Thomas Gabriel Fischer (born 19 July 1963), also known by the stage names Tom Warrior and Satanic Slaughter, is a Swiss musician. He led the extreme metal bands Hellhammer and Celtic Frost and is currently the frontman of the band Triptykon.
Thomas Gabriel Fischer | |
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 Fischer on stage with Triptykon in 2014 | |
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| Born | 19 July 1963 |
| Origin | Switzerland |
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| Member of | Triptykon |
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Career
editFischer, under the alias "Tom Warrior," along with Urs Sprenger (known as "Steve Warrior") on bass and Pete Stratton (real name Peter Ebneter) on drums, formed the metal band Hammerhead in early 1982. Stratton was soon replaced by Bruce "Denial Fiend" Day (real name Jörg Neubart), and the band changed its name to Hellhammer that same year. In late 1983, bassist and songwriter Martin Eric Ain joined Hellhammer, and the lineup of Fischer, Ain, and Day recorded the EP Apocalyptic Raids, as well as a series of demos for the German label Noise Records, before disbanding in May 1984. Fischer and Ain then reunited to form Celtic Frost, an influential avant-garde and extreme metal trio, in June 1984.
In 1985, Fischer was invited to co-produce and sing on the first demo, titled Death Cult, by fellow Swiss group Coroner. Fischer also wrote the lyrics for the songs recorded. Two of Coroner's members served as part of Celtic Frost's road crew until 1986. In 1987, internal conflicts within Celtic Frost led to the band's dissolution.
Several months later, Fischer reformed the band with a completely new lineup. However, the band's 1988 release, Cold Lake, marked a drastic shift in Celtic Frost's sound, moving from their traditional thrash/death/black metal style to a traditional heavy metal/glam metal approach, which greatly disappointed most fans. Fischer has repeatedly stated that he takes full responsibility for this negative change in direction, explaining that he was distracted by a personal relationship and allowed the other band members too much creative control. Celtic Frost eventually disbanded in 1993.
A year after Celtic Frost disbanded, Fischer formed the EBM/industrial rock project Apollyon Sun.
In 2000, Fischer's book Are You Morbid?: Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost[1] received many positive reviews, including one from Record Collector, which praised it as: "Intelligent, humble, questioning, insightful – the cultured side of extreme metal."
Sometime in 2001, Fischer and Martin Eric Ain reconnected and began collaborating on music, aiming to create a new, dark, and heavy Celtic Frost album reminiscent of their work on To Mega Therion and Into the Pandemonium. This effort culminated in the release of the album Monotheist in 2006.
Fischer also contributed to Dave Grohl's collaborative project Probot in 2003, performing on the song "Big Sky."
In 2005, Fischer produced vocal tracks (performed by Martin Eric Ain) and guitar tracks (Erol Uenala) for a "gothicized" version of Slayer's classic "Black Magic," recorded by the Los Angeles–based gothic rock band Hatesex. This track appeared on their debut album Unwant.
Due to internal conflict within Celtic Frost, Fischer left the band on 2 April 2008 and subsequently launched a new band named Triptykon.[2]
In 2008, Fischer played guitars and bass for a cover of "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" on the album Revelations of the Black Flame by 1349, a Norwegian black metal band. He also co-mixed the album. In 2009, he co-produced their subsequent album, Demonoir.
In 2010, Fischer was honored with the Inspiration Award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.[3] Additionally, he was ranked No. 32 on Guitar World magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.[4]
Fischer currently plays an Ibanez H. R. Giger series Iceman guitar and uses an Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive pedal.
Fischer is a vegan.[5] He has also stated that he does not drink, smoke, or take drugs.[6]
From 2007 until H. R. Giger's death, Fischer served as the artist's personal assistant.[7] He was a close friend of both Giger and his wife, Carmen, and remains involved with the Giger estate. He is active in the Fondation H.R. Giger and serves as the co-director of the Museum HR Giger.[8]
Discography
edit
Hellhammer
edit- Death Fiend (demo, 1983)
- Triumph of Death (demo, 1983)
- Satanic Rites (demo, 1983)
- Apocalyptic Raids (EP, 1984)
- Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D. (compilation, 1990)
- Demon Entrails (compilation, 2008)
- Blood Insanity (single, 2016)
Celtic Frost
edit- Morbid Tales (mini-album, 1984)
- Emperor's Return (EP, 1985)
- To Mega Therion (album, 1985)
- Tragic Serenades (EP, 1986)
- Into the Pandemonium (album, 1987)
- I Won't Dance (EP, 1987)
- Cold Lake (album, 1988)
- Vanity/Nemesis (album, 1990)
- Wine in My Hand (EP, 1990)
- Parched with Thirst Am I and Dying (compilation, 1992)
- Monotheist (album, 2006)
- Innocence and Wrath (compilation, 2017)
Coroner
edit- Death Cult (demo, 1986)
Apollyon Sun
edit- God Leaves (And Dies) (EP, 1998)
- Sub (album, 2000)
Probot
edit- Probot (album, 2004)
Dark Fortress
edit- Eidolon (album, 2008)
1349
edit- Revelations of the Black Flame (album, 2009)
Triptykon
edit- Eparistera Daimones (album, 2010)
- Shatter (EP, 2010)
- Breathing (single, 2014)
- Melana Chasmata (album, 2014)
- Requiem – Live at Roadburn 2019 (album, 2020)
Bibliography
edit- Fischer, Tom Gabriel; Ain, Martin Eric (2010). Only Death Is Real: An Illustrated History of Hellhammer and Early Celtic Frost 1981–85. Brooklyn, New York: Bazillion Points. ISBN 978-0-9796163-9-6.
- Frasier, Sean (May 2015). "Decibel Presents The Top 30 Greatest Extreme Vocalists of All Time: #1 - Tom G. Warrior". Decibel (127). Philadelphia, PA: 62–64, 66–68, 70, 72, 74. ISSN 1557-2137.
References
edit- ^ Published by Sanctuary Publishing Ltd (29 Jun 2000) ISBN 1-86074-310-2; ISBN 978-1-86074-310-8
- ^ "Former CELTIC FROST Frontman Launches TRIPTYKON". Roadrunnerrecords.com. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
- ^ "Kawasaki Golden Gods Winners in Full!". Metalhammer.co.uk. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
- ^ "Guitar World's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 23 January 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ Grow, Kory (15 August 2019). "The Triumph of Tom G. Warrior". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "A vegetarian / vegan special". Voicesfromthedarkside.de. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Deep Depressions: Tom Warrior on Suicide, Triptykon, HR Giger, and His Darkest Days". Noisey.vice.com. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ Debelic, Tomislav (16 August 2019). "Interview: Tom Warrior and Mia Wallace of Triumph of Death @ Wacken 2019". antichristmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.