Celestial Rite

Following the resurgence of the Hellenic Black Metal sound in later years, there are now countless of bands – new and old, Greek and non-Greek – who want to take a stab at old school Black Metal done the Greek way. A great thing in many ways of course (who doesn’t like early ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON and NECROMANTIA?), but at the same time there’s an overarching risk of dilution that is starting to be felt throughout the underground. In fact, only a handful modern-day bands have even come close to matching the atmosphere, quality and genuine mysticism of the old garde. One of these precious few acts are CELESTIAL RITE.

Hailing from the island of Rhodes, CELESTIAL RITE does in fact have a history going back to the good old 1990s, having formed under the name NECROMAYHEM in 1997. While originally working as a duo on their debut rehearsal demo, NECROMAYHEM – which soon became CELESTIAL RITE – was and still is centered around vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Sotiris (aka Soter – MUSH, UNDER CAMIRUS, founder of Black Trip Tapes and Ancient Path Records), joined by different local musicians over the years.

What makes CELESTIAL RITE’s discography such a convincing statement stems not only from its consistently obscure aura (although that helps), but Sotiris’ deeper understanding of the strengths and power inherent to the original Hellenic Black Metal expression: the sound, method of songwriting and “spirit”. It’s not an impossible task to emulate the external attributes (the “sound”) of, say, early ROTTING CHRIST. However, it definitely requires something more than that to make music that is worthwhile and can stand on its own merits – unless you want to come across as just another tribute act. This intangible quality is exactly what CELESTIAL RITE exceeds at, as will be elaborated on in forthcoming reviews of the band’s work. Finally, it needs to be stressed that – like most worthy Metal bands – CELESTIAL RITE doesn’t really sound or behave like any specific influential act from the past. In addition to the Hellenic pedigree, the attentive listener will be able to spot musical attributes more commonly found in, say, Norse Black Metal or even Punk.

As an introduction to CELESTIAL RITE, it would probably be a good idea to start with either 2014’s “Bearer of Dawn” EP or the more easily accessible (materialistically speaking) “Funeral Rite” (2017), which was released as a split 12” with the Athenian-based FUNERAL STORM on Iron Bonehead Productions. On the other hand, if you want to catch a glimpse at the potential glorious future of Hellenic Black Metal, don’t miss out on CELESTIAL RITE’s more recent output, such as 2018’s one-track demo-CDr “Moondusk” (2018).

Compilation appearances:
* Wrath from Hades #1 [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Black Trip Tapes, 1998]