Rotting Christ Thy Mighty Contract

Rotting Christ had just put out their debut EP not long before this and here we have the bands first full length recording which was released in 1993. I’m going to say not a lot had changed with the band at this point. They were still the same band that released “Passage to Arcturo” only this time they came back with a clearer sounding recording and better written songs. So I guess the same band, but better.

The album opens up with a pretty full on intro track but then you get the first real song and it becomes clear through better production the band are more like a melodic Death Metal band that uses Black Metal imagery. There’s definitley some black metal riffage and song writing sensibilities thrown in there as well. Even though the recording is still a little on the rough side, it becomes even clear the band are a lot more than just a “black metal” band. I sometimes wonder with the benefit of hindsight if the band regret calling themselves Rotting Christ.

What we are treated to is a collection of (as stated before) melodic Death Metal songs with vocals that definitely lean a lot further into Black Metal territory. “Transform All Suffering into Plagues” is actually a beautiful melodic journey. Song after song kicks in and it becomes clear this is one classy band. There are some excellent melodies on this reminiscent of Paradise Lost. The songs are not so intense that it alienates listeners but seem to travel at a mid paced delivery which (aside from the production) is already starting to appeal to more mainstream listeners that might not be ready to listen to say Mayhem or Immortal.

Rotting Christ are a great band but I feel at this point they were getting overshadowed by the larger Black Metal bands and some of it maybe due to the production of this album. Whilst better than their debut EP, I don’t feel it holds up against the other bands of the time and sells the great tunes contained within this album short.

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