Thomas Gabriel Fischer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gabriel Fischer earlier known by his stage name of "Tom Gabriel Warrior", is a Swiss
singer and guitarist. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the death metal style of singing or growling. Together with Bruce Day and Steve Warrior he formed the seminal metal band Hellhammer
in 1982. In late 1983, bassist and songwriter Martin Eric Ain
joined Hellhammer and the line-up of Fischer, Ain and Day recorded an EP, "Apocalyptic Raids
", as well as a series of demos for the German label Noise Records
before disbanding in May 1984.
Fischer and Ain joined forces once again and formed the influential metal three-piece, Celtic Frost
, in June 1984.
In 1985, Fischer was asked to co-produce and sing on the first demo, titled Death Cult
, by fellow Swiss group Coroner
. Fischer also wrote the lyrics for the recorded songs. Two of the members of Coroner formed part of Celtic Frost's road crew until 1986.
Fischer also formed the EBM
/industrial rock
project Apollyon Sun
in 1994.
In 2000 Fischer's book "Are You Morbid?: Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost" received many favourable reviews, including this from Record Collector: "Intelligent, humble, questioning, insightful - the cultured side of extreme metal."
Fischer also performed in Probot
, Dave Grohl
's collaborative project with various metal artists, on the song "Big Sky
" in 2003.
In 2005, Tom produced vocal (performed by Martin Eric Ain) and guitar tracks (Erol Unala) for a "gothicized" version of Slayer's classic "Black Magic" recorded by Los Angeles based gothrock band Hatesex. The track appeared on their debut album entitled "Unwant".
Due to the 'internal conflict' within Celtic Frost, Tom left the band in May 2008, and has launched a new band named Triptykon
.
In 2008 he played guitars and bass for the cover song Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
from the 1349
album Revelations of the Black Flame
and also co-mixed the album. In 2009 he co-produced their album Demonoir
.
In 2010, he was awarded the Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for Inspiration.
He currently plays an Ibanez
H.R. Giger series Iceman guitar. He also uses an Ibanez Tube Screamer
overdrive pedal.
Fischer was ranked #32 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World
.
Hellhammer
Celtic Frost
Apollyon Sun
Triptykon
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
singer and guitarist. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the death metal style of singing or growling. Together with Bruce Day and Steve Warrior he formed the seminal metal band Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...
in 1982. In late 1983, bassist and songwriter Martin Eric Ain
Martin Eric Ain
Martin Eric Ain is best known for being the former left-handed bassist of the now defunct Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost. According to a recent interview, Ain is, in fact, an alias...
joined Hellhammer and the line-up of Fischer, Ain and Day recorded an EP, "Apocalyptic Raids
Apocalyptic Raids
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.The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal and black metal genres...
", as well as a series of demos for the German label Noise Records
Noise Records (Germany)
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
before disbanding in May 1984.
Fischer and Ain joined forces once again and formed the influential metal three-piece, Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
, in June 1984.
In 1985, Fischer was asked to co-produce and sing on the first demo, titled Death Cult
Death cult
The term Death cult may refer to:*The Cult, Death Cult was an early name for this British rock band*Death Cult , a compilation album featuring all the songs from Death Cult*A synonym for the term destructive cult...
, by fellow Swiss group Coroner
Coroner (band)
Coroner is a Swiss thrash metal/progressive metal band from Zurich. They garnered relatively little attention outside of Europe. Formed in 1983, the band broke up in 1996, but decided to reform 14 years later. The band will perform at multiple live venues and festivals around the world in 2011,...
. Fischer also wrote the lyrics for the recorded songs. Two of the members of Coroner formed part of Celtic Frost's road crew until 1986.
Fischer also formed the EBM
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
/industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
project Apollyon Sun
Apollyon Sun
Apollyon Sun was a Metal band formed by singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer and guitarist Erol Unala in early 1995, after the termination of Celtic Frost, Fischer's prior group. The group was unofficially dissolved in 2001 when Fischer invited Erol Unala to contribute to the reformation of Celtic...
in 1994.
