### Rotting Christ: Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού

#### 22/12/13 || Habakuk

Not sure why exactly I always gave these guys a pass – was it the cheesy name or my inability to put a Greek band into a mental category? Whatever, they managed to make a name of themselves without my help an after eons of existence, even I found out how they actually sound. Thank you, Audio Autopsy. Who’d have thought they actually play a massively enjoyable epic variety of death metal, mid-paced, grooving, melodic and employing lots of languages I don’t speak? Well, not me. Can’t know everything, right? Anyway, good thing fellow Ironpants pointed out the shameful omission of this album in the past year’s reviews.

“Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού” has the punch and professionalism of many a modern epic death album, but it lacks a lot of the cheese – maybe just because I don’t understand what’s being said, but maybe also because the band don’t come across as gimmicky like a lot of others from Ex Deo to Eluveitie. Both of which I find enjoyable, don’t get me wrong. As opposed to them though, Rotting Christ showcase a pretty down-to-earth approach to epicness, whatever sense that makes. A lot of this album seems to deal with occult topics from multiple cultures, but I favorably note the absence of an in-your-face concept that relies on intros, samples and other shit to tell a story no-one wants to hear.

Call me weird, but when I listen to an album, I mostly do it for the songs. And lo and behold, those shine in their simplicity here. No traditional instruments by Casio are needed for atmosphere here, it all comes down to focused, stripped-down songwriting. There is a little blast beat strewn in here and there, but it’s actually surprising how engaging the material manages to stay despite a general focus on mid-tempo. Speaks for the craftsmanship the Greeks have gained over the years, I guess. “Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού” raises it by +1 again, and other level-ups include the skills in infectious chanting, sinister melodies and keeping even longer songs interesting.

Now I’m not sure I should go check out their older material based on my liking of this one, but I’m actually quite satisfied with it by itself and I fear they haven’t always sounded like this – so, we’ll file it under “pleasant surprises of the year” for now and keep on living our busy lives. And with some room for growth, I’d say this is at least a …

- Information
- Released: 2013
- Label: Season of mist
- Website: Rotting Christ Facebook
- Band
- Sakis Tolis: guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
- Themis Tolis: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. In Yumen – Xibalba
- 02. P’unchaw kachun – Tuta kachun
- 03. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
- 04. Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού
- 05. Cine iubeşte şi lasă
- 06. Iwa Voodoo
- 07. Gilgameš
- 08. Русалка
- 09. Ahura Mazdā-Aŋra Mainiuu
- 10. Χ ξ ς’