Rituals Rotting Christ 2016 Season of Mist Records Rotting Christ are a Black Metal band from Greece and pioneer a sound that separates itself from their Norwegian counterparts to a sound that has become easily identifiable as a Black Metal sound unique to this region. Rituals is the 12th studio album by Rotting Christ and is the follow up 2013’s Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού. Rituals features the long standing members and brothers, Sakis and Themis Tolis as well as a host of guest musicians such as Vorph from Samael, Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost, Magus from Necromantia and Kathir from Rudra. These members lend their voices to an album that is exceptionally orchestrated and has a real grandiose feel to it, this shines through on Rotting Christ’s take on English composer William Blake’s piece from King Edward the IV’s, For A Voice like Thunder. As usual, Rituals is produced by Sakis Tolis and incorporates a host of different instruments that you wouldn’t normally expect. Rituals features the standard instruments that you would find in a small orchestra, plus the addition of bagpipes into the mix, gives Rituals a fantastic sound. These bagpipes can be heard very clearly on Tou Thanatou and manages to give the sound of Rituals something else. Tolis has done a stellar job with the production and has created an album which manages to be a very interesting and easy listen. Like stated above, Rituals has an extremely grandiose feel to it, it isn’t just your typical down-tuned guitars, growling vocals and constant blast beats on the double bass. Rituals features a sound that, as the name of the album would imply, the sound of a summoning ritual. From the chanting of the opening track, In Nomine Dei Nostri, to the spoken interlude of Konx Om Pax, only serves to enhance the sound that you’re listening to a necromantic ritual or some pursuit of the dark arts. At times Rituals manages to diverge into what can only be described as a pagan prayer to a forgotten deity from the Near East. Kathir from the Singaporean Black Metal band Rudra, does a fantastic traditional voice melody that only adds to the ambient feel of the song. The best thing about Rituals is that the dynamics of the album constantly change. Rituals doesn’t make you feel as if you are listening to the same songs over and over again, as can be the case with some Black Metal. However, Rituals will keep your attention, the musicianship of the Tolis brothers is second to none. Themis Tolis has a drum style that allows Sakis Tolis to expand on his ideas placed down in the writing process. Sakis Tolis’ instrumentation is precise and well thought out. Tolis isn’t content to just thrash away on the guitar. The guitar and bass parts are sublime throughout Rituals. Tolis knows that his song-writing is key to Rotting Christ’s success and it is there that Tolis does the talking. The lyrics are dark, brooding and foreboding, but by the same token, the lyrics are not over-bearing with Tolis allowing his guest vocals to take centre stage above Tolis’ growls. However, it is Rotting Christ’s cover of The Four Horsemen, originally by fellow Greek band Aphrodite’s Child, is absolutely fantastic. Rotting Christ make The Four Horsemen their own, it is a genius way to close Rituals and debatably one of the best songs on the album. Rituals is a great album, easily standing head and shoulders above other Black Metal released so far this year. Once more, Rotting Christ have proved themselves to be a master of their craft and if you’re a fan of Black Metal, Rituals is definitely worth buying. 8/10 Adam Apage Satana (Tolis)
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