Celtic Frost – Danse Macabre (Box Set Review)
Bobby Caughron 
Talk about an incredible box set! The new Celtic Frost set appropriately named “Danse Macabre” is full of great music along with some really cool additional surprises.
Here’s a look inside to see what I’m talking about:
Danse Macabre’ captures the radical ambition and evolution of Celtic Frost from 1984 through to 1987. In addition to the albums Morbid Tales’, ‘To Mega Therion’ and ‘Into The Pandemonium’, the 7 marble color vinyl box set also includes the ‘Emperor’s Return’, ‘Tragic Serenades’ and ‘I Won’t Dance’ EPs, along with
‘The Collectors Celtic Frost’ 12”, a 7” of ‘Visual Aggression’ and a cassette of rehearsals recorded at the band’s Grave Hill Bunker. A 12” x 12”, 40-page book, brings together photography – some previously unseen – from the era and brand new interviews with Tom Gabriel Warrior and Reed St Mark.
A Heptagram USB drive contains MP3 audio of all the albums, including bonus tracks. A Danse Macabre woven patch, a double-sided poster, and a Necromaniac Union fan club enamel badge complete the set. ‘Danse Macabre’ is also
available as a 5 CD box set, with a 40-page book, badge, poster, and patch.
I really like the fact that they added some cool collector’s items besides just the music. Celtic Frost are legends in the metal scene and are often considered the Godfathers of Extreme Metal music. If you’re already a fan there are plenty of great unreleased tracks here (even if you already own the original albums) and if you’ve never experienced the band before, this is an unbelievable way to get most of their discography at once along with some hidden gems that the average metalhead might not own. In the CD Box, the albums are packaged in cardboard sleeves to resemble mini vinyl albums which is a cool touch. These albums are considered among the best by the band, but it’s also a great starting point for the newly anointed fans as they can pick up separately, the Vanity/Nemesis and Monotheist albums while desperately wishing Tom G Warrior would make the ridiculously rare “Cold Lake” album available with the rest of us.
The Danse Macabre box set more than captures the spirit of Celtic Frost at the prime of their creative genius and the extras are just icing on the cake. The book is exceptional with a great look at the history of the band and you can sew the CF patch on your favorite jacket and represent wherever you go. I highly recommend this box set as it was clearly thought out and carefully designed to really feel like a collector’s item the moment you open it.
Track Listings
Disc: 1
| 1 | Human (Intro) |
| 2 | Into the Crypts of Rays |
| 3 | Visions of Mortality |
| 4 | Dethroned Emperor |
| 5 | Morbid Tales |
| 6 | Procreation (Of the Wicked) |
| 7 | Return to the Eve |
| 8 | Danse Macabre |
| 9 | Nocturnal Fear |
Disc: 2
| 1 | Morbid Tales (1984 Rehearsal) |
| 2 | Messiah (1984 Rehearsal) |
| 3 | Procreation (Of the Wicked) [1984 Rehearsal] |
| 4 | Nocturnal Fear (1984 Rehearsal) |
Disc: 3
| 1 | Innocence and Wrath |
| 2 | The Usurper |
| 3 | Jewel Throne |
| 4 | Dawn of Meggido |
| 5 | Eternal Summer |
| 6 | Circle of the Tyrants |
| 7 | (Beyond the) North Winds |
| 8 | Fainted Eyes |
| 9 | Tears In a Prophet’s Dream |
| 10 | Necromantical Screams |
| 11 | Return to the Eve (1985 Studio Jam) |
Disc: 4
| 1 | Mexican Radio |
| 2 | Mesmerized |
| 3 | Inner Sanctum |
| 4 | Tristesses de la Lune |
| 5 | Babylon Fell (Jade Serpent) |
| 6 | Caress Into Oblivion (Jade Serpent II) |
| 7 | One In Their Pride (Porthole Mix) |
| 8 | I Won’t Dance (The Elders’ Orient) |
| 9 | Rex Irae (Requiem) |
| 10 | Oriental Masquerade |
| 11 | Sorrows of the Moon |
| 12 | The Inevitable Factor |
| 13 | In The Chapel, In The Moonlight (The Collector’s Celtic Frost) |
| 14 | One In Their Pride (Re-Entry Mix) |
| 15 | The Inevitable Factor (Alternate Vox) |
Disc: 5
| 1 | Circle of the Tyrants |
| 2 | Morbid Tales |
| 3 | Dethroned Emperor |
| 4 | Visual Aggression |
| 5 | Suicidal Winds |
| 6 | Journey Into Fear (Emperor’s Return EP Recording Sessions) |
| 7 | Visual Aggression (1988 Remix) |
About The Author
