Rotting Christ
Wywiad przeprowadził Tomasz Osuch
Greece has always been a special country for metal music. It has an exotic, dark, mystic and really individual atmosphere; Greek bands' music is often characterised and filled with elements of their ancient Greek culture. Despite the fact that the evolution goes on, and skills develop, you can still see the spirit of the old times. When you hear a band from this country, you know for sure where it comes from! Rotting Christ is one of the most important Greek bands, and one of the world's best in this kind of music. I think that everyone can sincerely agree with my opinion. Rotting Christ's recent album entitled "Genesis" confirms that they are in very good condition, and they are in their glory, with a great album. I talked to Sakis, and he gave me the scoop on his band. Just read, and listen to "Genesis". Enjoy this intie! 
Ave Sakis! I would like to start our interview with a question about the latest Rotting Christ European tour, which you did with Enthroned and Primordial. It seems that this tour was very successful for you. What was the response to your concerts in the countries you played? I especially mean songs from your latest album, "Genesis".
"It was a tour with its highs and its lows, but it turned out to be beneficial for all the bands gaining new people. The strange thing was that people reacted very positively to our last album "Genesis", and that was great!"
You didn't play in Poland during this tour. However, last October, together with Dark Tranquillity and Enslaved, you played two gigs - in Warsaw and in Cracow. Well, the Polish fans were the first to see Rotting Christ on stage after releasing "Genesis"! It was great! You might not know this, but it's really a rare thing for a famous and great cult-band to play in my country just after releasing a new album. But on the other side, you have been highly appreciated in Poland for many years! How did it happen that you played your first two concerts in Poland?
"We flew over to Poland in order to play a couple of shows and to record our DVD in Cracow. We received an offer from Metal Mind, and because of the fact that we respect Polish Metal Heads so much we said Yes! Let's play in the country that has been supporting our band all these years."
I was at your concert in Cracow, and for me and many other maniacs, it was a really good concert and a great show ! It seems that you will not look back on it very well, because you had to repeat some songs three times. Moreover, this concert has been released as an official Rotting Christ's DVD. I have to tell you that I still don't know why you had to repeat those songs. Was it because of some kind of technical problems in the studio, or with the cameras?
"Fucking technical problems. My friend made us play couple of songs a couple of times!!! I know this annoyed you, but it was not up to us."
As we said, this concert was recorded for the purpose of DVD. Whose idea was it? Metal Mind's, Century Media's or maybe it was yours?
"Both of them had the same idea, and it was with the positive approval of Rotting Christ. You know, we've been hanging around too many years, and I thought the time had come to release something on stage, and this DVD was the right offer."
Sakis, as we are talking about Polish TV Studios (specifically in Cracow), I'd like to ask you about another great place where you played. A few years earlier, in October 1996, Rotting Christ played some 
gigs in Poland, together with Samael, Moonspell, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse and Sirrah. Then there was one concert in the famous Łęg Studio in Cracow. Now, you have some basis for comparison - Rotting Christ played in two TV Studios in Cracow. Which of these two was better for Rotting Christ?
"Ahhh, really? It was a different studio? I thought it was the same one! Anyway you know the area better so both studios look liked fine to me."
It seems that there is a bond between you and Polish fans. I remember that before releasing "Sleep Of The Angels", there was a single CD to "Der Perfekte Traum" which contained one new song, one never released and five live songs from Cracow! It's really pleasant, and moreover - it seems (as we said previously) that Rotting Christ is the first that relates so well to Polish fans. Why did you decide to do this in Poland? Does it mean that in Poland you have the best audience? What is the difference between Polish, and other, fans?
"Actually, we often have a better response from other countries, but because of the fact that we wish to send our respect back to people that have stood beside us, we do that."
"Genesis" has been available since last August. I haven't read a single negative review yet. I see that reactions to this album are really good, both from the fans and the press as well. Are you satisfied with it?
"Yes, the reaction was really positive world-wide and "Genesis" was just the beginning. It was like a Genesis of a new era for Rotting Christ, and this positive reaction keep us alive, and working hard for our new release."
The previous album "Khronos" in some ways suggested that Rotting Christ is going back to the old vein. That album was darker, more mystic and in your style when, when compared to "A Dead Poem", for example. Response to "Khronos" was very good and it means that old Rotting Christ's fans appreciated that. What do you think about it?
"Now that I am listening to Khronos, I think that I could change many things concerning the song writing. OK, I like this album (actually I composed it, so how can I be negative about that!), but some things could be better. Anyway we learned our lesson, and that's the reason that we recorded "Genesis" which for me, is maybe our best output ever."
Ok! After years, you came back to Andy Classen's studio. "Genesis" was recorded in the famous German Stage One Studio and was produced by you and Andy Classen. And it is not hard to hear that there is a difference in sound between "Genesis" and the previous albums, which were recorded in Woodhouse Studio or Abyss for example. Why did you decide to records in Stage One again? Can 
you sincerely say that recording session was a new, exciting, and successful experience for the band? Are you 100% satisfied with it?
"You know when you finished with a recording, everything sounds great to you and you are satisfied 100%. But later on, you find some elements here and there that could be better. Anyway this time we found very few elements that we would change, which means that we are very much satisfied with Stage One studios."
About Woodhouse for a moment... many of the famous bands from Century Media, like for example - Rotting Christ, Samael, Moonspell and others recorded in Woodhouse in the past with Waldemar Sorychta as a producer. After some time, they all gave up the idea of recording another album in this place, and did it in other studios. Why did they do it? Isn't Woodhouse as popular now as it was in the past?
"Woodhouse is very popular still, but if you record in the same studio all your albums, you do not have the opportunity to "sound" different. So as Rotting Christ, our strategy is to change studios album after album, in order to refresh our sound. That's a matter of strategy and not a quality studio matter."
Xy from Samael produced your two albums - "A Dead Poem" and "Sleep Of The Angels". The recordings of the "Khronos" album took place at the Abyss Studio, and was produced by Peter Tagtgren. What is the main difference between style with which Xytras and Peter Tagtgren work?
"Both corporations were an experience for us, and we are satisfied with the work from both XY and PETER."
I would like to ask you about the deal with Century Media. How many albums do you have to record for them? "Genesis" is the newest album released through Century Media. I remember that, for example, Grave isn't too happy that they signed a deal for seven albums...
"We have signed for 6 albums, which means that we have another one to go...what else do you want to say?"
Ok, I understand. In most of the interviews I read, I could not find anyone asking you about how popular you are in America. If I remember very well, you played a tour there, and 2 concerts were cancelled. What is the reaction to your all albums in the United States? Is there a big difference between them and us? How can you describe US metal maniacs?
"They are different, and they are not really into European Black /Death Metal, which means that non-European bands are famous over there (except some). Yes they are maniacs and we always enjoy to play there. You know Metal has no borders."
That's right. Since "A Dead Poem", you have had a very stable line-up, but earlier, after releasing "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers", your bass player Jim, who had been in the camp from the beginning, decided to leave the band. If it's possible, can you explain why he left? What does he do now? Is he still a musician?
"He runs a record store in the centre of Athens and he left the band because of lack of time. Still we are close friends."
It was in Jaworzno, at Metalmania Fest 96, when you played in Poland for the first time. The line up was very varied then...you played with bands like Fear Factory, Drain, Stuck Mojo and Moonspell. Do you remember Rotting Christ's first visit in Poland?
"Yes we do and I have to say that we played shit. I really hope to take my revenge and play our best show ever in this festival in the future."
In the past you have had lots of problems with the band's name. A few years ago, Rotting Christ concerts were cancelled in Mexico, Israel and Singapore, where the government was against you. I have heard that you were on tour with Cannibal Corpse and Grave in Spring seven years ago, and there where also some problems with the band's name. What did you feel when you heard words like 'sorry guys, you can't play here because you do not have a nice band name'? It seems that today everything is ok with it...or maybe you still have some problems?
"We still have problems, but we are Metal and overcome them. Metal is something revolutionary, something that doesn't belong to the masses, and any "fights" against conservative people to say that you do not have the right to believe what you want is really welcome for us."
Rotting Christ was formed in 1985 but you started playing shortly earlier...is it true that you, Jim, and your brother Themis stared playing in the band in 1980?! How could you describe and recall these 
exciting times? You were very young guys then. What did you feel when you were recording your first single for T.N.T Records and recorded the demo "Satanas Tadeum"?
"Actually we were formed back in 1988, and I cannot call someone a member of the band if the drummer was playing in pillows instead of drums! So I can say that we felt strange and great simultaneously when we first released our split EP. You know our dream by then came true, but because of the fact that people found our music interesting, we expanded our dreams and we "did" discography."
How do you reminisce about the famous tour with Immortal and Blasphemy? It seems that it's a historical tour, because it was the first black metal tour!
"Fuck, Christ Tour was the first ever second-generation Black Metal tour and I am very proud that my band was a part of it. Hail to Blasphemy & Immortal for doing that."
Tours, many concerts, demo, splits ep, albums, many interviews and more... all of it resulted in Rotting Christ being one of the important bands on the metal scene nowadays. Did you expect 15 years ago that your band would succeed in such a way?
"No of course not. When someone records a demo, they never think of being "successful". This is something that has something to do with Metal ideology. So when we released our first demo, and we received a good response from the underground movement, by then we said why not record another one demo and the story went on. Feels great that after 14 years we are still alive and that is something that we owe to you. KEEP THE DARK CULT ALIVE."
In the past you used to use strange names. You were Necromayhem, Themis was Necrosauron and Jim was Mutilator. "The Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" was the last release where you used these names. Why did you decide to give up them? Was it caused by Jim's departure too?
"Yes a part of it. After Jim left the band and we became a 5 piece member band I think that a new era came up for the band, so we changed our names without meaning that we regretted that."
What are Rotting Christ's plans for the near future? Are you going to record the new album this year to release it in early 2004? Are you working on a new stuff? How would you describe it?
"Not any new songs yet. I do not feel like that. We pay attention more to playing live worldwide, and after our 2 shows in Poland, our European and Greek tours, we plan some shows in Romania/Brazil and some participation in summer festivals."
The previous year is a great example that bands from Greece, like Rotting Christ and Septic Flesh are back in good condition and glory with great albums! Do you know what's happening with Nightfall? Is it true that they split up or are these only rumors?
"As I know, they'll come back soon with a new album that sounds great, which means that they are still alive."
And finally, I would like to know something about Thou Art Lord. Is it true that you decided to have a reunion as a side-project?
"Our DV8 album is out, and it sounds primitive sick and dark. Keep an eye open for this reunion."
Thank you very much for this interview, Sakis! I wish you all the best with Rotting Christ and hope to see you in my country soon!
"Thank you too Tomasz for your interest in our band. Keep on kicking with your web - zine and STAY TRUE!"