In 2000 Fischer's book "Are You Morbid?: Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost" received many favourable reviews, including this from Record Collector: "Intelligent, humble, questioning, insightful - the cultured side of extreme metal."
Fischer also performed in Probot
Probot
Probot was a heavy metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters rhythm guitarist and lead-singer Dave Grohl. An album was recorded out of the material and released in February 2004...
, Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
's collaborative project with various metal artists, on the song "Big Sky
Big Sky
-Places:* large expanses of flat land, such as** Montana, U.S. state** East Anglia, UK region*Big Sky, Montana-Television, film and books:*Big Sky , an Australian televised drama that ran from 1997-1999...
" in 2003.
In 2005, Tom produced vocal (performed by Martin Eric Ain) and guitar tracks (Erol Unala) for a "gothicized" version of Slayer's classic "Black Magic" recorded by Los Angeles based gothrock band Hatesex. The track appeared on their debut album entitled "Unwant".
Due to the 'internal conflict' within Celtic Frost, Tom left the band in May 2008, and has launched a new band named Triptykon
Triptykon
Triptykon is a musical project of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, founding member of the pioneering heavy metal bands Hellhammer, Celtic Frost and Apollyon Sun. Fischer announced his departure from Celtic Frost in May 2008 and shortly afterwards revealed his new project would be entitled Triptykon...
.
In 2008 he played guitars and bass for the cover song Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a song by British rock band Pink Floyd and is featured on their second album A Saucerful of Secrets . It was written by Roger Waters and features a drum part by Nick Mason played with timpani mallets...
from the 1349
1349 (band)
1349 is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1997. Their name comes from the year the Black Death reached Norway.- History :1349 formed in 1997 and comprises several former members of the band Alvheim...
album Revelations of the Black Flame
Revelations Of the Black Flame
Revelations of the Black Flame is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal band 1349.The studio sessions took place during December 2008 in a woodland studio in Bøverbru . 1349 mixed the album in January 2009. The album was co-mixed by Tom Gabriel Fischer...
and also co-mixed the album. In 2009 he co-produced their album Demonoir
Demonoir
Demonoir is the fifth full-length album by Norwegian Black metal band 1349. The new album shows "a return to the band's more traditional, raw-yet-technical black metal sound." It was released on 26th April 2010 in Europe and the day after in North America....
.
In 2010, he was awarded the Metal Hammer Golden Gods award for Inspiration.
He currently plays an Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
H.R. Giger series Iceman guitar. He also uses an Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez Tube Screamer
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is a guitar overdrive pedal, made by Ibanez. The pedal has a characteristic mid-boosted tone popular with blues players...
overdrive pedal.
Fischer was ranked #32 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
.
HellhammerHellhammerHellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...
- Death FiendDeath FiendDeath Fiend is an unreleased demo tape by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was recorded in June 1983, along with the Triumph of Death demo, and later on appeared on the compilation album Demon Entrails.-Track listing:#"Maniac" - 4:15...
(demo, 1983) - Triumph of DeathTriumph of DeathTriumph of Death is a demo tape by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was released in July 1983. It was recorded in the bands rehearsal room on portable equipment sometime in June 1983, along with the material for the unreleased Death Fiend demo, by producer Rol Fuchs. The two demos were...
(demo, 1983) - Satanic RitesSatanic RitesSatanic Rites is a demo tape by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was recorded and released during December 1983, and later appeared on the compilation album Demon Entrails...
(demo, 1983) - Apocalyptic RaidsApocalyptic RaidsApocalyptic 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.The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal and black metal genres...
(EP, 1984) - Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.Tracks 05 and 06 were originally part of the now out-of-print Death Metal compilation.- Liner notes :Below are the liner notes of Apocalyptic Raids A.D., written on February 1990 by Thomas Gabriel Warrior. They're titled "The Macabre Existence Of Hellhammer".- Credits :* Tom G. Warrior – vocals,...
