Rotting Christ pledge unyielding pagan might on ‘Saoirse’

It’s time to unleash the beast, as ROTTING CHRIST unleashes Saoirse, the latest single from their forthcoming 14th studio album – the monumental Pro Xristou. A 35-year-strong journey through the catacombs of extreme metal spearheaded by the inimitable brothers Sakis and Themis Tolis gives you the backdrop of what should rightly be anticipated.

A renewed testament to their extraordinary craftsmanship lies in Pro Xristou, an album dedicated to the last Pagan kings, the unsung stewards of ancient values and knowledge, standing resilient against the deteriorating wave of Christianity. Saoirse, Gaelic for ‘Freedom’, embodies the call to freedom sounded by these guardians of olden wisdom. As deep and resonant as it is, the track takes you through the album’s core inspiration – the glorification of ‘before Christ’ traditions.

Saoirse – emblematic of the album’s overarching concept – becomes a manifestation of ROTTING CHRIST‘s evolution and their unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries. Expect a melodic symphony punctuated with moments of raw, unyielding harshness – a signature of the band’s unique style captured in a fresh light. Produced and recorded at Deva Sounds Studios in Athens, Greece, the song, like the album, teems with resounding choirs and histrionic atmospheres, drawing listeners into the rich tapestry of their audacious offering.

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 1,300 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 embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push 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 Xristou.

Pro Xristou (‘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.

Pro Xristou comes out May 24 on Season of Mist.

Track-list

1. Pro Xristou (Προ Χριστού) (1:29)
2. The Apostate (5:01)
3. Like Father, Like Son (4:35) [WATCH]
 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) [WATCH]
11. Primal Resurrection (Bonus Track) (5:32) – Only Deluxe Editions!
12. All For One (Bonus Track) (3:37) – Only Deluxe Editions!
Total runtime: 55:17

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/rotting-christ-pro-xristou
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/proxtristoupresave

Line-up
Sakis Tolis – Guitar, Vocals
Themis Tolis – Drums
Kostas “Spades” Heliotis – Bass
Kostis Fouk – Guitar

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’)