After 35 years of evil existence, Rotting Christ still stand the test of time. Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their Greek brothers-in-arms have risen from the Athenian underground to become one of the metal world’s most reliable forces, backed by a pantheon discography that has both defined and defied black metal.
As they continue to tour the world, today, Rotting Christ are announcing a new Blu-Ray edition of their latest live album “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus”. This Blu-Ray honors Rotting Christ’s lasting legacy by capturing their first time performing at the historic Lycabettus Hill Theater in Athens. A sold-out crowd of 7,000 people were treated to a two-hour setlist that spanned the band’s entire career, from early mighty classics to their latest monumental hit “Like Father, Like Son”.
“Dear friends, we are proud to announce that our new live album will now be available on Blu-Ray”, Sakis says. “It was filmed last summer during our very special 35th anniversary show alongside our Athenian brothers and sisters at the historic Lycabettus Hill Theater. Thank you for your attention, support and dedication over all these years. You can be sure that we will be at the frontline of the battlefield until the end. Non Serviam”!
Watch Rotting Christ perform “Like Father, Like Son” live below.
The Blu-Ray edition of “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” comes out on December 12th, 2025, via Season of Mist.
Available Formats:
• Blu-Ray with 16-page booklet
• Digital download
• 2X CD Digipack with gold foil and linen-like lamination
• 3X 12″ Vinyl Gatefold LP (Black)
• 3X 12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold LP (Gold and black marbled with gold foil. Limited to 250 copies)
• 3X 12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold LP (Orange and black marbled with gold foil. Limited to 200 copies)
• 3X 12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold LP (Red and black marbled with gold foil. Limited to 500 copies)
The footage from “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” was directed by Yiannis Margetousakis & Thanos Liberopoulos.
Additional video credits:
Camera operators
Thanos Liberopoulos
Giorgos Margetousakis
Manolis Rizikos
Roxani Varela
Phillip Daskas
Spirodon Flouretzou
Mike Kochiev
Drone operator
Yiannis Margetousakis
Editors
Evaggelia Tsiliakou
Yiannis Margetousakis
Coloring
Yiannis Margetousakis
Pre-order the Blu-Ray edition of “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” here.
Unlike their other celebrated anthems, when Rotting Christ took the stage at Lycabettus on June 29th, 2024, they had only performed “Like Father, Like Son” but a handful of times. After all, the band’s latest studio album “Pro Xristou” had just hit shelves. But from the song’s majestic opening riff, these road warriors had the crowd chanting its timeless message of a father’s pride, honor and joy. With thousands of horns raised to the heavens above their hometown, there’s no better tribute to the indomitable spirit of Rotting Christ.
“35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” is also available on CD and vinyl.
European Tour Dates 2025:
November 8 – Ankara, Turkey @ JJ Ankara
November 9 – Istanbul, Turkey @ If Performance
November 14 – Nicosia, Cyprus @ Royal Hall
November 18 – Dublin, Ireland @ Opium
November 19 – Limerick, Ireland @ Dolan’s Warehouse
November 20 – Belfast, Northern Ireland @ Limelight
November 29 – Patra, Greece @ Polixoros 5E
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: Rotting Christ. Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and Jim Mutilator 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
Weblinks:
www.rotting-christ.com
www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial
