Sakis Tolis doesn’t seem to even think about hitting the brakes. ROTTING CHRIST continue their course as usual, while he finds through his personal work a different way to write and express himself.
In a recent interview he talked about ROTTING CHRIST, Rituals, his solo albums, the passage of time and what the band’s name means to him today.
“Rituals” and something different for ROTTING CHRIST
Ten years after its release, Rituals remains the most commercially successful album of ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis believes a big role was played by the work he did on research, on different cultures and on the ideas he wanted to put into the music.
It hasn’t been decided yet whether there will be a special tour for the album’s 10th anniversary, but its songs remain part of the live shows.
At the same time, the band is preparing something different for the future, though more details haven’t been made known yet.
“Music is my only weapon”
As he grows older, Sakis sees life differently. As he says, after 50 the strength isn’t so much in the body, but more in the mind and the spirit.
Somewhere here his solo albums come in too.
“Music is my only weapon.”
His personal releases aren’t made with a commercial goal. In fact, as he admits, many times he loses money from them. But that doesn’t particularly interest him, because he makes them because he needs to express himself.
He himself puts it even more simply: he makes solo records “for the salvation of his soul”.
New energy in ROTTING CHRIST
Sakis and Themis Tolis are now over 50 and big tours aren’t as easy as they used to be. Nevertheless, they have no intention of stopping as long as their health allows it.
The presence of two younger musicians in the live line-up has also given the band new energy and reminds them of their early years.
The name ROTTING CHRIST remains
The band’s name remains a topic that often sparks discussions. Sakis recognises that it’s a provocative name, but believes ROTTING CHRIST have changed quite a bit over the years.
Today he sees the band more as a voice that keeps its rebellious spirit, while at the same time exploring different cultures and philosophies.
For him, the name represents an entire generation, an ideology and a way of life that stands against religion when it turns into a commercial product.
Metal keeps evolving
Sakis still listens to new bands and searches for new music. He admits of course that it’s hard for something new to give him the same shock he felt when he first heard CELTIC FROST, VENOM or BATHORY.
Nevertheless, he sees new bands trying to push metal forward and try different things.
And that seems to be something that still interests him: to search, to listen and to discover.
