Season Of Mist Records (2010)

chapter one – thy broken contract

A band that names itself Rotting Christ really doesn't leave much room for doubt where they stand in regards their feelings for the JC fella'. That's why I feel there is a fantastic irony around Rotting Christ and their situation these last few years.

I have never been much of a fan, I do know a few folk heavily into the band so I have been exposed to their output enough to form some sort of opinion. I thought their '93 debut, “Thy Mighty Contract”, was a fantastic album but was not drawn in the slightest to the “Non Serviam” follow up.

A friend who has been following the band, as well as being in constant contact with frontman Sakis since around 1989, has assured me on many occasions that “Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers” is an album he is sure I should love..., yet it just passed me by. That same friend introduced me to their debut in '93. Ironically, on a trip visiting me in Oslo last Summer, he went to a studio and recorded guest vocals for this very album. One thing I did feel strongly about was that their material during the latter years of their Century Media stint gave the impression they were trading ice, it also seemed to me that they had become anything but priority at Century Media. So it continued – “Khronos”, “Genesis” etc., the albums continued as did my mild apathy towards the band. Then they left Century Media.

I mentioned irony twice already but did not make it clear what the first mention was about. Try to contain yourselves 'cos here it comes. Resurrection is a pretty central point to the more religious-minded boys and girls out there but I am guessing that it wasn't really something the boys in Rotting Christ were down with. They might well be now.

Season Of Mist Records has become somewhat of an underground titan over the past ten years, helmed by a mysterious figure known as Mickey Mist. His signing of these Greek lads seemed to ignite something, I cannot say what it was but their SOM debut “Theogonia” was THE sound of a band reborn. Urgency, vitality, passion and just really, really good - that was “Theogonia”. I pondered what was the cause of Rotting Christ's about turn, was it Mickey Mist? Was it he who was the one behind this resurrection?

SOM's next move to catch my attention was to acquire Extreme Metal's very own Rip Van Winkle, a fellow with a beard so vast that it shakes like barley when he talks. Gunnar Sauerman and his German efficiency are now residents of Marseilles at the SOM headquarters and, as such, in charge of promotion which led me to get advanced a copy of this album.

chapter 2 – the revitalization

With all planets aligning in this way, I am certain that the resurrection I mentioned is indeed down to Mr. Mist. I do say this because upon receiving “Aealo” and giving it the run through a couple of times I was really quite astounded. Not only have Rotting Christ managed to create an album that is nothing less than essential, they have shown us that they have not even sailed anywhere near those vast shores of complacency.

"Oh?" I hear you say. Well, after making so many folk who were doubtlessly..., mmmm, dismissive of their output in the years prior to “Theogonia” sit up and pay very close attention but the band have taken a formula that was obviously successful and changed it. A lot.
I just love to find a band like this. Rotting Christ have been dancing with the devil a long time and let's be clear, playing this sort of music doesn't fatten the wallet much nor does it often bring huge amounts of adoration. Yet here we are, more than twenty years after their inception listening to a band that still have passion and love for their music. Most bands we love will fade, the dwindling passion can almost be tangible.

“Theogonia” was lauded by the Metal media as well as by their fans, both old and new. I truly expected a follow up to take the safe option and continue where the previous album left off.
That is exactly what the band have NOT done. “Aealo” is a very different beast. It is also fantastic.

“Aealo” itself kicks thing off in disarming fashion with female vocals (special mention to Pliades, the traditional choir from Ipiros according to David Letterman) that I am guessing are representative of something very Greek, very ethnic..., what they definitely are is daring, different and really rather rocktastic. The music overall takes on more subdued approach than its predecessor but manages to generate an energy altogether different than my pathetic attempts at journalism will be able lead you to believe. Sakis’ knack of building melodies you’d sell your remaining liver for is incredible, check out that main riff in “Demonon Vrosis” and see if you can avoid that feeling of awe I predict will grab you.

The album itself feels ritualistic in places, the eerie use of female voices along with some fantastic chant vocals give the impression each track building something on top of the one before.  Not only are the songs seamless in their progression but the album as a whole just seems trundle to completion in such a natural way. It is something indeed.

Well, if I am going to point towards a negative, and there is one glaring negative in my opinion, it is the inclusion of “Orders From The Dead”, the Diamanda Galas dittie that features the lady herself. In theory, the concept of Mz. Galas guesting with Rotting Christ seems ideal. In practise, however, I feel the song misses its mark and becomes more apparent as a weak point considering it follows “Santa Muerte” which is the album highlight for me.

That aside? This is the first essential album I have heard this year..., it was also the first new album I listened to in 2010. It sets the bar high and I am fully prepared for disappointment to follow because I truly feel I am not jumping the gun by predicting “Aealo” as contender for album of the year.

“Thou Art Lord” features Alan Averill of Primordial providing guest vocals. Timing here is great, he and the band have been buddies for longer than Trivium have been alive (not really, but...) and this collaboration has been long speculated, for it to happen when both bands are riding a wave of critical adoration adds weight to make the collaboration feel like a doubke helping of just desserts.

I mentioned “Santa Muerte” as album highlight already, I am not going to bother trying get into detail about the track because I just do not have the literary prowess to enlighten the unenlightened. I will say, only, that is a fucking monster of a track. This song alone makes this album essential..., essential in the old fashioned way, you know? Meaning it should sit in a CD rack rather than only on a hard drive.

www.rotting-christ.com
www.season-of-mist.com

Composed by Paul Kearns