Rotting Christ

Rotting Christ

Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band from Athens, formed in 1987. The group is one of the first black metal acts from Greece and develops from an early grindcore approach into a more defined black metal sound with melodic and gothic elements.

Style and development

The band changes its musical direction across its albums while keeping a dark metal core. Its work includes clean melodic baritone vocals, doom influences, gothic metal traits, industrial touches, and male and female Benedictine chants. Later material becomes more modern, faster, and more aggressive, while albums such as Theogonia are described as atmospheric and epic in character. The band’s lyrical themes also move from evil and occult subjects towards a more mystical direction.

Early years and key releases

In the late 1980s, the group records early demos including Decline's Return and Satanas Tedeum. Its first mini-LP, Passage to Arcturo, is circulated by Decapitated Records, later known as Unisound Records, with Magus Wampyr Daoloth of Necromantia added on keyboards. Other early releases include the EP Dawn of the Iconoclast, the split release with Momentum, and the demo Ade’s Winds.

The debut album Thy Mighty Contract appears in 1993 on Osmose Productions and establishes the band internationally. The group also takes part in the first black metal tour, the Fuck Christ Tour, alongside Immortal and Blasphemy. After disagreements with Osmose, Rotting Christ signs with Unisound and releases Non Serviam in 1994. The album Triarchy of the Lost Lovers follows in 1996 on Century Media, recorded abroad and produced by Andy Classen. It uses live drums rather than the drum machine used on the first two albums.

Later albums and international touring

Sleep of the Angels appears in 1998 and adds more gothic elements. It is followed by the band’s first world tour, which includes Europe, the United States and Latin America. Khronos arrives in 2000 with a more black metal-focused sound and is recorded at Abyss Studio with Peter Tägtgren involved in production. Genesis follows in 2002, and its older-style logo returns. Sanctus Diavolos comes out in 2004 with Sakis handling production. Theogonia is released in 2007, followed by Aealo in 2010 and Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού in 2013.

Members and personnel

Core members include Sakis Tolis and Themis Tolis. Other musicians associated with the group include Jim Patsouris, Magus Wampyr Daoloth, Costas Vasilakopoulos, Georgios Tolias, Andreas Lagios, George Bokos, George Emmanuel, Vagelis Karzis and Kostas Cheliotis. Early pseudonyms used by members include Necromayhem, Mutilator and Sauron. Over time, session players and other members also appear on recordings and tours, including keyboardists and guitarists in various periods.

Labels and format releases

Rotting Christ releases music through labels including Decapitated Records, Osmose Productions, Unisound, Century Media and Season of Mist. The discography also includes EPs, splits, singles, a live DVD and the compilation Thanatiphoro Anthologio. A 2009 DVD, Non Serviam: A 20 Year Apocryphal Story, documents the band’s history.