Rotting Christ
THEIR GREATEST SPELLS
SEASON OF MIST
UNEARTHLY RETROSPECTIVE FROM THE GREEK TITANS NESTLED AWAY AMONGST
the inspiring history and culture of Greece, and away from the chaos of creativity of the Scandinavian scene, Rotting Christ managed to forge their own exciting take on the early 90s black metal sound before going on to venture into all manner of impressive new territory, incorporating gothic elements and the heroic attitude of Manowar as much as any nods to Bathory and Celtic Frost. Finally enjoying the fruits of their 30-year endeavour, this compilation is a perfect opening chapter to a musical story that’s as rich and eventful as the ancient mythologies the band find so inspiring. From the raw ceremony of one of their first singles, Feast Of The Grand Whore, to the arcane omnipotence of new song
I Will Not Serve, Their Greatest Spells is a vivid account of how the band, led by powerhouse brother Sakis and Themis Tolis (what it is about guitarist/drummer sibling combos?) have refused to rest on their laurels or be bound by constraints over 12 albums, with quantum leaps even taking place between the vociferous call to arms of 2010’s Aealo and the ominous conjuring of 2016’s stunning Rituals. Even the sequencing alone is enough to display the band’s versatility, with Sorrowful Farewell’s Megadeth-meets-melancholic grandeur sitting next to the chilling evocation of In Yumen-Xibalba, and the exuberant thrash of Fgmenth, Thy Gift from their debut, Thy
Mighty Contract, giving way to Ze Nigmar in all its monolithic glory. The visceral yet elegant material from that debut still packs as much power as the strident metallic bluster of Athanatoi Este, and while Astral Embodiment and Welcome To Hel, bonus tracks from Genesis and Katá Ton Daímona Eautoú (to give the track its transliterated title) respectively, are somewhat dispensable in such esteemed company, with 31 other tracks that traverse the best peaks and valleys in extreme metal’s past and present, there’s very few qualms to be had.
FOR FANS OF: PRIMORDIAL, CELTIC FROST, MOONSPELL
ADAM REES