal, anyway. So, what can I say? I know the Ozzfest is an essential thing for a lot of bands and maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot by saying all these things, but that's just my opinion. But, who knows? I mean, given the right circumstances, yes, we are open to talk about that. But I'm just critical if heavy metal is turned into an industry alone. I know it's reality, but I still believe heavy metal should be a revolution, and it should be about entertaining as well and not just corporate ideas and scams and all that stuff. MP3: Fair enough. I just have one further question for you, and then I will let you be off. Where do you see Celtic Frost and Tom Fischer going--creatively moving forward? Tom: The ideas that we have for the next album are even darker than on the current album. And if we have our way, we will do an album that will blow away this one in intensity and darkness. And what goes beyond that, I really don't know. My life has been so utterly unpredictable, and at times almost unbearably unpredictable, that I'm the last person to know what's going to happen to Tom Fischer. It's almost impossible to answer that question. And also, even the fact whether we're going to do a new album or not is dependent on the audience's reaction to this current album. So, you had better actually ask our audience that question. They, basically, decide. MP3: Well, that's a perfect place to end this interview. And I really enjoyed talking to you. I really appreciate your time and wish you much success with this record... Tom: Thank you so much. MP3: And tour moving forward. OK. Well, you have a great time and--cheers! Tom: Thank you very much, Christine. MP3: All right. Good-bye, Tom. Tom: Bye.