Rotting Christ leading a black mass at Arena Sur, Feb 24
In february 24, the greek band Rotting Christ performed at Arena Sur (in Buenos Aires, Argentina), a place that’s gradually gaining recognition, and the black mass was guaranteed. The show began at 10 pm with a completely darkened stage, except for a screen in the back with a white script: “Χ Ξ Σ” (it means “666”). Drummer Themis Tolis were sitting in his place, and Sakis Tolis, Kostas Spades and Kostis Foukarakis (the 3 string players) standing with their backs to the audience while a tape was playing in the background, creating an atmosphere of solemn darkness and paganism.
At the hi-hat signal, the show started with “666” (as the script in the back suggested haha), the sound is brutal and very well equalized. Everything is in its place and can be easily distinguished. Not to mention the powerful Sakis voice, along with the Kostas and Kostis low choirs. The setlist continued with “P’unchaw kachun – Tuta kachun”, “Demonos Vrosis”, “Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy”; giving us moments of looping riffs that could be categorized as a satanic trance-like, breakdowns that don’t let a single assistant without moving their head, and situations where the band ask us to shout “hey hey” on loud and jump along the music’s rhythm (something that always works well with passionate argentinian crowds). “In the Name of God” was the next song, from their last LP “The Heretic”, which hadn’t being played in Buenos Aires at the time. “Pix Lax Dax”, “King of a Stellar War” were played with an admirable execution and culminated with Sakis asking for a circle pit in the middle, for “Archon” was ready to be played; a very fast song that invites the crowd to lose all control. Sakis shouts “NON” and the crowd answer “SERVIAN” in unison, giving rise to the band’s classic track, followed by “Societas Satanas”, where the circle pit opened up once again. “In Yumen-Xibalba”, “Grandis Spiritus Diavolos” and “The Raven” closed the set, leading to an encore where, curiously, the musicians didn’t leave the stage as usual. Instead, they repeated the initial act by standing with their backs to the crowd with a background tape and the stage totally darkened. An amazing way to keep in their stage characters.
The show ended with “The Sign of Evil Existence” and “Fgmenth, Thy Gift” where there was a constant red light onstage, which, combinating with the song being played, gave an almost apocalyptic scene, in which they were the four horsemen. The band left the stage being ovacionated by the audience and shaking hands with people on the front row. It was a totally high quality Extreme Metal show. Totally.
SETLIST:
666, P’unchaw kachun- Tuta kachun, Demonon Vrosis, Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy, Apage Satana, In the Name of God, Pix Lax Dax
King of a Stellar War, Archon, Non Serviam, Societas Satanas (Thou Art Lord cover), In Yumen-Xibalba, Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
The Raven
Encore:
The Sign of Evil Existence, Fgmenth, Thy Gif
Photos by Eliana Fernandez
Review by Agustín López
Produced by From Hell Fest Argentina
Publicist C+G Prensa Y Comunicacion