Celtic Frost
Switzerland, 1981–2008
Swiss band led by Tom G. Warrior, formed in 1984 out of Hellhammer. Morbid Tales and To Mega Therion combined heavy riffing with unconventional structure and instrumentation, and were widely cited by later black, death and gothic metal bands.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Celtic Frost and 4 artists Celtic Frost influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Celtic Frost?
- Venom — Celtic Frost grew out of Hellhammer's worship of Venom's primitive extremity, then pushed it toward the avant-garde.
- Black Sabbath — Black Sabbath's crushing doom is a cornerstone of Celtic Frost's heavy, dissonant riffing.
Which artists did Celtic Frost influence?
- Sepultura — Celtic Frost's crude, heavy extremity was a direct early model for Sepultura's primitive first recordings.
- Mayhem — Celtic Frost's dark, heavy extremity is among the foundations Mayhem built the Norwegian scene on.
- Darkthrone — Darkthrone's primitive black metal is steeped in Celtic Frost — the riffing and aesthetic are a direct homage.
- Opeth — Celtic Frost's dark extremity is among the metal roots feeding Opeth's death-metal side.