ONLY DEATH IS REAL: An Illustrated History of Hellhammer and Early Celtic Frost 1981–1985 (Hardcover)

*** The emperor returns! ONLY DEATH IS REAL ships today ***“Without question, Only Death Is Real goes farther than any other source in exploring the origins of underground heavy metal.”

• ISBN 978-09796163-9-6
• 288pp (24pp color) deluxe Wibalin-bound hardcover
• Introduction by Nocturno Culto of Darkthrone
• Foreword by Joel McIver
• Dimensions: 9.25″ x 11.5″ (241mm x 292mm); 4 lbs. (1.8 kg)

“Fischer’s delving deeper into his past than ever before…very interesting reading. It’s as much a document of metalhead life in the early ’80s as the story of one band.”—MSN Music

This formidable oversized hardcover runs 288 pages (including a 32-page color section), and combines hundreds of unseen early Hellhammer and Celtic Frost photos with a vast treasure trove of artwork and memorabilia. A substantial written component by Fischer details his upbringing on the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland, and the hardships and triumphs he faced bringing the visions of his groundbreaking bands Hellhammer and eventually Celtic Frost to reality. In addition, the book includes an introduction by Nocturno Culto of Norwegian black metal act Darkthrone, and a foreword by noted metal author Joel McIver.

Without question Only Death Is Real goes farther than any other source in exploring the origins of underground heavy metal. The wealth of visual information is astounding, both in terms of documenting early 1980s headbangers and exposing the still-relevant imagery of the first Hellhammer and Celtic Frost photo sessions. The narrative combines Tom Fischer’s often shocking stories with lengthy quotes from Martin Eric Ain and the other main Hellhammer members, explaining in intimately human terms how extreme metal was born.

“This is a book about the real Hellhammer, the essence of that group, the aura it carried, and the truly unique spirit of revolution of the times in which it existed. It is a book about a group of outcasts—about persistence, dedication, and an utterly personal vision. I have worked very hard to make sure it will do justice to the work of a number of very unique people who shared the same ideas at a very unique point in time.”—Tom Gabriel Fischer