Review by Ben for Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract (1993)

Enjoyable early melodic black metal that's just occasionally a bit flat.

This is really the earliest officially melodic black metal album I can come up with. Of course, Dissection released The Somberlain during the same year, but that album is really a very different beast to behold. While Dissection kick started the rather intense Swedish melodic black metal style (along with Marduk) that would influence stacks of bands such as Naglfar and Dark Funeral, Rotting Christ were doing something quite unique. There are no particularly shredding riffs here or screaming vocals. It probably has more in common with the simplicity of early Samael, but with a fair amount of melody added to the mix.

The drumming is completely nontechnical, the vocals are gruff and at times seemingly emotionless, and the guitars switch from chugging rhythms to soaring melodies throughout. They even throw in smatterings of keyboard to add to the already substantial atmosphere. But I have to say at some points things get just a little characterless and mundane. While Transform All Suffering Into Plagues and Exiled Archangels are really enjoyable tracks filled with both darkness and beauty, others such as Fgmenth, the Gift and Dive the Deepest Abyss don't reach such heights, just plodding along without doing anything particularly of note. All up I'd say Thy Mighty Contract is a fine first attempt by Rotting Christ and a decent enough listen every now and then, but they'd certainly release better albums in years to come though.