Rotting Christ
Metaldays - 2019
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
We don't mention the day Rotting Christ lost.
Not in the sense that they figuratively lost the show - that they messed up, or did anything else wrong for that matter.
No, the lost part was on us. We lost Rotting Christ. We lost them in the sense that, because the way Metaldays plan their concerts, we had two shows at the same time we wanted to see. We had to pick, and for reasons, Saturnus won. But at least we got to see the beginning of Rotting Christ before moving on…
“So we're back at Metaldays! Are you guys having a good time?!”
- Sakis Tolis (vocals/guitar)
As dusk was approaching darkness, an icon like backdrop (the The Heretics cover artwork) adorned the main stage of Metaldays, and out of the speakers came a rumbling Gregorian chant sounding song. People had already filled the grounds, and were now waiting for the band to enter.
As they did so, Sakis and Themis Tolis of course, together with live-musicians Kostas Heliotis (bass) and Giannis Kalamatas (guitar), they were greeted by shouts of admiration, and delved straight into Hallowed Be Thy Name, a slower song to ease us into it. I say ease into, because after that came Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού, and from there on, the band did not let up on the pressure. Especially Sakis Tolis and Kostas Heliotis impressed me with their strong performances, that were gripping, communicative, and present all at the same time, but know that Themis Tolis and Giannis Kalamatas were certainly into it as well.
“Rise up, Metaldays!”
- Sakis Tolis (vocals/guitar)
The pyroshow started in Fire, God And Fear, and it only helped underline the massiveness of the performance and the show. Having only really seen Rotting Christ in small to medium sized club venues before, I was impressed with how well they handled the big stage, being close to being the headliner of the day. They took full advantage of the stage, and did it with an ease and a certainty, that made it look like this was something they did every day.
The last song we heard was Ἐλθὲ κύριε (Elthe Kyrie), and the hardest decision made this festival, was when we left, still hearing the evocative cry of “Elthe Kyrie” call out, as we hurried through the merchant's street (praying that their indoor jukeboxes would go out so we could hear just a little more) towards the second stage.
Rotting Christ delivered a powerhouse performance, and it haunts me still, that I didn't get to see the end of it.
Setlist (incomplete):
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού
Fire, God And Fear
Ἐλθὲ κύριε (Elthe Kyrie)
Not in the sense that they figuratively lost the show - that they messed up, or did anything else wrong for that matter.
No, the lost part was on us. We lost Rotting Christ. We lost them in the sense that, because the way Metaldays plan their concerts, we had two shows at the same time we wanted to see. We had to pick, and for reasons, Saturnus won. But at least we got to see the beginning of Rotting Christ before moving on…
“So we're back at Metaldays! Are you guys having a good time?!”
- Sakis Tolis (vocals/guitar)
As dusk was approaching darkness, an icon like backdrop (the The Heretics cover artwork) adorned the main stage of Metaldays, and out of the speakers came a rumbling Gregorian chant sounding song. People had already filled the grounds, and were now waiting for the band to enter.
As they did so, Sakis and Themis Tolis of course, together with live-musicians Kostas Heliotis (bass) and Giannis Kalamatas (guitar), they were greeted by shouts of admiration, and delved straight into Hallowed Be Thy Name, a slower song to ease us into it. I say ease into, because after that came Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού, and from there on, the band did not let up on the pressure. Especially Sakis Tolis and Kostas Heliotis impressed me with their strong performances, that were gripping, communicative, and present all at the same time, but know that Themis Tolis and Giannis Kalamatas were certainly into it as well.
“Rise up, Metaldays!”
- Sakis Tolis (vocals/guitar)
The pyroshow started in Fire, God And Fear, and it only helped underline the massiveness of the performance and the show. Having only really seen Rotting Christ in small to medium sized club venues before, I was impressed with how well they handled the big stage, being close to being the headliner of the day. They took full advantage of the stage, and did it with an ease and a certainty, that made it look like this was something they did every day.
The last song we heard was Ἐλθὲ κύριε (Elthe Kyrie), and the hardest decision made this festival, was when we left, still hearing the evocative cry of “Elthe Kyrie” call out, as we hurried through the merchant's street (praying that their indoor jukeboxes would go out so we could hear just a little more) towards the second stage.
Rotting Christ delivered a powerhouse performance, and it haunts me still, that I didn't get to see the end of it.
Setlist (incomplete):
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Κατά τον δαίμονα του εαυτού
Fire, God And Fear
Ἐλθὲ κύριε (Elthe Kyrie)
Rotting Christ
