Apocalyptic Raids

Last updated

Apocalyptic Raids
ApocalypticRaids.jpg
EP by
ReleasedMarch 1984
1990 (1990 re-release)
Recorded2–7 March 1984
StudioCaet Studio, Berlin [1]
Genre
Length19:41
27:03 (1990 re-release)
Label Noise
Producer Tom Warrior, Martin Ain, Karl U. Walterbach
Hellhammer chronology
Satanic Rites
(1983)
Apocalyptic Raids
(1984)
Demon Entrails
(2008)

Apocalyptic Raids is an EP by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was recorded and released in March 1984, and was the band's only commercial release.

Contents

The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal and black metal genres. It has served as an inspiration to such varied and respected bands as Napalm Death and Sepultura, both of whom recorded cover versions of "Messiah". [2] [3]

Hellhammer split up only three months after recording this EP, and later regrouped as Celtic Frost. [4] The EP would be reissued six years later as Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D., boasting new artwork and two bonus tracks. [5]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 1/10 [6]

Artwork

The cover art of Apocalyptic Raids is influenced by German Expressionism's stark aesthetic, combining monochromaticity with the band's blood-red, blackletter-styled logo. [7]

Track listings

Original 1984 release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Third of the Storms (Evoked Damnation)" Tom G. Warrior 2:55
2."Massacra"Warrior2:49
3."Triumph of Death"Warrior9:30
4."Horus/Aggressor"Warrior, Martin Eric Ain 4:27
1990 re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Revelations of Doom"Warrior, Ain2:49
6."Messiah"Warrior, Ain4:33

Tracks 5 and 6 were originally part of the now out-of-print Death Metal (1984) compilation.

Credits

Original 1984 release

Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.

Charts

Chart performance for Apocalyptic Raids
Chart (2020)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [8] 39
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [9] 28

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic Frost</span> Swiss metal band

Celtic Frost was a Swiss metal band from Zürich. They are remembered for their strong influence on the development of several varieties of extreme metal and for their avant-garde approach to music more generally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellhammer</span> Swiss extreme metal band

Hellhammer was a Swiss extreme metal band from Nürensdorf, active from 1982 to 1984. Although the band's sound and style were heavily criticized and poorly reviewed during their active years, they have been widely praised in retrospect and are often regarded as a key influence on black metal. In June 1984, Hellhammer disbanded but two of its members soon formed the influential extreme metal band Celtic Frost.

<i>Into the Pandemonium</i> 1987 studio album by Celtic Frost

Into the Pandemonium is the third studio album by Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in 1987. The album marks the return of bassist and backing vocalist Martin Eric Ain, who appeared on 1984's Morbid Tales, but not the band's previous album.

<i>To Mega Therion</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Celtic Frost

To Mega Therion is the first full-length studio album by Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in October 1985 by Noise Records. The cover artwork is a painting by H. R. Giger entitled Satan I. The album was a major influence on the then-developing death metal and black metal genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Gabriel Fischer</span> Swiss musician

Thomas Gabriel Fischer, also known by the stage names Tom Warrior and Satanic Slaughter, is a Swiss musician. He led the extreme metal groups Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, and today is the frontman of the band Triptykon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Eric Ain</span> American-born Swiss bassist (1967–2017)

Martin Eric Ain was an American musician best known as the bassist of the influential extreme metal bands Hellhammer and Celtic Frost. He used the stage name Martin Eric Ain throughout.

<i>Morbid Tales</i> 1984 EP and studio album by Celtic Frost

Morbid Tales is the debut record by the Swiss extreme metal band, Celtic Frost, released in November 1984. It was originally released in Europe on Noise Records as 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 studio LP. The band retrospectively refers to the LP release as the band's debut studio album.

<i>Cold Lake</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Celtic Frost

Cold Lake is the fourth studio album by Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released on 1 September 1988 by Noise Records. It features a new lineup, reformed by bandleader Tom Warrior with newly joined musicians Oliver Amberg, Curt Victor Bryant and a returning Stephen Priestly, who had previously played with the band in 1984 on the Morbid Tales EP. Despite it being marketed to exploit the mass appeal of glam metal, the album has more of a traditional heavy metal sound.

<i>Vanity/Nemesis</i> 1990 studio album by Celtic Frost

Vanity/Nemesis is the fifth studio album by Swiss heavy metal band Celtic Frost, released on 11 April 1990 through Noise Records.

