Review by Sheri Bicheno for MPM
ANYONE that knows me knows that I am deeply rooted into the realms of Greek Black Metal lords Rotting Christ.
Over the years, they have never ceased to visit new corners of senses and combine them with powerful atmospherics and absorbing heaviness that only make half of what Rotting Christ continue to be… the constant energy is impressively non wavering and now with the impending release of 14th studio album, ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟU (Pro Xristou), we see another page written in the story of Rotting Christ…
Intro track Pro Xristou casts a significant energy straight off the bat with it’s chuggy riffs and rumbling bass. Chants of deities enforce the thundering power into the track injected by the enticing and slow beats of the kit. It’s an intro that’s powerful and has presence to kickstart the rest of the album…
Next track The Apostate served as the album’s final single and represents everything that you’d expect from a Rotting Christ track with some added atmospherics.
Kicking off with the signature upbeating and chugging dual riffs that drift into a dreamlike blend of melodic harmonies in the style that Rotting Christ are best known for, the choral style of vocals across the chorus emphasise those atmospheric harmonies in places that give a ritualistic feel to the track.
The old age saying “Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” appears in this track along with more anecdotes of consequence that is quoted in Hebrew Holy text, which indicates to me, that these are values that Rotting Christ strongly outline to base their message around hypocrisy of the Holy texts – this is not the first time this is used in their music (you’ll have noticed this in The Heretics and Genesis – two powerful albums).
This is a gorgeous full length track to start the album with – this has the stunning melodics and fast paced black metal elements you’d crave from Rotting Christ but also imposes philosophical thoughts to the song.
The next track Like Father Like Son is by far one of my favourites of Pro Xristou. The composition is stunning and purely cathartic.
I have played this song many, many times and absorbed this in many different moods. Serving as the first single for the album, this came with a music video that reflects the relationship between a father and son – a father teaching his son how to fight, who guides and encourages him and teaches him life values with strength and determination through life’s challenges.
The way this is reflected through their music is captured in the moods Rotting Christ create, with some stunning atmospherics straight from the beginning.
Sakis Tolis and Kostas Foukarakis are exceptional guitarists. Here, they use their techniques to create those atmospheric harmony leads and pair it with underlying lower and harsher beating riffs to inject some beautiful uplifting melodic sections but keep the heaviness present to enforce power into their chords.
Sakis uses his spoken vocals to paint the first picture of the song from a father’s perspective of encouragement before his rasping signature voice heightens the energy twinned with the burst of uplifting and dynamic beats of the kit from Themis Tolis.
About halfway through this track is a build up of chugging chords and low ebbed powerful bass notes from Kostas Cheliotis before melting into a stunning lead solo.
A BEAUTIFUL track.
The Sixth Day serves as another absolute mood for the album. The uplifting and atmospheric melodics are so beautiful on this track with added underlying softer vocals that gently chime through the guitaring chugging bassline.
The track tells a perspective from the ‘Creator’ with Sakis’ powerful vocals representing the ‘Creator’s’ story on how man was made and where the ideology is depicted.
Themis has a tone change of drums on this track that gleams to the forefront of the track without overpowering it. The pace is steady but still he keeps the heaviness of the track weaving it’s path throughout the different directions of tones and moods before absolutely pummelling the double pedals to blast beat the demanding energy for La Lettera Del Diavolo.
No Rotting Christ album in recent years would be complete without some ritualistic vocals from guests.
Mezzo-Soprano singer Amdroniki Skoula injects some powerfully commanding vocals on this track from avant gard styles to classical operatic to enhance the dramatic moods for this song to entwine with Sakis’ depth of raspy screams.
Pix Lax Dax peels right back with the choir chants that run through the track with the atmospherics still there but the blastbeats pummeling the into the soul of the track displaying similar styles shown in The Heretics.
That same high energy and raw sound of Rotting Christ is present here and is a welcome trip back to memory lane.
Talking of raw, Pretty World, Pretty Dies is another favourite of mine from the new offering – this is purely a more roots and bone of Rotting Christ with elements of pagan influence where the style of playing is concerned.
Though heavy, there are glimmers of folk infused black metal into the make up of this track and it is STUNNING.
Themis and Kostas Cheliotis work so well together here with the infusion of beats and bass in this track. The bass is so low and thundering, you can be forgiven for mistaking it for the heaviness of the drums.
The guitars are back to classic Rotting Christ in this track where the tone is a lot lower and though the heaviness has melody, the rawness of the overall sound is much more course before we roll into a more defined pagan black metal style for Yggdrasil and Saoirse.
Yggdrasil corners heavier tones with speed and more blackened edges that fold into powerful choir infused echoes that talk to us of Pagan values from traditional Nordic mythology where Saoirse embodies battlement for freedom and the call for bravery.
The musicianship in Saoirse is beautiful here – the catchy drums twin with a dual of tuneful beats of melody and harmonious lead strings that are winding and encapsulate atmospheric moods amongst a more pacier tone before trailing off to sounds of battle and pipes.
ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟU (Pro Xristou) translates to Before Christ… and is a truly fitting celebration for 35 years of Rotting Christ.
A stunning and immersive experience from the Greek lords of atmospherics,Rotting Christ.
There is no wavering of quality – this album, for me, is up there with Rituals, The Heretics and Non Serviam – a complete work of art with the reflection of moods, musicianship and continually touching upon the crossing between history and philosophy. This will be another benchmark for why Rotting Christ remain one of my favourite Artists of all.
Track-list
1. Pro Xristou (Προ Χριστού) (1:29)
2. The Apostate (5:01) [WATCH]
3. Like Father, Like Son (4:35) [WATCH]
4. The Sixth Day (3:56)
5. La Lettera Del Diavolo (4:01)
6. The Farewell (6:15)
7. Pix Lax Dax (4:33)
8. Pretty World, Pretty Dies (4:51)
9. Yggdrasil (5:04)
10. Saoirse (6:17) [WATCH]
11. Primal Resurrection (Bonus Track) (5:32) – Only Deluxe Editions!
12. All For One (Bonus Track) (3:37) – Only Deluxe Editions!
Total runtime: 55:17
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/RottingChristProXristou
Pre-save:https://orcd.co/proxtristoupresave
Links:
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/us/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ
