Rotting Christ is a Greek Melodic black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first bands of the genre within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.

Biography

In their two decades of existence, the band started as raw black metal, but utilized what has been described as a "dark metal" ^[2] direction on later releases, almost doing away with the black metal title, but not compromising their extreme sound.

During their rehearsal era in the late 1980s, the band began as grindcore and released various demos and splits with other bands from the Athens area. The group would later alter their sound with influence from proto-black metal bands like Celtic Frost and Venom, and in the process became one of the genre's instigators. Their 5 song demo, Satanas Tedeum, would show a grindcore/black metal crossover, followed by their career-breaking EP, Passage to Arcturo, in 1991.

One of band's first major appearances was on the 1993 "Fuck Christ Tour" consisting of Immortal and Blasphemy. During this concert, some audience members had engaged in cutting and self mutilation that resulted in hospitalization.^[3]. Before signing to Unisound, Mayhem's Øystein Aarseth had expressed interest in distributing the band through his "Deathlike Silence Productions" label ^[4], but due to Aarseth's murder the same year, nothing materialized. The band would sign to Century Media in 1996 and remain on their roster for 10 years before joining Season of Mist.

Rotting Christ have played in many continents outside their native Greece, including both Americas, Greater Europe, Russia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Several heavy metal festivals around the world have hosted the band, including the 2003 Wacken Open Air in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Past tourmates have included My Dying Bride, Tristania, Tiamat, Vintersorg, Finntroll, Agathodaimon, Old Man's Child, Malevolent Creation, Anorexia Nervosa, Vader, Krisiun, Deicide, Behemoth and Nile, among many others.

Genre(s): Grindcore (first demos), Black Metal (early), Black/Gothic Metal (now)

Lyrical Theme(s): Sorrow, Occultism, Greek Mythology

Origin: Greece

Formed in: 1987

Current Line-Up: Sakis Tolis (formerly Necromayhem) - Guitars, Vocals (1987-) (Thou Art Lord, Desolation (Grc))
George Bokos - Guitars (2005-) (Sickening Horror, Obsecration, Nightfall (Grc), Exhibition (Grc))
Andreas Lagios - Bass (1996-) (Nightstalker (Grc))
Themis Tolis (formerly Necrosauron) - Drums (1987-) (Zemial (Grc), Thou Art Lord)



Discography:

Full Length

• Thy Mighty Contract
  November 11, 1993
  Osmose Productions
  (re-released on Century Media, January 20, 1998)
• Non Serviam
  October 10, 1994
  Unisound
  (re-released on The End Records, January 24, 2006)
• Triarchy of the Lost Lovers
  August 20, 1996
  Century Media
• A Dead Poem
  October 7, 1997
  Century Media
• Sleep of the Angels
  March 9, 1999
  Century Media
• Khronos
  August 29, 2000
  Century Media
• Genesis
  October 29, 2002
  Century Media
• Sanctus Diavolos
  September 20, 2004
  Century Media
• Theogonia
  February 6, 2007
  Season of Mist