Seasons of Mist - Imported
Note 10 of 10
By Marcos Garcia
There are certain bands that, as they grow older, they become like wine, because they get better and featuring very fine and sublime works. And ROTTING CHRIST shows that experience only made good for them, since their new CD, 'Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy', is sublime from start to finish, showing that the band knows to renew itself and evolve, but without relinquishing their strong personality, thus becoming one of the strongest names in Black Metal today, and one of the most creative names of Metal.
Sakis and Themis Tolis recorded the entire CD, and even so, the creativity of his music didn't decline, but the opposite: ROTTING CHRIST is now in a mixed phase of their more classic Black Metal disc as 'Thy Mighty Contract' and "Non Serviam' with what we hear in 'Aealo', and we see the band even more vigorous and strong, heavy, aggressive and with the melodies well composed, in the way these made the group the father of Black Metal with melodies, but they still hold a strong epic feelling.
Very strong and harsh vocals and worked very well, even in choirs and choruses, guitar riffs and solos that have both aggression and show in tunes, keeping the gloomy and aggressive feeling, bass heavy in the compass, with some brilliant moments, technical and heavy drums, and good keyboards in some perfect interventions.
Produced by Sakis, who did the mixing and mastering (in both processes, with the help of Jens Bogren), the work is at a level similar to that of 'Aealo' at this point, ie, heavy and intense, but without leaving the sound of the band stay too distorted or mading each detail hidden, since the band's music is very elaborate and strong. The art of the CD is a bit simpler, but still is in tune with the band's lyrical content, reflecting well the phrase 'Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού', ie, 'According to What Conscience Suggests Being Right', which means in a free interpretation, 'Be true to your convictions', which portrays the musical content of this CD. This sentence is the very same that is found on the tombstone of Jim Morrison, leading us to believe that this would rather be true to his conscience, rather than follow pre-established patterns.
And when the CD begins to play, it is the time that we are aware that we are dealing with a disc that will become a classic of the genre, perhaps of the Metal as a whole.
'Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy' is a perfect record in the musical sense, as the group once again surpass itself and renewed, with great moments like in 'Xibalba', a track with exciting and fast growing wonderful moments, with keyboards giving a special flavor to the aggressive guitars and vocals beyond excellent, with perfect diction; the gruesome and grim 'P'unchaw Kachun - Tuta Kachun'; 'Grandis Spiritus Diavolos', a more slow and heavy track, with an absurdly gloomy climate; the harsh and grandiose 'Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού', with pompous and epic keyboards, and fine guitar work; the dark 'Cine Iubeste Lasa Si', which follows the same line of 'Orders from the Dead' from 'Aealo', with the participation of female vocals, but with great guitars; the slow and intense 'Iwa Voodoo', with some interesting touches of tribal drums, which is fantastic; the epic and aggressive 'Gilgamesh', with changing tempos very good and wonderful melodies on guitars; 'Русалка', well crafted and well placed vocal; 'Ahura Mazda Mainiuu-Azra', aggressive and with wonderful morbid moments; the intense and morbid 'Χ ξ ς', with lurid corals very well posted, that marry perfectly with the harmonies of music. But for those who get the special version, we have an extra track, 'Welcome to Hell', which is another track where aggression and morbidity are allied with elegance, where beautiful corals and guitars harmonize.
Maybe this writer is wrong, but this is the CD of the year, without a doubt, and will eclipse many of the giants of Metal, for ROTTING CHRIST has a lot to give to the style and the fans. And we Brazilians have the honor of receiving the banda and see its performance firsthand.
The Atheian Cult of Shadows is still alive!
In Yumen - Xibalba
Tracklist:
01. In Yumen - Xibalba
02. P'unchaw Kachun - Tuta Kachun
03. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
04. Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού (Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy)
05. Cine Iubeste Si Lasa
06. Iwa Voodoo
07. Gilgameš
08. Русалка
09. Ahura Mazda-Azra Mainiuu
10. Χ ξ ς (666)
11. Welcome To Hell (Bonus Track)
Line-Up:
Sakis Tolis - Guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, lyrics
Themis Tolis - Drums
George Emmanuel - Lead Guitars (studio musician)
Contacts: