Celtic Frost: Tragic Serenades (Record Store Day Picture Disc)

CELTIC FROST Tragic Serenades (1986 German 3-track Limited Edition Picture Disc single, featuring The Userper, Jewel Throne and Return To The Eve, company die cut outer picture sleeve, limited to just 1,500 copies.

It was originally 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.

The re-recorded version of “Return to the Eve” (the original version of which was featured on the Morbid Tales album) features Reed’s habit of loudly goofing off during songs, with Reed loosely sharing lead vocals. Celtic Frost included this “party-like studio jam” of the song on Tragic Serenades as their “first public display of light-heartedness”.

The EP was reissued in 2018, with 1,500 copies pressed for Record Store Day 2018.