Greek metal titans ROTTING CHRIST are now releasing a surprise digital compilation featuring previously unreleased tracks! ‘The Apocryphal Spells’ Vol I and II are out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen to Vol I HERE and Vol II HERE. The compilation will be released as a physical edition in 2023!
In addition, the band has recently announced a massive North American headliner with support from label-mates CARACH ANGREN and GAEREA as well as Eisenwald artist UADA! The “Under Our Black Cult” trek will kick off on February 16 in Houston, TX and will lay waste to the nation until the final curtain draws on March 14 in Orlando, FL! The full itinerary and ticket links can be found below!
Prior to the tour, ROTTING CHRIST will be performing two pummeling sets on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, including a very special anniversary set for their seminal album, ‘Thy Mighty Contract.’ The ship sets sail from Miami on January 30 and will return to port on February 3!
ROTTING CHRIST is supporting their critically-acclaimed record, ‘The Heretics,’ which was released in early 2019 and can be ordered, downloaded, and streamed HERE.
‘The Apocryphal Spells’ Vol I:
1. Astral Embodiment (05:28)
2. Moonlight (04:16)
3. Phobia (05:40)
4. Tormentor (cover) (02:33)
5. Flag of Hate / Pleasure to Kill (cover) (04:09)
‘The Apocryphal Spells’ Vol II:
1. Spiritus Sancti (04:50)
2. I am the Moonchild (02:40)
3. Noctis Era – remixed (04:50)
4. I Will Not Serve (03:55)
5. Black Sabbath (06:01)
ROTTING CHRIST (Under Our Black Cult Tour w/ CARACH ANGREN, UADA, and GAEREA):
02/16: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live (Studio) [TICKETS]
02/17: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live [TICKETS]
02/18: Dallas, TX @ Amplified Live [TICKETS]
02/19: El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS]
02/20: Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater [TICKETS]
02/21: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick [TICKETS]
02/22: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 [TICKETS]
02/23: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge [TICKETS]
02/24: Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom [TICKETS]
02/25: Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theater [TICKETS]
02/27: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall [TICKETS]
02/28: Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater [TICKETS]
03/01: Kansas City, MO @ BLVD Nights [TICKETS]
03/02: Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theater [TICKETS]
03/03: Chicago, IL @ Reggies [TICKETS]
03/04: Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary [TICKETS]
03/05: Toronto, ON @ Lees Palace [TICKETS]
03/07: Montreal, QC @ Studio TD [TICKETS]
03/08: Quebec City, QC @ Imperial Bell [TICKETS]
03/09: Boston, MA @ Middle-East Downstairs [TICKETS]
03/10: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater [TICKETS]
03/11: Philadelphia, PA @ Warehouse on Watts [TICKETS]
03/12: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 [TICKETS]
03/13: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Hell) [TICKETS]
03/14: Orlando, FL @ The Haven [TICKETS]
ICYMI: In 2020, brothers Sakis and Themmis Tolis were bestowed the immortal honor of having a newly discovered fossil species named after them! Two researchers from the Natural History Museum in Luxembourg, Dr. Ben Thuy and and Dr. Lea Numberger, recently found a new brittle-star species and decided to name it “Brezinacantha Tolis” in honor of the Tolis brothers. More info on the discovery and its etymology can be found HERE.
ROTTING CHRIST previously revealed a coveted collaboration with the creators of the PS4 game “Mortal Shell,” which featured the band’s epic track “Χ Ξ Σ (666)” in the official trailer! The game was released worldwide in August of 2020. The trailer can be seen at THIS LOCATION.
It’s not ROTTING CHRIST‘s first encounter with the gaming industry. The band was discovered on a poster in the game ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ along with label mates HORRENDOUS!
