Rotting Christ
Encyclopedia
Rotting Christ is a Greek
black metal
band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.
(vocals and guitar) and Themis Tolis
(drums). Andreas Lagios
has been the bassist since 1996, taking the stead of Jim Patsouris. Nightfall
's Giorgos Bokos
joined as a guitarist in 2005, replacing Costas Vasilakopoulos.
Three keyboardists
had previously been a part of the band; George Tolias, George Zaharopoulos and a session known only as Panayiotis (on A Dead Poem
).
and released various demos and splits with other bands from the Athens area. The group would later alter their sound with influence from proto-black metal
bands like Celtic Frost
and Venom
, and in the process became one of the genre's instigators. Their 5 song demo, Satanas Tedeum, would show a grindcore
/black metal
crossover, followed by their career-breaking EP, Passage to Arcturo
, in 1991.
One of band's first major appearances was on the 1993 "Fuck Christ Tour" consisting of Immortal
and Blasphemy
. During this concert, some audience members had engaged in cutting and self mutilation that resulted in hospitalization. Before signing to Unisound
, Mayhem
's Øystein Aarseth had expressed interest in distributing the band through his "Deathlike Silence Productions
" label, but due to Aarseth's murder the same year, nothing materialized. The band would sign to Century Media in 1996 and remain on their roster for 10 years before joining Season of Mist
.
Rotting Christ have played in many countries outside their native Greece
, including both Americas
, Greater Europe
, Russia
, the United Kingdom
, Malta
and the Middle East
. Several heavy metal festivals around the world have hosted the band, including the 2003 Wacken Open Air
in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
. Past tourmates have included My Dying Bride
, Tristania
, Tiamat
, Vintersorg
, Finntroll
, Agathodaimon
, Old Man's Child
, Malevolent Creation
, Anorexia Nervosa
, Vader
, Krisiun
, Deicide
, Behemoth
, Melechesh
and Nile
, among many others.
, when candidate/Christian conservative
Gary Bauer
accused the band of being "anti-Catholic", among other things. In response to Bauer's criticism, Sakis
wrote:
They also have had to cancel some shows, most recently in May 2005, when Megadeth
frontman Dave Mustaine
refused to play at a Greek concert if Rotting Christ were on the bill.
In response to their forced cancellation, Sakis noted:
Anthrax
co-founder Dan Lilker
defended Rotting Christ and criticized Dave Mustaine's actions, as did Nevermore's Warrel Dane
, whose bands appeared on Mustaine's Gigantour
in 2005. Dane added:
When playing in Malta
, a country which in its constitution declares itself as Roman Catholic, trouble from the Church and other Catholic groups ensued when an unknown person stuck a Rotting Christ flyer to a church door. The band was allowed to play eventually even though they had to change venue.
Despite the name, the band's traditional lyrical themes involving evil
and occultism has evolved into a more "mystic" path, and they have modified their musical direction on each album, utilizing elements such as clean melodic baritone
vocals, doom
, gothic metal
and industrial music
traits, and male/female Benedictine
chants. Recent albums, beginning with Khronos, have shown the band taking a more modern, faster and more aggressive approach to their blackened
-gothic
style. Their 2007 album, Theogonia, especially, has been described as more "atmospheric" and "epic" by their label.
The group's choice of producers, engineers and mixers has also been varied; Swedish extreme metal
figures Dan Swanö
(Unisound
), Peter Tägtgren
(Abyss Studios) and Fredrik Nordström
(Studio Fredman
), German producers Andy Classen
(Asphyx
, Belphegor
) Siggi Bemm (Therion
, Theatre of Tragedy
) and Waldemar Sorychta
(Lacuna Coil
, The Gathering
) as well as Xytras (Samael
percussionist/keyboardist) have all contributed to production on the band's albums.
, Rotting Christ have been around 20 years, one of the longest running bands within the black metal
genre. In celebration of the band's longevity, the 2 DVD + 2 CD compilation, "Non Serviam: A 20 Year Apocryphal Story," shot in Athens on December 8, 2007, was released worldwide February 23, 2009.
