When some Metal fans, even some experienced ones, come to speak about the origins of Death Metal, I have to say many names that came earlier than 1985. In my humble opinion, the roots of what we call Death Metal are from the Swiss band HELLHAMMER. Yes, because if you hear their works, my affirmation becomes a reality, if you didn't lose your mind in the middle of small talk of some so-called intellectuals. To me, my memories and senses are more important than their words. But HELLHAMMER was one of the must crucified bands by the Metal press on those days. With that in mind, the band ended its activities and a newborn one came to the light: CELTIC FROST. Their first EP, called "Morbid Tales", is essential to a deeper understanding of what Death Metal and Black Metal could be in the future.

Still aggressive, nasty and raw as HELLHAMMER in the sound, but finally showing some musical refinements on the harmonic structures of the songs, CELTIC FROST became a cult into the underground. But event this way, some critics still seems as a particular persecution to the trio's work. When you listen to "Morbid Tales", the clear idea is that it was a step ahead of what they have done before, and maybe the solid foundations of what Death Metal and Black Metal should be in the future.

Tom G. Warrior produced and made all the album's engineering, along with Horst Müller (that made the mixing, the mastering and the arrangements for "Return to the Eve"). The sound quality was really very good on the past, and even now, it sounds pretty good, being aggressive and with a very good level of clarity. And the re-mastering done by the hands on Walter Schmid made all the tunes shine and great. On the cover, the infamous and famous heptagram designed by Tom G. Warrior, that was in use since HELLHAMMER was prowling on the land.

The original European version of the "Morbid Tales" had six perfect songs: after the sinister intro "Human", comes the infernally fast and heavy "Into the Crypts of Rays" (the guitar riffs are unforgettable, the vocals perfect, and with lyrics dealing with Gilles de Rais, an infamous and convicted serial killer of France), the bitter slow tempos of "Visions of Mortality" with its nasty vocals and of "Procreation (of the Wicked)" (this slower and showing a very good work of bass guitar and drums), the hooking guitars and excellent nightmare atmosphere of "Return to the Eve" (the experimental parts comes from excellent female voices, a special appearance of Hertha Ohling), the climatic instrumental created by effects "Danse Macabre", and the fast and thunderous "Nocturnal Fear". The North American on brought two bonus songs, "Dethroned Emperor" (nasty and bitter as Hell itself, showing great work from bass guitar and drums once more) and "Morbid Tales" (the capacity of the band to create excellent guitar riffs and insane solos was impressive). On this new remastered version, the eight songs above are presented, along with four bonus songs coming from a rehearsal of 1984,

"Morbid Tales", "Messiah" (this is an old HELLHAMMER song that they usually played and recorded), "Procreation (of the Wicked)", "Nocturnal Fear", all of them with a rawer sound (it was just a rehearsal, so there are no reasons for complains). On the album, some guests gave their contributions: Hertha Ohling, as said above, made the female vocals of "Return to the Eve", Oswald Spengler played violin on "Return to the Eve" and "Danse Macabre", and Horst Müller made some additional vocals on "Visions of Mortality", "Morbid Tales" and "Return to the Eve".

"Morbid Tales" is perfect from the beginning to the end, and an album that time can't erode, and hope that in the future I do not have to tell anyone who is the true father of Death Metal.