Their Greatest Spells - Tumblr Posts

Classic Greek black metallers Rotting Christ released a "Best Of" album last year to celebrate 30 years as a band, and it's been finding heavy rotation in my listening of late. I've always enjoyed the band, but they've really struck a whole new cord with me over the past year or so.

I've really found them to sort of transcend black metal into a wholly spiritual realm. They do get some flak for their modern releases not keeping the classic raw black metal sound, which is a shame. The atmosphere they've learned to build and maintain is exceptional, and one of my favorite aspects of their music. And their growing experimentation with folk elements, world music, and inversions of traditional Christian music traits creates a powerful listening experience. I've never tended to feel very spiritual, but these days I'm finding more and more black metal that challenges that. And this band is at the top of that list.

Dare I call them "magical"? They certainly invoke some ethereal force within me, and I am most grateful for it.

I look forward to finally sitting down with their newest album in the coming week, once I wrap up my Master's Thesis, which has been a serious distraction. The singles I've heard are promising and I'm quite excited.