Aealo
, the band's latest album, was released on February 15, 2010 for Europe and February 23, 2010 for the USA.
Best of compilation
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.
Line-up
The permanent line-up consists of brothers Sakis TolisSakis Tolis
Sakis Tolis is a Greek musician best known as the vocalist and guitarist of Rotting Christ. He is also known as Necromayhem. He has recently produced some of the band's albums and contributed as session keyboardist...
(vocals and guitar) and Themis Tolis
Themis Tolis
Themis Tolis is the drummer for Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. Along with his brother, vocalist and guitarist Sakis, he has been with the band since its inception in 1987.-References:...
(drums). Andreas Lagios
Andreas Lagios
Andreas Lagios plays bass in the black metal band Rotting Christ and in the stoner rock band Nightstalker.-References:...
has been the bassist since 1996, taking the stead of Jim Patsouris. Nightfall
Nightfall (band)
Nightfall is a Greek heavy metal band from Athens. Formed by vocalist/bassist Efthimis Karadimas in 1991, the group is currently signed to Metal Blade Records.- History :...
's Giorgos Bokos
Giorgos Bokos
Giorgos Bokos is the guitarist of the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. He was previously a member of: Nightfall, Obsecration, Sickening Horror, Exhibition.Giorgos is endorsed by and...
joined as a guitarist in 2005, replacing Costas Vasilakopoulos.
Three keyboardists
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
had previously been a part of the band; George Tolias, George Zaharopoulos and a session known only as Panayiotis (on A Dead Poem
A Dead Poem
A Dead Poem is the fourth full length album from Greek black metal band Rotting Christ.The band slowed down their tempos significantly and added occasional usage of acoustic guitars and regional music, making this particular record one of their more mainstream of releases, and the farthest removed...
).
Biography
During their rehearsal era in the late 1980s, the band began as grindcoreGrindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
and released various demos and splits with other bands from the Athens area. The group would later alter their sound with influence from proto-black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
bands like 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...
and Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, and in the process became one of the genre's instigators. Their 5 song demo, Satanas Tedeum, would show a grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
/black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
crossover, followed by their career-breaking EP, Passage to Arcturo
Passage to Arcturo
Released in 1991, Passage to Arcturo is an EP from the Greek metal band Rotting Christ.Originally an MLP-pressing only. First edition in Gatefold-cover, 2nd edition with normal cover....
, in 1991.
One of band's first major appearances was on the 1993 "Fuck Christ Tour" consisting of Immortal
Immortal (band)
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
and Blasphemy
Blasphemy (band)
Blasphemy are a black/death metal band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1984. The band released a demo titled Blood Upon the Altar in 1989 and their debut album, Fallen Angel of Doom, the following year through Wild Rags, a record label they had signed to while touring the United...
. During this concert, some audience members had engaged in cutting and self mutilation that resulted in hospitalization. Before signing to Unisound
Unisound
Unisound is a recording studio that used to be in Finspång but was closed down by Dan Swanö it because of his family but it was relocated to Örebro, Sweden into his Home....
, Mayhem
Mayhem (band)
Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
's Øystein Aarseth had expressed interest in distributing the band through his "Deathlike Silence Productions
Deathlike Silence Productions
Deathlike Silence Productions was an Oslo, Norway based independent record label founded in the late 1980s that focused primarily on black metal. It was the first independent label to do so. The label was founded by Øystein Aarseth, also known as Euronymous, who operated the label until his murder...
" label, but due to Aarseth's murder the same year, nothing materialized. The band would sign to Century Media in 1996 and remain on their roster for 10 years before joining Season of Mist
Season of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
.
Rotting Christ have played in many countries outside their native Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, including both Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, Greater Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Several heavy metal festivals around the world have hosted the band, including the 2003 Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Past tourmates have included My Dying Bride
My Dying Bride
My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,...
, Tristania
Tristania (band)
Tristania is a band from Norway, formed in 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Tristania's music is usually classified as symphonic gothic metal with doom/death metal influences , due to its strong ties with the goth metal's history...
