Category: Live Reviews
Tags: rotting christ wacken open air 2010

Jesus fucking Christ, what the fuck was that? That was most people’s reaction to Rotting Christ’s appearance at the Wacken Wet Stage. Now, in case you ‘ve never heard of them, Rotting Christ are a black metal band from Greece. They ‘ve been around for almost a couple of decades now and they are extremely well- regarded in underground circles. In fact, in their own way, they are probably our most successful musical export at the moment (which is hysterical because Greece has countless wannabe divas and trashy Eurovision- level dance pop “artists” forever trying to have an international career- and failing miserably). Of course with THAT name it’s a bit difficult to break through into the mainstream, but that’s not the point anyway (plus, when Diamanda Galas lets you use her voice in your music, it’s safe to say that you ’re doing OK).

We only end up on the small, Wet stage (essentially a long, covered shed with a bar and a floor of packed dirt) because we have a quarter of an hour left after Candlemass. This means that we only catch half of the band’s performance. And it’s enough to be astounded. Apart from the old school (Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost) I am not much of a black metal fan and I have no patience at all for the Scandinavian church- burning variety (the less said about the white supremacist / Odinist assholes, the better). Rotting Christ is a different thing altogether though. They have occasionally incorporated traditional Greek forms in their music and their music was always evocatively gothic and (dare I say) melodic.

 Still, nothing prepares us for what we see on stage. The Wet stage is absolutely packed. People are spilling outside the tent, and everyone is going crazy. I have no idea whether these people are fans or just transfixed by the group’s performance, but the effect is startling. The crowd responds to frontman’s Sakis Tolis’ commands immediately and all are headbanging like their life depends on it. The finale with Noctis Era is so powerful that people stop outside the tent to ask us who is that band. Absolutely amazing.     

Setlist:
1.Aealo
2.Eon Aenaos
3.Athanati Este
4.Fire, Death And Fear
5.The Sign of Prime Creation
6.Phobos’ Synagogue
7.Noctis Era

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

About the Author: CnB