#8- Top of 2013

Rotting Christ- Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού (Season of Mist)

"Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού" (which translates roughly as "True to His Own Spirit" in English) is the 11th (!) album of the Greek death/black band, Rotting Christ. The band's early work shifted from grindcore to black with folk/world and atmospheric elements, always adding new and interesting themes in their music. The songs (both music and lyrics) were written by lead vocalist/guitarist  Sakis Tolis (with the exception of the adaptation of the traditional Romanian song titled "Cine iubeşte şi lasă"). The album opens with the very strong  "In Yumen - Xibalba" (with eerie growling vocals and heavy riffs), "P'unchaw kachun - Tuta kachun" (with amazing choirs and melodic guitars) and "Grandis Spiritus Diavolos", all of which are full with a dramatic vibe enhanced by the use melodic chants and choruses. Moving through the record the sounds change from brutal barked vocals (dominating in "Iwa Voodoo") or a mix with traditional melodies (in the "Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού") to whispered sections (in "Русалка") following the feeling/ theme of the each song and closing with the melodic tribal mystical vibe of  "Χ ξ ς' " (which is entirely in Greek and signifies the number 666 in the greek numeral system)!


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