Rotting Christ - 'Lucifer Over Athens' (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/08/2015

Label:  Season Of Mist

As an intro Rotting Christ and their music, this is superb. In fact, it is just generally superb. Professional, clinical and atmospheric are not usually words that sit together when a live record gets mentioned, but they sum things up accurately here. A fitting testament to a unique band.

‘Lucifer Over Athens’ CD//DD track listing:

CD1
1. 6 6 6    
2. Dub-Sag-Ta-Ke
3. Athanatoi Este
4. Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού
5. Nemecic
6. After Dark I Feel     
7. Sorrowfull Farewell   
8. Among Two Storms
9. Gloria De Domino Inferni
10. Feast Of The Grand Whore
11. The Nereid Of Esgalduin  
12. Forest Of N'Gai   
13. The Sign Of Evil Existence    
14. Transform All Sufferings Into  Plagues
15. Fgmenth, Thy Gift
16. Societas Satanas

CD2
1. Demonon Vrosis
2. Quintessence
3. The Call Of The Aethyrs
4. In Yumen - Xibalba
5. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
6. Welcome To Hel
7. King Of A Stellar War       
8. Archon
9. Exiled Archangels
10. Dive The Deepest Abyss       
11. The Fourth Knight Of Revelation
12. The Sign Of Prime Creation        
13. Non Serviam  
14. Enuma Elish    
15. Noctis Era

Rotting Christ is:

Sakis Tolis | vocals, guitars
Themis Tolis | drums
Vangelis Karzis | bass
George Emmanuel | guitars

The Review:

As I noted in my review of Rotting Christ's last studio record, there is something unique about the band. Blending as they do black, death and gothic sounds, the band should appeal to a wide range of fans. Certainly, I like the fact they don't quite fit neatly into any one genre and thus have their own niche.

Having seen them live at the Electrowerkz venue in Islington a couple of years ago, I knew that a live record would be an atmospheric and interesting experience. “Lucifer Over Athens” is surely that. You get Thirty One (31!) tracks of genre blending black metal. That is a lot of music at any price. The sound is staggeringly top notch. I do not know, but assume, that the band uses triggers in a live situation- certainly I thought the sound somewhat mechanical when I saw them- smooth, efficient and not necessarily organic. The days of live records sounding like “No Sleep Til Hammersmith” appear to be well and truly over (perhaps sadly, in my view). 

The concert location and song titles make for a uniquely Greek listening experience- pretty cool, to be honest, as it really transports you to the feel of the gig and makes the atmosphere come alive. The likes of ‘Athantoi Este’ are expertly played and performed and the crowd appear to lap it all up. The set list draws from all eras and early and late material mixes together well, showing the band's single minded vision and sense of purpose.

A track by track would be ludicrous, so suffice it to say that this is a live album to be digested either on a long journey or in parts. If you consider that each track is usually between four and five minutes long and that the track list runs beyond thirty songs... well, I didn't get through it on my morning commute (although, sadly, when I worked in London I would have done, but that is another story...). I listened in shifts- usually of five to six songs at a time. Being as Rotting Christ are not a genre band, per se, you should be in the mood or just generally a big fan of the band to purchase this. That said, as an intro to them and their music, this is superb. In fact, it is just generally superb. Professional, clinical and atmospheric are not usually words that sit together when a live record gets mentioned, but they sum things up accurately here. A fitting testament to a unique band.

‘Lucifer Over Athens’ is available here

FFO: Varathron, Moonspell, Samael, Septicflesh

Band info: official | facebook