, Tiamat
Tiamat (band)
-Biography:Initially, the band played straightforward black metal under the name Treblinka. After having recorded the album Sumerian Cry in 1989, vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund and bassist Jörgen Thullberg parted ways with the other two founding members, and subsequently changed the name to Tiamat...
, Vintersorg
Vintersorg
Vintersorg is a Swedish band from Skellefteå, formed in 1994 under the name Vargatron . Musically, Vintersorg has covered a wide number of heavy metal genres; while the band is mostly rooted in extreme metal styles, particularly black metal and Viking/folk metal, it has also expanded into...
, Finntroll
Finntroll
Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They combine elements of black metal and folk metal. Finntroll's lyrics are mostly in Swedish, the only exception being the song "Madon Laulu" on Visor Om Slutet...
, Agathodaimon
Agathodaimon (band)
Agathodaimon is a gothic/melodic black metal band from Mainz, Germany.-Biography:The band began in September 1995, when guitarist Sathonys and drummer Matthias got together to assemble a dominant death metal band with harmonic arrangements . They put adverts in several music magazines in the hopes...
, Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child is a black metal band from Norway. The band is the brainchild of Galder who is the only permanent member of the band now.-Formation:...
, Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation is a death metal band originally hailing from Buffalo, New York. Moving to Florida in 1987, they became a part of the emergent local death metal scene, landing a deal with Roadrunner Records...
, Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa (band)
Anorexia Nervosa is a French symphonic black metal band that started as an industrial metal act from Limoges, France. The band was formed in 1995 and was active for ten years thereafter...
, Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
, Krisiun
Krisiun
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by Alex Camargo , Moyses Kolesne , and Max Kolesne . Since its formation, in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991, and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play titled Unmerciful Order in 1993...
, Deicide
Deicide (band)
Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...
, Behemoth
Behemoth (band)
Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
, Melechesh
Melechesh
Melechesh is a Assyrian-Armenian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up...
and Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
, among many others.
Publicity
Over the years, the group has faced controversy due to their name and gained international media attention in November 1999 during the 2000 United States Presidential Primaries for Republican NominationRepublican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000
The 2000 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2000 U.S. presidential election. Governor of Texas George W...
, when candidate/Christian conservative
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
Gary Bauer
Gary Bauer
Gary Lee Bauer is an American politician notable for his ties to several evangelical Christian groups and campaigns.-Biography:...
accused the band of being "anti-Catholic", among other things. In response to Bauer's criticism, Sakis
Sakis Tolis
Sakis Tolis is a Greek musician best known as the vocalist and guitarist of Rotting Christ. He is also known as Necromayhem. He has recently produced some of the band's albums and contributed as session keyboardist...
wrote:
They also have had to cancel some shows, most recently in May 2005, when Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
frontman Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
refused to play at a Greek concert if Rotting Christ were on the bill.
In response to their forced cancellation, Sakis noted:
Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
co-founder Dan Lilker
Dan Lilker
Dan Lilker is a musician from the United States, most known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist...
defended Rotting Christ and criticized Dave Mustaine's actions, as did Nevermore's Warrel Dane
Warrel Dane
Warrel Dane is the lead singer of the progressive metal band Nevermore. He is also the singer of the metal band Sanctuary, who have recently reformed...
, whose bands appeared on Mustaine's Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
in 2005. Dane added:
When playing in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, a country which in its constitution declares itself as Roman Catholic, trouble from the Church and other Catholic groups ensued when an unknown person stuck a Rotting Christ flyer to a church door. The band was allowed to play eventually even though they had to change venue.
Despite the name, the band's traditional lyrical themes involving evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
and occultism has evolved into a more "mystic" path, and they have modified their musical direction on each album, utilizing elements such as clean melodic baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
vocals, doom
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
, gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
and industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
traits, and male/female Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
chants. Recent albums, beginning with Khronos, have shown the band taking a more modern, faster and more aggressive approach to their blackened
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
-gothic
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
style. Their 2007 album, Theogonia, especially, has been described as more "atmospheric" and "epic" by their label.
The group's choice of producers, engineers and mixers has also been varied; Swedish extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
figures Dan Swanö
Dan Swanö
Dan-Erland Swanö is a Swedish musician who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale as well as the Owner of Unisound but he achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.As a multi-instrumentalist he is...
