Not far off their 30th year of creation, there are few bands of such stature who are in their prime so far down the line but that is exactly where Greek legends Rotting Christ are, both on album and live. If you needed any proof of this last year’s ‘Lucifer Over Athens’ double live disc was one hell of a statement and quickly striking in its wake comes 12th studio album Rituals. There has been no weakening of things thematically either and the group continue to literally march down the left hand path crushing all in their wake. This is indeed how things start on opener ‘In Nomine Dei Nostri’ a satanic doctrine and a half which thunders off with a stomping military swagger from Themis Tolis drumming, his brother Sakis proudly calling out and invoking the dark gods up from the depths. Naturally the wind-milling devastation forged by guitar and bass is not far behind and the overall effect is absolutely flattening. Majesty is at its most potent and the melody amidst the bombast is grandiose sending shivers down the spine. One play in on this and I was already making statements about albums of the year in January. One month spent in the presence of this beast and that somewhat absurd early notion has not been lessened in the slightest. Nothing else I have heard this year and indeed beyond has touched this! The opener also has the sinister sound of Necromatia’s Magus adding his incantation on as if the spell being cast was not already deadly enough.
Slowing right down to a leaden march is ‘Ze Nigmar’ (and I’m sticking to translated titles here) bristling and mighty despite the drop in speed. Bells clang ominously, some horns blow in the background adding to the esoteric ethnic flavours and the sense of atmosphere is palpable. Creating a stellar war of its very own the maddening flurry of guitars on Elthe Kyrie takes your head off but when it is joined with the venomous vocals of National Hellenic Theatre member Danai Katsameni it sounds even the more dramatic. These Spartans are not ones to go out and fight by themselves, this is a battle without any boundary of sex. It’s near impossible to choose a favourite track but this and the opener both rank very high. The impetus continues throughout the ten numbers too, nothing overstays its welcome but it all fluidly combines into one incredibly rich and devilish tapestry. The tribal bombast of ‘Apage Satana’ has an almost Sepulturan feel to it, enforced by some throat wrenching shrieks. Les Litanies De Satan (Les Fleurs Du Mal) thunders away the Baudelaire enriched poeticism of the track bolstered by Vorph from Samael. Indeed a smattering of guests simply enriches the whole experience cue Nick Holmes adding some narration to ‘For A Voice Like Thunder’ as though he is auditioning for a part on Game Of Thrones. The clash of steel that headily breathes life into this one takes you right off into past times and the booming drums and backing vocal parts make this a battle of epic proportions.
The driving discipline of Konx Om Pax makes you wonder why Rotting Christ have never been summoned to put their craft to film music, it sounds fantastic and is music to add to the clamour of any charged fury on a full blooded war scene. The scent of ancient history drapes itself all over this. Delivering surprises all the way through including Rudra’s Kathir on the sinuous and twisting ‘Devadevam’ the biggest is left to last with the band really embracing their heritage and delivering a cover of ‘The Four Horsemen’ by Aphrodite’s Child. If you ever wondered what you would get crossing Demis Roussos with Rotting Christ now’s your chance to find out.
Hopefully I have said everything that needs saying here without turning this into a sprawl of a review. However words are not enough to describe the might of this excellent album and the only way to properly experience is to get it yourself. I’m as keen as anyone else to pick up a finished copy and see the band play tracks from this live. An essential Ritual!
(9/10 Pete Woods)
https://www.facebook.com/Rotting-Christ-290468585669
Leave a Reply