A Dead Poem

Though their name has always been a bit much for some to stomach, Greece's Rotting Christ are hardly the most extreme of black metal bands. And despite their unusual country of origin, they have capably challenged their mainland counterparts by building a respectably consistent body of work without any obvious clunkers. While this makes it rather difficult to pin-point their best album, most would agree that 1997's strangely titled A Dead Poem (along with its direct predecessor, the even more strangely named Triarchy of the Lost Lovers) ranks among their best. Now a word of caution: Experienced deathsters will probably prefer the band's more extreme early efforts. A Dead Poem, despite its ample collection of aggressive riffs and infectious guitar harmonies, rates higher in commercial accessibility than inspired songwriting, making it ideal for beginning fans. "Sorrowful Farewell" and the title track provide the album's best moments, and though they take a tad long to get going, the acoustic guitar-driven "Ira Incensus" and the synthesizer-enhanced "As if by Magic" eventually deliver some of the group's most melodic, consumer-friendly hooks.