Here is what the press has to say to about ‘The Hererics’:
“The band’s present incarnation is as a melodic tour-de-force, proficient in writing devastating earworms with gradated arrangements without a trace of insidiousness. Their sound is richly sumptuous, smoothly opulent and, most importantly, unmistakably Rotting Christ.” – Metal Injection
“On lucky-number-13, ‘The Heretics,’ Rotting Christ have delivered an true ace—the culmination of the Greeks’ successes, in fact. The record is dark, heavy, mystical, memorable and fucking awesome all the way through.” – Decibel Magazine
“’The Heretics’ is the proverbial middle finger to all their doubters and is in contention for best metal album of the year for this writer.” – Metal Underground
“’The Heretics’ is probably the most hook-laden Rotting Christ album since ‘Aealo.’ Tracks such as ‘The Time Has Come’ and ‘Vetry Zlye’ put this album over the top of their Mount Zeus altitude of releases.” – Metal Underground
“For these 10 songs, Rotting Christ not only troll the world of religion at large, but also impugn its implications—war and woe in the name of any god, “neo-messiahs” who invoke religion to commandeer power, the persecution that follows.” – Bandcamp Daily
“To say that they’ve found a sound would be putting it politely; Rotting Christ not only found a sound, but they also basically defined it and then later let it define them.” – No Clean Singing
“The band have mastered the art of “guitar riff as weapon” by this point, and, as mentioned before, have absolutely zero issue heading back to that well across The Heretics‘ ten songs.” – No Clean Singing
“Holy Satan’s Hellfire can we discuss this new album ‘The Heretics’ (out now, Season of Mist)? You wanna talk about a grand slam fucking home run, well here it is!! Not since ‘The Satanist’ from BEHEMOTH has something grabbed me simultaneously by the throat and by the balls the way this album has.” – Amps & Green Screens
ROTTING CHRIST have reached another peak in their long career that now spans over more than three decades. The Greeks have literally stood the test of time. With a steady core line-up and their well-honed live delivery, ROTTING CHRIST are filling concert halls and reap enthusiastic crowd reactions wherever they go. This demonstration of love from their followers is not just driven by nostalgia as the band has managed to evolve and grow, while staying relevant beyond the classics with their highly acclaimed latest albums such as ‘Aealo’ (2010), ‘Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού’ (2013), and ‘Rituals’ (2016).
Now, with the new offering ‘The Heretics’, ROTTING CHRIST are opening a brand new chapter. With confidence and skills derived from experience, each song represents its own sonic universe. Guitarist and vocalist Sakis Tolis in collaboration with his brother Themis on drums achieve a perfect balance of amalgamating their classic and unique style of riffing and rhythm with exciting new elements sprinkled in to keep their material exciting and fresh. The experienced is enhanced by Jens Bogren’s equally clear and transparent yet also massive as well as sombre mix and mastering at his widely renowned Fascination Street Studios (AMORPHIS, BORKNAGAR, MOONSPELL, DEVIN TOWNSEND, and many more).
ROTTING CHRIST were founded by Sakis Tolis and his brother Themis in the year 1987. Starting out on a basis of death and grind, the Greeks had already embarked on a darker musical journey by the time their debut full-length ‘Thy Mighty Contract’ (1993) was revealed. On the following seven albums covering a ten-year period from ‘Non Serviam’ (1994) to ‘Sanctus Diavolos’ (2004), ROTTING CHRIST steadily defined their own distinct style by experimenting with elements from death, heavy, and gothic metal without betraying their black roots. At the same time, the band went from underground heroes to headliner status. With the highly acclaimed ninth album, ‘Theogonia’ (2007), the Greek stalwarts added an unmistakable native element to their sound, which has remained with them as a signature trademark ever since. Exploring the mythical legacy of cultures around the globe led to ROTTING CHRIST‘s massively successful latest release, ‘Rituals’ (2016). With more than 30 years, 13 studio albums, a dozen EPs, singles and split releases, as well as more than 1.250 shows under their belt, 2018 marked the year of ‘Their Greatest Spells’ (2018), where they musically revisited their exciting legacy to connect their past with the present.
‘The Heretics’ marks another step in the evolution of the Greek masters. Buckle up for a fascinating musical ride through the woes of religious wars, Zoroastrianism and the eternal war between good and evil. Metal at its best!
Line-up
Sakis Tolis: Guitar/Vocals
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas “Spades” Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Fouk: Guitar
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial
https://rottingchrist.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ7jBi1TD0fvyC_gses45OQ
https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
Shop:https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/rotting-shop
Stream/Download:https://orcd.co/rcheretics
