In the 1980s, black metal spread across the world, reaching Greece and inspiring brothers Sakis and Themis Tolis. Influenced by bands like Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, and Possessed, they formed Rotting Christ in Athens in 1987. Blending epic riffs with melancholic melodies, the band evolved beyond traditional black metal into a distinct “dark metal” sound.
By 1998, Rotting Christ had toured over twenty countries, including parts of Europe and South America. That year, they recorded Sleep of the Angels, their darkest and most atmospheric album, released in January 1999, alongside a European tour with Borknagar and Old Man’s Child.
