ROTTING CHRIST have stood the test of time. Over the past 35 years, Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their brothers-in-arms have risen from Greece’s blackened catacombs to become one of metal’s most reliable forces.
Backed by a legacy that has both defined and defied black metal, last year, the Greek legends carved out a new set of dark, melodic scriptures with fresh rebellion on the unbreakable Pro Xristou.
“…this is the most arena-worthy Rotting Christ have been in some time”, No Clean Singing wrote about their latest album.
Now, as they continue to tour the world, Rotting Christ are celebrating 35 years of evil existence with a new live album. This two-hour set was recorded at the Lycabettus Hill Theater in the band’s hometown of Athens. Like a pantheon, it spans the band’s entire career, from early evil classics like “The Sign of Evil Existence” and the gothic one-two punch of “Sorrowful Farewell” and “Among Two Storms” to ” “Δαιμόνων Βρώσης (Demonon Vrosis)”, “Κατά τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού”, “Like Father, Like Son” and other chiseled monuments from their modern Hellenic period.
Watch Rotting Christ celebrate 35 Years of Evil Existence Live in Lycabettus on Rotting Christ TV:
35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus is out now on Season of Mist.
Order & Stream at https://orcd.co/rottingchristliveinlycabettus
The formidable bond between brothers Sakis and Themis Tolis is not only felt across their unholy discography but also live and in the flesh. Having played more than a hundred shows all across the world in 2024, Rotting Christ continue to keep the true metal spirit alive time and time again.
Track-list:
1. 666 (5:45)
2. P’Unchaw Kachun- Tuta Kachun (4:54)
3. Fire God and Fear (4:44)
4. Kata Ton Demona Eaytoy (4:50) [WATCH]
5. Apage Satana (4:40)
6. Dies Irae (4:37)
7. Demonon Vrosis (5:00) [WATCH]
8. Aealo (3:42)
9. Like Father, Like Son (4:41)
10.King of a Stellar War (6:22)
11. Shadows Follow (2:07)
12. Archon (4:25)
1. The Sign of Evil Existence (1:51)
2. Fgmenth Thy Gift (4:16)
3. Societas Satanas (4:07)
4. Forest of N’gai (4:19)
5. Sorrowful Farewell (4:29) [WATCH]
6. Among Two Storms (3:54) [WATCH]
7. After Dark I Feel (4:08)
8. Athanatoi Este (5:32)
9.Nemecic (4:17)
10. In Yumen Xibalba (6:27)
11. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos (6:05)
12. The Raven (5:28)
13. Under the Name of Legion (5:51)
Full runtime: 1:56:31
Started last Friday, Rotting Christ are blessing Europe on The Unholy Trinity Tour with Behemoth and Satyricon. Then this summer, the band will return stateside for an exclusive performance at Milwaukee Metalfest.
The Unholy Trinity 2025, remaining shows:
April 6: Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
April 8: Zurich, CH @ Halle 622
April 9: Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
April 11: Paris, FR @ Olympia
April 12: London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy
April 13: Tilburg, NL @ 013 Poppodium
April 15: Cologne, DE @ E-Werk
April 16: Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof
April 18: Stockholm, SE @ B-K
April 22: Helsinki, FI @ Ice Hall
April 23: Riga, LV @ Palladium
April 26: Lichtenfels, DE @ Ragnaroek Fest
April 27: Prague, CZ @ 02 Universum
Rotting Christ @ Milwaukee Metal Fest
Friday, May 16 – Milwaukee, Wi @ The Rave/Eagles Club [TICKETS]
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristou.
Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
Line-up:
Sakis Tolis – Guitar, Vocals
Themis Tolis – Drums
Kostas “Spades” Heliotis – Bass
Kostis Fouk – Guitar
Biography:
Sébastien J. Gamez
Follow Rotting Christ:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ
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