Review by Kostas on January 29, 2023.

"Triarchy of The Lost Lovers" marks the end of the early black metal trilogy of Rotting Christ and their lean towards a more gothic and experimental sound. The black metal elements and style are of course still present in every song, but this time in a much more mature and pleasant way. Maybe it is due to Sakis and Themis having grown up by that time, or them suffering from measles during the recording, but this album sounds unbiased and is definitely one level higher than the band's previous two.

More specifically, there is an obvious improvement in mixing and production. Every instrument sounds exactly where and as it should, nothing too loud or too low. This, alongside the members of the band having evolved admirable skills, is what helps the sinister cult atmosphere of this record build up. In addition, Sakis seems to have had enough experience to sing in a much more physical way, unlike the previous records where he really just seemed to try too hard.

From the very first second of the first track you know this album is going to be good. The rifts are catchy and the solos are great, leaving you stoked by their genuine complexity and originality. The mood swaps offer a variety of melodies and songs. From the nostalgic, maybe even romantic in some way "King of A Stellar War" to the aggressive, fast "Archon", there is a song for every demanding fan of the band out there. It is in fact sad the drums and at some points keyboards still sound weak and boring, making this album lose some of its might and preventing it from being at the top of the band's discography.

To sum up, "Triarchy of The Lost Lovers" is the first album someone who doesn't know Rotting Christ should listen to. It is not perfect but it is the record that has all the good elements of the band's first steps: amazing melodies, variety, a unique atmosphere... plus some awesome fun and at the same time unusual lyrics. In a few words, although not their best, this album is the ideal introduction to the band and a monument of black metal history.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Kostas on June 21, 2023.

"Sleep of The Angels" is the second gothic album of Rotting Christ. Although quite similar to the band's previous full-length release, this one is characterised by a deeper and darker atmosphere, as well as a few flaws which prevent it from standing out as one of the band's best releases.

The first thing someone notices when listening to this album, is once again the remarkable and creative solos and rifts that seem to be the best thing this band has to offer. The vocals have improved significantly as well, making the whole album easier to enjoy. Of course, the greek accent is still present, but not in a way that makes it difficult for the listener to understand the lyrics. Now, the songwriting is pretty simple but definitely unbiased and more compatible to the ban's current sound.

Unfortunately, the drums once again sound boring and uninspired. Although they never seem to be out of pace, there is nothing special about them. It is almost as if the band added them in the end just because they had to. Just like in "Non Serviam". In addition, there is a lack of variety in "Sleep of The Angels". Almost all tracks sound similar, to such an extent that someone may confuse the start of "Victoriatus" with "After Dark I Feel". Some may find the melodies catchy enough to ignore the aforementioned repetitions. However, they make the record seem like it recycles the same ideas over and over.

To sum up, I can't say the songs in "Sleep of The Angels" are bad. The band members show their skills and maybe the whole album could be brought to life at a live concert. On the other hand, it is no masterpiece or an album that will stay in your mind for a long time. What it needed was variety, inspiration and, last but not least, a descent cover artwork.

Rating: 6.6 out of 10