ROTTING CHRIST Rituals Vinyl (2016) Double LP

Athens, 1987. Two brothers start a grindcore band that eventually becomes one of the most distinctive black metal acts on the planet. By 2016, Rotting Christ had absolutely nothing left to prove, which is probably why Rituals sounds so certain of itself.

Rituals leans hard into atmosphere and ancient ritual, incorporating choral elements and folk textures without losing the darkness that made them matter. It's the kind of record that makes the black metal purists nervous and the rest of us very happy. Sakis Tolis has been building toward this sound for thirty years, and this double LP gives it the room it deserves. If your Samael and Emperor records are getting lonely, here's the obvious solution.

Double LP, 2016 pressing, Greece. Two discs, full album spread across four sides.

Fans of: Samael, Emperor, Satyricon, Belphegor, Immortal, Marduk