35 years is a long time to commit to damn near anything. Be it love, a financial debt or the creation of dark art, there is no trouble free lane to take except knowing the bumps in the road are part of the journey and knowing your commitment is focused on that journey, not the end game because there is no end game. It all ends in death. Now let's talk about where it all starts.
Creeping along at a moderate, almost "Doomed is our Future" pace, the intro (title track) to this album is a welcoming call and response between a group vocal and a sermon at the altar of evil. The monk style chant opens the door to the chaos that will follow.
Post introduction, this record shifts to a metallic, choral soaked nightmare. The spoken word style lyrics paired with the cleanly articulated accompaniment takes the album closer to the shadows one might expect from the album art and title. It should be noted that the band has been known to dabble in Latin, Arabic, Greek and English. The latter being the only one I speak. This is an up-tempo exhibition in the forces of good and evil battling for a foothold over the very soul of mankind. Who is good and who is evil seems to be the question at stake in this war.
The floating guitar leads cut like a sharpened blade and guide the chugging rhythms and aggressively pounding drums as they march to the center of the battlefield. There is something very trance inducing about the sermon like delivery of the lyrics. Is it resistance or calling upon the unseen for strength?
Though this record is very much bathed in heavy metal blood, it would not be unfair to say it leans more toward a gothic theme. There are no blast beats, guttural screams, or what would typically be pigeonholed as a black metal style, but there is clearly a dark cloud here paired with solid production, upfront vocals and a clear vision for the final product. Even with an occasional blackened metal edge on this blade, it feels more accurate to surmise the story is at war with mankind's oppressive need to control rather than in league with Satan.
~ Bobby / Monuments in Ruin
Pro Xristou will see release via Season of Mist on the 24th of May, 2024.
Watch:
The Apostate
Like Father, Like Son
Saoirse
Track-list
1. Pro Xristou (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
Style: Melodic Black Metal/Gothic Metal
Line-up
Sakis Tolis - Guitars, Vocals
Kostas Foukarakis - Guitars
Kostas Cheliotis - Bass
Themis Tolis - Drums
Guest Musicians
Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on 'La Letra Del Diavolo')
Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
Christina Alexiou - Choir
Maria Tsironi - Choir
Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
Vasilis Karatzas - Choir
Andrew Liles - Narration (on 'The Apostate', 'Pretty World, Pretty Dies')
Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on 'Ygdrassil')
Recording Studio
Deva Sounds Studios (Athens, Greece)
Producer
Sakis Tolis
Sound Engineer
Fotis Bernando
Aggelos Karatzas
Mixing
Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)
Mastering
Tony Lidgren at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)
Artwork Artists
Thomas Cole - Artwork
Adrien Bousson - Digital Processing
Biography
Sebastien Gamez
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/RottingChristProXristou
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/proxtristoupresave
Links:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ
Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
CD Clamshell Box - Deluxe Digipak w/ Gold Foil + 2 Bonus
Tracks & Extras
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear, Red & Blue Mixed
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Green
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Turquoise
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Yellow
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Blue
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - silver & Black Marbled
Limited Box Set Vinyl - 12" Gold & Black Marbled w/ Gold Foil + 2 Bonus Tracks & Extras
Cassette