Inspired by the growing black metal scene in the Scandinavian region, Sakis Tolis (vocals/ guitar) and his brother Themis Tolis (drums) decided to start Rotting Christ in 1987. The band was formed with the addition of Kostas on second guitar and bassist Andreas. However, the nationwide attention as a second-generation black metal act didn't start until the release of their 1991 EP "Passage to Arcturo". After adding keyboard player George to their lineup full-time and hooking up with label Osmose Records, their first full-length "Thy Mighty Contract", was released in 1993.
Clearly showing off their Bathory, Venom and Celtic Frost influences on their first two releases, Rotting Christ established themselves as one of the premier European underground metal acts. Several years later the band inked a deal with Century Media Records, meaning that they where finally getting distribution on both sides of the northern Atlantic.Within time their sound changed to keyboard-driven melancholy, like their sixth release, "Sleep of the Angels".
Shortly after the release of "A Dead Poem" the band were shaken by line-up changes, but nevertheless managed to thrive, touring over 20 countries, including Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria and all of South America in 1998.
With their album "Genesis" (2001) Rotting Christ returned to their roots, pushing the aggression even further than Genesis’ predecessor, Khronos (2000). The aggression that recalled Rotting Christ's Century Med.....
