Back in 1987, Sakis Tolis and his brother Themis started climbing through the dark catacombs of Greece’s metal scene as a grindcore act. Now, 35 years later, Rotting Christ tour the world as one of the biggest bands in black metal.
Rotting Christ just announced their 14th album. ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ (Pro Xristoy) is bound to hold a revered place in the band’s heretical history. Always true to their name, with Pro Xristoy (“Before Christ”), the band pay tribute to the last of the Pagan kings who resisted the spread of Christianity.
Pro Xristoy comes out May 24. But lucky fans will get a sneak peek at the new album come March when Rotting Christ tours North America. The band will hit two dates on the West Coast of the United States before playing a string of five shows across Canada. Joining them for this run are Uada and Abigail Williams.
Rotting Christ 2024 Northwest US and Canadian Tour
March 25 – Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom [TICKETS]
March 26 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
March 27 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater [TICKETS]
March 29 – Calgary, AB @ Dickens [TICKETS]
March 30 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room [TICKETS]
March 31 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange [TICKETS]
April 1 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theater [TICKETS]
Before touching down in North America, Rotting Christ are heading off on a tour of Latin America. Fans from Mexico to Argentina will have the pleasure of banging their heads to an unholy litany of the band’s greatest hits. They’ll also be treated to new songs off Pro Xristoy that are bound to become setlist staples.
Rotting Christ 35 Years of Evil Existence Tour
February 6 – Monterrey, MX
February 7 – Torreon, MX
February 9 – Chihuahua, MX
February 10 – Ciudad Juarez, MX
February 11 – Guadalajara, MX
February 13 – Leon, MX
February 14 – San Luis Potosi, MX
February 16 – Queretaro, MX
February 17 – Mexico City, MX
February 18 – Toluca, MX
February 21 – Bogota, Colombia
February 23 – Santiago, Chile
February 24 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
February 27 – La Paz, Bolivia
February 29 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
March 2 – Brasilia, Brazil
March 3 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Track-list
1. Pro Xristoy (Προ Χριστού) (1:29)
2. The Apostate (5:01)
3. Like Father, Like Son (4:35)
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)
11. Primal Resurrection (Bonus Track) (5:32)
12. All For One (Bonus Track) (3:37)
Total runtime: 55:17
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,3000 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embraces refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to bush boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristoy.
Pro Xristoy (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
Line-up
Sakis Tolis: Guitar/Vocals
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas “Spades” Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Fouk: Guitar
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