Artist: ROTTING CHRIST
Album: SANCTUS DIAVOLOS (CD)

Release date: 2004
Media type: CD

Legendary Greek entity ROTTING CHRIST are a true certainty in terms of delivering abstract, yet fundamental album releases ever since their early foundation in 1987. Experimenting and stylistically morphing throughout different, always obscure layers of elements from varied styles of heavier music (be it industrial or gothic, thrash or even traditional heavy metal) has truly driven ROTTING CHRIST to achieve a very distinct sound, giving the band a very special position within the black metal scene-realms. Having toured all over the globe with bands such as Immortal, Blasphemy, Samael, Moonspell, Deicide, Behemoth, Theatre Of Tragedy, Gorefest, Tristania, Old Man's Child, Vintersorg, Cradle Of Filth or Tiamat and having visited rather unusual countries like Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico or Turkey in the turn of the years, ROTTING CHRIST have established themselves as leading force within the black metal scene. This fact was easily stressed by 2004's release of a Brazilian tribute album entitled "An Evil Existence For Rotting Christ", where underground acts pay homage to one of their main influences. Sanctus Diavolos, the band's 9th full length album after several 7" and EP releases, presents ROTTING CHRIST in the shape of a refined three-piece line-up featuring founding member Sakis (guitars / vocals), his brother Themis on drums and Andreas on bass, after the parting ways with longterm members George (Keys) and Costas (Guitars). Despite of the structural changes, ROTTING CHRIST's stylistic approach hasn't drastically changed: The 10 new tracks rather see the band going back to their darker, more savage musical roots and attitude, nevertheless adapting an up-to-date sonic presentation and portraying a vast whirlwind of atmospheric intermezzos by the inclusion of a large female choir throughout the album's material as well as the use of bizarre samples and walls of keyboards. Sanctus Diavolos was recorded at SCA Studios in Greece with bandleader Sakis on production duties and mixed at legendary Studio Fredman in Sweden by Fredrik Nordstrom (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir, etc.), maximizing the powerful result in production. The album's aggressive opening track "Visions Of A Blind Order" features a special guest lead guitar appearance by Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind, etc.) and artwork duties were once again handled by the gifted designer Set<'H> (Heaven Shall Burn, Septic Flesh, Nightfall, Caliban, etc.), who had already contributed to ROTTING CHRIST's blasphemous packaging on their Khronos album. Sanctus Diavolos is as raw and unpolished as it is epic and bombastic, leading ROTTING CHRIST to achieve to giving birth to another dark jewel of extreme metal sure to please both the band's long-running following within the underground legions but also capable of leaving an impression with a yet unaware, new audience through the band's very own, outstandingly defined trademarks. Look out for ROTTING CHRIST touring all over Europe in October to promote and spread the musical message on Sanctus Diavolos!

TRACKLIST:

1. Visions Of A Blind Order (3:46)
2. Thy Wings Thy Horns Thy Sin (4:13)
3. Athanati Este (5:40)
4. Tyrannical (5:07)
5. You My Cross (4:19)
6. Sanctimonius (3:16)
7. Serve In Heaven (3:55)
8. Shades Of Evil (5:14)
9. Doctrine (6:28)
10. Sanctus Diavolos (6:41)

LINE-UP:

Sakis - Guitars/ Vocals/ Keyboards
Andreas - Bass
Themis - Drums