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 ROTTING CHRIST - Evil Run Amok
By Adrian ‘The Energizer’ Bromley
Rotting Christ singer/guitarist/mastermind Sakis Tolis has always been driven to excel with each and every release. The latest release Sanctus Diavolos (Century Media) is a perfect example of that.
While the black metal beginnings of the band are legendary—1992’s Thy Mighty Contract and 1994’s Non Serviam—the last few releases has seen the band shape shift in sound and style, slowly morphing from their black metal routes into more gothic/black metal band. Tolis was aware of the band’s direction and when it came time to write and record Sanctus Diavolos, he dug deep into his creative mind to once again bring about change in Rotting Christ’s musical landscape.
“I went to the dark side of my mind, a place where I hadn’t really been in a long time. It was also place where I hadn’t really travelled to really,” he beings about the new album’s atmosphere and makeup. “I guess when a band is a full-time job like Rotting Christ is for me, the effort to take things to new areas isn’t all that limited,” he laughs.
When is comes to songwriting is it hard to bring ideas from you thoughts onto an actual record without ruining the vision?
“I’ll tell you the truth. It is very difficult. I had to lock myself away for six months in my place to really get the ball rolling for this album. It was a challenge. Every record is a challenge for us a band. We [the band is rounded out by bassist Andreas and drummer Themis Tolis] all know that with each and every release people will hear where we are at this point in the creative process and why should we put out the same record with each release?”
A lot of bands seem to do that—they rehash ideas and give it a new name?
“I know,” he replies. “And I hate that. To me, every album should be something special, something unique. I’m a unique person, so I should be able to bring something unique to music to set me apart from what everyone else is doing.”
He adds, “This record—like every other record—is an effort by myself as a songwriter and the band -- to take things a step further. We want to show the fans of the band that we aren’t just going to put out an album for the sake of doing so. That wouldn’t be a challenge and it wouldn’t be worth our time as a band to just do something so easy as putting a few riffs together with vocals, recording it and putting it on store shelves.”
This record is a lot darker and very evil sounding.
“Yes, very evil sounding,” he agrees. “I made an effort to really look into my soul and find something evil. To find something satanic. I’m trying to express my point of view about religion, about freedom and just expression, I want people to hear this album and feel like it is evil and cursed, something very challenging. It was important to be able to bring together the music and lyrics that would be able to showcase the deep and daker thoughts that I connected with when making this album.”
Did this album drain you?
“Yes it did, but it was a great accomplishment in the end, a worthwhile album in my mind that really makes a mark.”
Tell me about the title—a fitting title if there ever was one for the evil-sounding music found on the album.
“Yes, it was a perfect choice, wasn’t it? It means ‘Saint Devil.’ The devil could be a saint, meaning that working along with the concept of the album the devil’s work could be freedom. This band has always gone up against any conservative ideas and this is but a continuation of that, both in title and concept. There are a lot of people in religion who think that the devil is something bad and leads us along the wrong paths, but in reality it is the devil who has allowed many of us to take chances and do good things. Even though there are many people against this idea, it’s our vision that the devil’s work is for the good of mankind.”
Do you ever look back at prior releases in your catalog and think about where you have come with Rotting Christ?
“I love everything that we have been able to do with Rotting Christ up to this day. I love the expression and the power that we’ve been able to tap into over the years. Looking back at all the records I just feel a great amount of accomplishment. I don’t regret anything we have done. If you regret what you have done in the past then you won’t respect your future. You learn from all your mistakes. I love the older records because I created those. Those ideas and expressions came from me.”
“Back in 1993 when we recorded Thy Mighty Contract it was a whole different environment. The equipment was different, we were inexperienced and mistakes were made,” he continues, “ but it was the fact that we persevered and made such a record that makes me proud, hence why I won’t forget or regret what we have done musically in the past with Rotting Christ.”
He ends off, “Now if you are asking about contracts or terms with past labels, then there are a few things I would regret,” he muses.
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