ROTTING CHRIST have managed to become over the years one of the most respected Black Metal bands in the world and even though the average shit-music listening hyper-Christian Greek has never heard about them, they're one of Greece's biggest music ambassadors. So when you're invited with a handful of selected other people to be present at the first official listening of their latest album, you walk in the studio wearing your most evil grin.

The listening session took part at Grindhouse Studio in Athens which is owned by their guitarist George Bokos at the 1st of November. Sakis told us that he was really eager to listening to it as well, since it would be the first time he'd listen to the complete mixes himself.
First some trivia information about the album. They still haven't decided on the name of the tracks or the release.

It was recorded and mixed from July to October at Lunatech Studios in Katerini, with Sakis producing and mixing with Jim Douvras. Its composition was a process that took the entire last year due to their commitment, as he says, to produce the result they wanted.
There are several guests, like Diamanda Galas, Alan Nemtheanga (PRIMORDIAL),Magus (NECROMANTIA), Daimoneia Nymphe, Dirty Granny Tales, Pleiades (Greek Polyphonic Traditional Choir). They still don't know about which guests can appear at their live shows, but they assured that they will do their best to have some of them on stage.

Finally, the album will be released at February the 15th of 2010.
The listening session itself was very interesting to say the least. The new album is definitely one step forward for ROTTING CHRIST. Heavier, more solos, more ethnic elements and instruments, one thing is for sure and that's that they didn't fear experimentation with their sound, while retaining elements from their first albums that many of their hard-core fans still swear and live by.

One of its most positive elements is that it's a complete album, much like Theogonia but in a different way, there is no way you'll want to skip a track or look for the hit song or songs, even though there were a couple of tracks that set a very good candidacy as future classics.
It is an album that needs to be heard over and over again to dig deeper into its rich sound, elements and concept and that's unfortunate only because I don't have that opportunity right now or at least we get a promo. Looking forward to that time seems like the guys have yet another gem ready for their fans. Don't forget to check out our news regularly where we'll let you know about more information about their upcoming release.