CoC : Rotting Christ - A Dead Poem : Review

Rotting Christ - _A Dead Poem_
(Century Media, 1997)
by: Adrian Bromley (8 out of 10)

I guess times and styles do change, for Rotting Christ sure have changed; I never expected to hear catchy riffs and memorable melodies coming from any Rotting Christ LP. Fans of the band who have been following them from their brutally raw and dark debut full-length LP, _Thy Mighty Contract_ (released in 1993 on Osmose) [or, for that matter, _Passage to Arcturo_, which was released before _TMC_ -- ed.], know that Rotting Christ has always been about power, strength, and an almost invincible quality which augments their music and momentum. Even though the band's style (a blend of black, death, and doom metal) has evolved over the years (as was fully chronicled on 1996's powerful _Triarchy Of Lost Lovers_ ), they still kept the raw and masterful approach to their music intact. But all has changed now. The band's latest LP, _A Dead Poem_, overflows with catchy parts which inject a slight commercial feel into the album and, in the end, cause it to lose a bit of that true underground feel that they always radiated. While many may see these changes as a bad thing, it has allowed the band to break away from the typical black/death metal sound they have been seen as and become more of an intriguing listen. The music here is well orchestrated and masterfully crafted into a strong package of material. Standout tracks include "Among Two Storms", "Full Colour Is The Night", and "Out Of Spirits." If you are into this band and can accept change, then pick this up. It's great.

(article published 17/11/1997)

CHATS
10/19/2004	J Smit	Rotting Christ: Back Into the Abyss Once More
3/23/2004	J Smit	Rotting Christ: Still Rotting in the Free World
1/1/1998	P Azevedo	Rotting Christ: Seen One Season, Felt Only Cold
10/11/1996	A Bromley	Rotting Christ: Revealing the Rotted Remains

ALBUMS
10/13/2013	D Lake	8	Rotting Christ - Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy
1/28/2007	J Smit	8.5	Rotting Christ - Theogonia
9/23/2004	J Smit	9.5	Rotting Christ - Sanctus Diavolos
5/19/1999	A Bromley	8	Rotting Christ - Sleep With Angels
8/12/1996	A Bromley	8	Rotting Christ - Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers

GIGS
3/28/2011	J Carbon	Rotting Christ / Melechesh / Abigail Williams / Lecherous Nocturne / The Ziggurat	The Gates of Sumeria
3/25/2007	J Smit	Rotting Christ / Malevolent Creation / Incantation	Malicious Rot
3/23/2004	J Smit	Decapitated / Rotting Christ / Thus Defiled / Anata	Death Comes Ripping
1/14/2002	D Rocher	Tristania / Rotting Christ / Vintersorg / Madder Mortem	A Night to Remember, a Bill to Forget
3/14/1999	P Schwarz	Deicide / Rotting Christ / Aeternus / Ancient Rites / Behemoth	Dead by Dawn