Celtic Frost "Morbid Tales (2017 Digibook Remastered)"

Morbid Tales is the debut EP by the Swiss extreme metal band, Celtic Frost, released in November 1984. The first European release on Noise Records was a mini-LP with six tracks, while the American release by Enigma/Metal Blade added two tracks, bringing it to the length of a regular LP.

In 1999 a remastered edition of Morbid Tales was released on CD by Noise Records, which also contained the tracks from their 1985 EP Emperor's Return as well as a 2017 remastered edition released by the same label on CD and Vinyl formats.

The thrash metal intensity of Morbid Tales had a major influence on the then-developing death metal and black metal genres. It included elements that were adopted by the pioneers of both styles. The band's bleak and dead serious fashion style was also influential, including their corpse paint face makeup. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked Morbid Tales as 28th on their list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.'

In the commentary for Darkthrone's album Panzerfaust, Fenriz cites this album along with Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark and Vader's Necrolust as key riff inspirations.

"Danse Macabre" was later sampled in the demo track "Totgetanzt" from their 2002 demo album Prototype.

Track listings

All music by Thomas Gabriel Fischer, all lyrics by Thomas Gabriel Fischer and Martin Ain, except where noted.

European version

Side One

1. "Into the Crypts of Rays" (Warrior) 4:46
2. "Visions of Mortality" 4:49

Side Two

1. "Procreation (Of the Wicked)" 4:02
2. "Return to the Eve" 4:05
3. "Danse Macabre" 3:51
4. "Nocturnal Fear" 3:35

US version

Side One

1. "Into the Crypts of Rays" (Warrior) 3:39
2. "Visions of Mortality" 4:49
3. "Dethroned Emperor" (Warrior) 4:37
4. "Morbid Tales" 3:29

Side Two

1. "Procreation (Of the Wicked)" 4:04
2. "Return to the Eve" 4:07
3. "Danse Macabre" 3:52
4. "Nocturnal Fear" 3:36

- German first pressing features the heptagram in red with full poster and lyric sheet. Cover sticker states Ex-Hellhammer members, limited black vinyl, includes poster. Black center labels.

Recording information:

- Recorded and mixed Oct. 8-15, 1984 at Caet Studio, Berlin, Germany.

- Mastered at Studio-Nord-Bremen (SNB), Germany.

2017 Digibook Remastered:

Track list:

1. Human (intro) 00:41   
2. Into the Crypts of Rays 03:39   
3. Visions of Mortality 04:48   
4. Dethroned Emperor 04:38   
5. Morbid Tales 03:29   
6. Procreation (Of the Wicked) 04:05   
7. Return to the Eve 04:08   
8. Danse Macabre 03:52
9. Nocturnal Fear 03:38   
10. Morbid Tales (autumn 1984 rehearsal) 03:41
11. Messiah (summer 1984 rehearsal) 04:45
12. Procreation (of the Wicked) (autumn 1984 rehearsal) 04:14  
13. Nocturnal Fear (autumn 1984 rehearsal) 03:54  

Total time:  49:32

- Issued as a thirty-eight page digibook containing cd sleeve and extensive liner notes.

- Bonus tracks 4-5 taken from the album's North American pressing.

- Bonus tracks 10 & 12-13 taken from an autumn 1984 rehearsal.

- Bonus track 11 taken from a summer 1984 rehearsal.

- Track 1 was originally the unnamed intro to "Into the Crypts of Rays". Here it is identified as a separate named track.

Recording information:

Tracks 1-9:

- Recorded and mixed Oct. 8-15, 1984 at Caet Studio, Berlin, Germany.

- Mastered at Studio-Nord-Bremen (SNB), Germany.

Tracks 10-13:

- Recorded in summer/autumn 1984 at Grave Hill Bunker, Birchwil, Switzerland.

Tracks 1-13:

- Remastered March 2016 at Woodshed Studios, Furth/Enghof, Germany.