(Unisound
Unisound
Unisound is a recording studio that used to be in Finspång but was closed down by Dan Swanö it because of his family but it was relocated to Örebro, Sweden into his Home....
), Peter Tägtgren
Peter Tägtgren
Alf Peter Tägtgren is a Swedish musician and producer. He is the founder, main songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the death metal band Hypocrisy as well as the industrial metal band PAIN in which he is the only member....
(Abyss Studios) and Fredrik Nordström
Fredrik Nordström
Björn Tom Fredrik Nordström, born on 5 January 1967, is a Swedish record producer and guitar player for the heavy metal band Dream Evil. Nordström is one of the leading melodic death metal producers in Sweden, and he has worked with some of the genre's top acts, including At the Gates, Arch Enemy,...
(Studio Fredman
Studio Fredman
Studio Fredman is a recording studio in Göteborg, Sweden, owned and operated by producer Fredrik Nordström.It is popular among Swedish metal bands, with artists such as At the Gates, Deathstars, Nightrage, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, Amon Amarth, In Flames, Zonaria,...
), German producers Andy Classen
Andy Classen
-Holy Moses:He began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house in the village of Borgentreich-Bühne in the vicinity of Warburg, North Rhine-Westphalia...
(Asphyx
Asphyx
Asphyx is a Dutch death/doom band that was formed in Overijssel in 1987.-Biography:The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tonny Brookhuis. Eric Daniels was found as a second guitarist and Chuck Colli joined on vocals and bass guitar; this line up released the Enter the Domain demo...
, Belphegor
Belphegor (band)
Belphegor is a blackened death metal band from Salzburg, Austria. They originally formed in 1991 under the name Betrayer before changing their name in 1993. They are named after the demon Belphegor.-Early years :...
) Siggi Bemm (Therion
Therion (band)
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...
, Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy was a Norwegian band from Stavanger, active between 1993 and 2010. They are best known for their earlier albums, which provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metal genre.-Biography:...
) and Waldemar Sorychta
Waldemar Sorychta
Waldemar Sorychta , is a German heavy metal musician, songwriter, producer and artist who lives in Dortmund Germany since 1982.- Career :He initially worked with the German thrash metal band Despair, founded in 1986....
(Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
, The Gathering
The Gathering (band)
The Gathering is a Dutch alternative rock band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits in the small city of Oss, North Brabant....
) as well as Xytras (Samael
Samael (band)
Samael is a industrial black metal band formed in 1987 in Sion, Switzerland.-Biography:Although much of their music from the mid-1990s onwards has incorporated electronic sounds which would best define their genre as industrial metal, they are an early 2nd Wave black metal band and an innovator for...
percussionist/keyboardist) have all contributed to production on the band's albums.
, Rotting Christ have been around 20 years, one of the longest running bands within the black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
genre. In celebration of the band's longevity, the 2 DVD + 2 CD compilation, "Non Serviam: A 20 Year Apocryphal Story," shot in Athens on December 8, 2007, was released worldwide February 23, 2009.
Aealo
Aealo
Aealo is the tenth full length album by Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. The CD was recorded between July and October 2009 at Lunatech Studios in Katerini, Greece....
, the band's latest album, was released on February 15, 2010 for Europe and February 23, 2010 for the USA.
Current members
- Sakis TolisSakis TolisSakis Tolis is a Greek musician best known as the vocalist and guitarist of Rotting Christ. He is also known as Necromayhem. He has recently produced some of the band's albums and contributed as session keyboardist...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
/vocals (1987–present) - Giorgos BokosGiorgos BokosGiorgos Bokos is the guitarist of the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. He was previously a member of: Nightfall, Obsecration, Sickening Horror, Exhibition.Giorgos is endorsed by and...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2005–present) - Andreas LagiosAndreas LagiosAndreas Lagios plays bass in the black metal band Rotting Christ and in the stoner rock band Nightstalker.-References:...
- bassBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
(1997–present) - Themis TolisThemis TolisThemis Tolis is the drummer for Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. Along with his brother, vocalist and guitarist Sakis, he has been with the band since its inception in 1987.-References:...
- drumsDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
(1987–present)
Past members
- Costas Vasilakopoulos - guitarGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
(1996–2004) - Georgios Tolias - keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1997–2003) - George "Magus Wampyr Daoloth" Zaharopoulos - keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
/backing vocals (1992–1994) - Jim "Mutilator" Patsouris - bassBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
(1989–1996) - Panayiotis - session keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1997)
Full length
- Thy Mighty ContractThy Mighty ContractThy Mighty Contract is the first full length album by Greek metal band Rotting Christ, released in late 1993 on Osmose Productions.The album is considered a microcosm of the band's entire discography, with emphasis on both the raw and unrefined direction of their demos/EP's and also the dark,...
November 11, 1993
Osmose ProductionsOsmose ProductionsOsmose Productions is a French independent record label created in 1991 by Hervé Herbaut, after he had spent three years running a small mail order company...
(re-released on Century Media, January 20, 1998) - Non Serviam
October 10, 1994
UnisoundUnisoundUnisound is a recording studio that used to be in Finspång but was closed down by Dan Swanö it because of his family but it was relocated to Örebro, Sweden into his Home....
(re-released on The End RecordsThe End RecordsThe End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
, January 24, 2006) - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers
August 20, 1996
Century Media - A Dead PoemA Dead PoemA Dead Poem is the fourth full length album from Greek black metal band Rotting Christ.The band slowed down their tempos significantly and added occasional usage of acoustic guitars and regional music, making this particular record one of their more mainstream of releases, and the farthest removed...
October 7, 1997
Century Media - Sleep of the AngelsSleep of the AngelsSleep of the Angels is the fifth full length album from Greek black metal band Rotting Christ.Like previous releases A Dead Poem and Triarchy of Lost Lovers, the band refined their direction to a slower style with more emphasis on atmosphere and melodicism than brutality...
March 9, 1999
Century Media - Khronos
August 29, 2000
Century Media - GenesisGenesis (Rotting Christ album)Genesis is the seventh full length album by the Greek black metal band, Rotting Christ.The release showed some return to the group's more aggressive early days as a black metal band, featuring fast, percussive tempos and raw vocals, as well as some gothic and doom elements from middle releases.It...
October 29, 2002
Century Media - Sanctus DiavolosSanctus DiavolosSanctus Diavolos is the eighth full length album by Greek black metal band Rotting Christ.It is also the first release after the departure of long-time guitarist Kostas and keyboardist George. The album features a guest appearance by Gus G...
September 20, 2004
Century Media - TheogoniaTheogonia (album)Theogonia is the ninth full length album by Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. It is their first release through Season of Mist, and the first to feature guitarist Giorgos Bokos in the line-up....
February 6, 2007
Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing... - AealoAealoAealo is the tenth full length album by Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. The CD was recorded between July and October 2009 at Lunatech Studios in Katerini, Greece....
February 15, 2010
Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
Demos, singles, and DVDs
- Decline's Return (1988) (demo)
- Leprosy of Death (1988) (unofficial demo)
- The Other Side of Life (1989) (EP split with Sound Pollution)
- Satanas Tedeum (1989) (demo)
- Passage to ArcturoPassage to ArcturoReleased in 1991, Passage to Arcturo is an EP from the Greek metal band Rotting Christ.Originally an MLP-pressing only. First edition in Gatefold-cover, 2nd edition with normal cover....
(1991) (EP) - Split with Monumentum (1991) (split)
- Dawn of the Iconoclast (1991) (EP)
- Ades Wind (1992) (demo)
- Apokathelosis (1993) (EP)
- The Mystical Meeting (1997) (single/live/cover compilation)
- Der Perfekte Traum (1999) (single/Live)
- In Domine Sathana (2003) (live DVD)
- Non Serviam: A 20 Year Apocryphal Story (2009) (live DVD/CD)
Best of compilation
- Thanatiphoro AnthologioThanatiphoro AnthologioThanatiphoro Anthologio is a compilation album spanning the entire career of the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ...
(2007) (compilation)