Review ROTTING CHRIST “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus”

Greek blackened metal band Rotting Christ were formed in 1987 and released their first full-length album in 1993. Since then, the band has been one of the leading representatives of Greek metal. To celebrate 35 years of Rotting Christ, the band played numerous shows, with the one taking place at the Lycabettus Hill Theater in Athens being the pinnacle. The show took place on June 29, 2024 and was a home game experience for the band. A special location and a 25-song set list made the night special and to let more people participate in this milestone show, the whole concert was captured.

This recording is now being released as “35 Years of Evil Existence – Live in Lycabettus”. The set list covers all eras of the band, as it should be on such a special occasion. Classics like “The Raven” were played as well as “Demonon Vrosis”. With “The Sign Of Evil Existence” we even take a ride in a time machine that takes us back to 1993. The song is the first one from the debut album and it is “Fgmenth, Thy Gift” coming from the same album. “Forest of N’gai” takes us even further back in time, while “Like Father, Like Son” represents the more contemporary sound of Rotting Christ.

Some of the songs haven’t been played live very much in the last decade, such as “Sorrow Farewell”, and there’s also a cover version. It is a raging live version of “Societas Satanas”, originally by Thou Art Lord, a band which includes a Rotting Christ member in Sakis Tolis.

The Tolis brothers and bandmates deliver a live album that provides an excellent overview of the music the band has released over more than three decades. With great sound and an authentic live atmosphere, this is a great compilation for fans who want to celebrate a special moment with the band. At the same time it gives people who might not be so familiar with the back catalogue of the Greek metal institution a fair chance to catch up in a comprehensive way.