To Mega Therion (album)

To Mega Therion is the second studio album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released on October 27, 1985, by Noise Records. The title, translated from Koine Greek, means "The Great Beast."

The album marked a significant shift in Celtic Frost's sound, incorporating elements of classical music and avant-garde metal into their established extreme metal style. It is considered a landmark album in the development of extreme metal, influencing genres such as black metal, doom metal, and gothic metal.

The album's lyrics explore themes of occultism, mythology, and existentialism. The artwork, featuring H.R. Giger's painting "Satan I," further enhanced the album's dark and disturbing aesthetic.

Key tracks on To Mega Therion include "Innocence and Wrath," "The Usurper," "Jewel Throne," and "Circle of the Tyrants." The album received critical acclaim upon its release and has since been recognized as a classic of the extreme metal genre. It is often cited as one of Celtic Frost's most important and influential works. The album's impact on subsequent generations of metal musicians is substantial, cementing its place in the history of heavy metal.