(compilation, 1990) - Demon EntrailsDemon EntrailsDemon Entrails is a compilation album that comprises three demos by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. The demos – Death Fiend, Triumph of Death and Satanic Rites – were all recorded during 1983 and were properly remastered for this compilation.- Disc 1 :Recorded on December 2/3/4/7,...
(compilation, 2008)
Celtic FrostCeltic FrostCeltic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
- Morbid TalesMorbid TalesMorbid Tales is the debut album by the Swiss extreme metal band, Celtic Frost. It was released in June 1984. The first American release by Enigma/Metal Blade added two tracks, making Morbid Tales an LP....
(EP, 1984) - Emperor's ReturnEmperor's ReturnEmperor'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...
(EP, 1985) - To Mega TherionTo Mega Therion (album)To Mega Therion is the second album by the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost, released in October 1985. The cover artwork is a painting by H.R. Giger entitled Satan I...
(album, 1985) - Tragic SerenadesTragic SerenadesTragic 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...
(EP, 1986) - Into the PandemoniumInto the PandemoniumInto the Pandemonium is the 1987 album by avant-garde metal band Celtic Frost. The album is more varied than many of Celtic Frost's past LPs, with unlikely covers , emotionally charged love songs, the album's recurring industrial-influenced rhythmic songs of demons and destruction and thrash metal...
(album, 1987) - I Won't Dance (EP, 1987)
- Cold LakeCold Lake (album)Cold Lake is an album by the Swiss avant-garde metal band Celtic Frost. It was not popular with the group or its fans and is no longer available to buy, making the album much sought after by collectors.-Background:...
(album, 1988) - Vanity/NemesisVanity/NemesisVanity/Nemesis is a 1990 album by Celtic Frost. It can be seen as a return-to-form compared to the band's previous album, Cold Lake. The album also includes a cover of David Bowie's 1977 hit "Heroes", on the CD release...
(album, 1990) - Wine In My Hand (EP, 1990)
- Parched With Thirst Am I and DyingParched with Thirst Am I and DyingParched with Thirst Am I and Dying is a compilation album of the Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost released in 1992. It consists of album tracks, demos and various other recordings of the band.- Track listing :-Credits:...
(compilation, 1992) - MonotheistMonotheist (album)Monotheist is the sixth and final album by the Swiss heavy metal band Celtic Frost. The album was released in May 2006 and was the first new recording released by the band for fourteen years.-Development:...
(album, 2006)
Apollyon SunApollyon SunApollyon Sun was a Metal band formed by singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer and guitarist Erol Unala in early 1995, after the termination of Celtic Frost, Fischer's prior group. The group was unofficially dissolved in 2001 when Fischer invited Erol Unala to contribute to the reformation of Celtic...
- God Leaves (And Dies)God Leaves (And Dies)God Leaves is the debut EP by Swiss Industrial metal band Apollyon Sun, released in 1997 on Mayan Records."God Leaves" and "The Cane" were taken from AS' 1997 Industry Demonstration and were remastered for this release. Written, arranged and produced by Apollyon Sun...
(EP, 1998) - SubSub (album)Sub is the debut album by Swiss Industrial metal band Apollyon Sun, released in 2000 on Mayan Records.Work on a full album, Sub began at London's Trident Studios in 1998, with renown producer Roli Mosimann...
(album, 2000)
TriptykonTriptykonTriptykon is a musical project of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, founding member of the pioneering heavy metal bands Hellhammer, Celtic Frost and Apollyon Sun. Fischer announced his departure from Celtic Frost in May 2008 and shortly afterwards revealed his new project would be entitled Triptykon...
- Eparistera DaimonesEparistera Daimones-Formats:Eparistera Daimones has been released in several formats including CD, Digipak CD, and Double Gatefold LP.- Chart positions :-Personnel:...
(album, 2010) - ShatterShatter (EP)-Release:Shatter has been released in multiple formats, as a CD, 12" vinyl, and a digital download.A music video for the song Shatter has also been released.-Line-up:* Thomas Gabriel Fischer - vocals, guitar, programming* V...
(EP, 2010)