<i>Monotheist</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Celtic Frost

Monotheist is the sixth and final studio album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost. The album was released in May 2006 and was the first new recording released by the band in 16 years. Upon its release, the album was met with universal acclaim by music critics.

<i>Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying</i> 1992 compilation album by Celtic Frost

Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying is a compilation album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in 1992. It consists of album tracks, demos and various other recordings of the band.

<i>Emperors Return</i> 1985 EP by Celtic Frost

Emperor's Return is the second release by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost. It was released in 1985 as an extended play and was their first record featuring American drummer Reid Cruickshank. The band's bleak publicity photographs from this period had an influence on the fashion and style of the developing black metal genre. The tracks of Emperor's Return were remastered and re-released in the 1999 edition of Morbid Tales and yet again remastered and included in the 2017 edition of To Mega Therion.

<i>Tragic Serenades</i> 1986 EP by Celtic Frost

Tragic Serenades is an EP by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost. It was released in 1986 and was an influence on the developing death metal and black metal genres. According to frontman Thomas Gabriel Fischer, the purpose of this EP was to include Martin Eric Ain's bass lines and improve on Horst Müller's original production of tracks from To Mega Therion.

<i>Death Metal</i> (split album) 1984 split album by Helloween, Hellhammer, Running Wild, and Dark Avenger

Death Metal is a 1984 split album by the heavy metal bands Helloween, Hellhammer, Running Wild, and Dark Avenger. It contains the only recorded material by the German group Dark Avenger besides their 1985 demo tape. Despite its name, the musical style is not actually death metal.

<i>Satanic Rites</i> 1983 demo album by Hellhammer

Satanic Rites is the third and final demo tape by Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was recorded and distributed during December 1983. Along with Hellhammer's other releases, it had a major influence on the emerging death metal and black metal genres.

<i>Triumph of Death</i> (Hellhammer demo) 1983 demo album by Hellhammer

Triumph of Death is a demo tape by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was released in July 1983. It was recorded by producer Rol Fuchs in the band's rehearsal room on portable equipment sometime in June 1983, along with the material for the unreleased Death Fiend demo. The two demos were typically combined into one, simply called Triumph of Death. Along with Hellhammer's other demos, it had a major influence on the emerging death metal and black metal genres.

<i>Cause of Death</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Obituary

Cause of Death is the second album by American death metal band Obituary. It was released on September 19, 1990. Cause of Death is considered a classic album in the history of death metal. The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan. It is their first release with longtime member Frank Watkins on bass, and also their first and only album with guitarist James Murphy, previously of the group Death. Murphy did not contribute to the songwriting as the riffs he showed to the band would end up appearing on Disincarnate's Dreams of the Carrion Kind.

<i>Sub</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Apollyon Sun

Sub is the debut album by Swiss industrial metal band Apollyon Sun, released in 2000 on Mayan Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triptykon</span> Swiss extreme metal band

Triptykon is a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich, formed in 2008 by Thomas Gabriel Fischer, founding member of the pioneering heavy metal bands Hellhammer, Celtic Frost and Apollyon Sun.

<i>Eparistera Daimones</i> 2010 studio album by Triptykon

Eparistera Daimones is the debut album by Swiss extreme metal band Triptykon, the most recent musical project of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, founding member of the pioneering heavy metal bands Hellhammer and Celtic Frost and industrial project Apollyon Sun.

References

  1. "Hellhammer - Apocalyptic Raids Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  2. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Napalm Death - Leaders Not Followers, Pt. 2 review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. Loftus, Johnny. "Sepultura - Revolusongs review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  4. Fischer, Thomas Gabriel (2000). Are You Morbid?: Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost. London, UK: Sanctuary. p. 80. ISBN   978-1860743108.
  5. Warrior, Thomas Gabriel (1990). "The Macabre Existence of Hellhammer". Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D. (CD booklet). Hellhammer. Berlin, Germany: Noise Records. p. 2. N 0008-3.
  6. Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 156. ISBN   978-1894959315.
  7. Rodriguez de Sá, José Felipe; Ganem Fernandes, Ermelinda (2015). "Simbolismo místico e anticristão em Apocalyptic Raids do Hellhammer". Diversidade Religiosa (in Portuguese). 1 (2): 4. ISSN   2317-0476 . Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  8. "Offiziellecharts.de – Hellhammer – Apocalyptic Raids" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  9. "Swisscharts.com – Hellhammer – Apocalyptic Raids". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2020.