The mighty Rotting Christ is back! Well, almost. After a slightly longer time away than usual, the Greek Post-Death maestros will return this May 24th with Pro Xristou, their 14th full-length, which not only serves as a near perfect encapsulation of what the band has done up until now but also as a celebration of 35 years as an entity while still going strong.
We were lucky enough to chat via email between tours with vocalist/guitarist Sakis Tolis about all things RT, the magic behind keeping a band together and still vital after all this time, recent solo outings, and so much more which you can catch up on below:
RNRF: You’ll be celebrating 35 years of Rotting Christ with the release of Pro Xristou in May. How do you keep the creativity alive now 14 albums in and is there a recipe for how to make it as a band for as long as you have?
Sakis Tolis: “That’s a question I also have… I do not know. Maybe I still have the fire torch of puberty inside me that still burns and I have the romantic idea that I can change the world…
I feel that if I lose this creativity then I will not be young anymore and that’s scary! But if I realize that I have nothing else to say, then I will quit immediately. I consider creating a really important and serious thing.“
Pro Xristou celebrates the legacy of Rotting Christ and follows along a sonic path that’s kind of been the blueprint since 2016’s Rituals where each record is nicely balanced with this sort of tempered brutality throughout with both barn burners and slow burns. Knowing the anniversary of the band coming into the new record was the recording process different this time out?
“I can’t say the process was different but maybe the influences were different. This album was composed during the pandemic era, so it is a result of extreme isolation. But I did realize that I didn’t want to risk things musically like I have on past albums. Instead, I wanted to create an album that will sound epic and atmospheric with influences from all of ROTTING CHRIST’s seasons. If this album will be considered by someone as a good album than I will be happy! Simple as that!“
Speaking of the recording process, Pro Xristou marks the longest gap in between RT records since the band began with over 5 years having lapsed since The Heretics was released in 2019. When did work begin on the new record and how did the global pandemic affect the new record or band overall?
“Yes; there is a two year gap in my OCD habit of releasing albums every 3 years. This album came with a two years delay due to pandemic isolation. And as I said above, this isolation made me want to create a more Heavy and Epic album with no experiments!“
You’ve been quite the prolific solo artist recently as well with Among the Fires of Hell releasing in 2022 and The Seven Seals of the Apocalypse having just arrived in early March. As the singer and songwriter for Rotting Christ, how would you say your solo works differ from that of RT and was putting out a solo release something you always wanted to do?
“I had so much music written during the pandemic. I decided that some of this music could be released differently from ROTTING CHRIST. It’s not a huge difference from R.C. But there are some, so I figured why not release it DIY and for free, like I used to back in the days.
The more I grow up, the more I realize the meaning of music is giving, not getting.
So everyone can go to my channels and socials and download for free (Editor’s note: Those solo offerings can all be found here).”
On the touring end of it all, do you have plans to tour behind any of your own releases… or add some of your songs into an RT set? In regards to Rotting Christ sets, and 35 years in, how do you build the perfect set list that services both the fans and satisfies the band as performers?
“I have done some efforts performing my solo album and they worked well! Also my attitude and the deals with promoters are way different. I am glad that I can perform for a non-profitable event or in smaller clubs, which I can’t do when with ROTTING CHRIST!”
Over the years, Rotting Christ’s sound has obviously been influential to many contemporaries of yours as well as a crop of younger artists but what influences the Rotting Christ sound and are there any bands out there today that inspire and influence you?
“Definitely. There are bands and music that refresh my influences but just refreshing and not copying .I always try to walk and step and to my own path because the harder you walk in the beginning of the path, the easier you will walk in the end.”
You sing in both your native Greek as well as in English, when writing songs what factors into the language you’ll use to convey your messages and do you prefer to sing in English over Greek or vice versa and why?
“I would definitely prefer to sing in my mother tongue because it helps me to express myself better but on the other hand as I do believe that Metal music is a worldwide multicultural phenomenon I try to sing in English, though not exclusively.”
The new record is out on May 24th with some European festival appearances already announced. What can you tell us about what’s next in terms of music, more solo material, and touring in support of Pro Xristou?
“To stay in good health and to keep touring all around the world. Many times I am wondering why I am still doing it after 35 years… It’s because I like to offer myself to people. There is no better thing in your life than the feeling of offering. It is a win-win situation with all the people that attend your show. Non Serviam brothers….See you around this globe!“
Pro Xristou arrives through Season Of Mist on May 24th with pre-orders in all shapes and sizes available now by heading here or here. For more from Rotting Christ, be sure to follow the socials across the information superhighway when you click here or here.
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