Rotting Christ have stood the test of time for over three decades. From their humble beginnings on “Satanas Tedeum” & “Passage to Arcturo” in the early 90’s, the genesis of their “Hellenic” melodic black metal sound in the 2000’s with “Sanctus Diavolos” & “Theogonia”, all the way to their later masterpieces “Rituals” & “The Heretics”, released through Season of Mist – Rotting Christ are a force of their own.
The true strength of Rotting Christ lies not only in their discography, however. The Tolis brothers bring with them an unmatched energy across international stages, performing over hundreds of shows in 2024.
Celebrating their 35 year existence, Rotting Christ culminated their performances with a one-of-a-kind showcase of their discography at the Lycabettus Hill Theater in Athens, Greece – the band’s hometown. A two-hour long, career-spanning set with long-time classics from their early days dabbling in the rougher Rotting Christ sound, to the newer, “Hellenic” anthems such as “The Raven” or “Demonon Vrosis”.
Teasing the upcoming live album, Rotting Christ releases the audiovisual performance of “Kata Ton Daimona Eaftou” (Κατά τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού), watch it now below.
On “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus”, Rotting Christ show what they do best – and captured this in a high-quality recording, immortalizing this once-in-a-lifetime performance.
“35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” is out on April 4th, 2025, via Season of Mist.
Pre-order & pre-save “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus” here.
Tracklist:
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)
5. Apage Satana (4:40)
6. Dies Irae (4:37)
7. Demonon Vrosis (5:00)
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)
6. Among Two Storms (3:54)
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)
Rotting Christ will be heading out on the Unholy Trinity 2025 tour together with Behemoth & Satyricon.
European Tour Dates 2025:
04 April: Vienna, AT @ Gasometer
05 April: Munich, DE @ Zenith
06 April: Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
08 April: Zurich, CH @ Halle 622
09 April: Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
11 April: Paris, FR @ Olympia
12 April: London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy
13 April: Tilburg, NL @ 013 Poppodium
15 April: Cologne, DE @ E-Werk
16 April: Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof
18 April: Stockholm, SE @ B-K
22 April: Helsinki, FI @ Ice Hall
23 April: Riga, LV @ Palladium
26 April: Lichtenfels, DE @ Ragnaroek Fest
27 April: Prague, CZ @ 02 Universum
Tickets can be found here.
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
