Rotting Christ

If you guessed from the name that they're not a Christian rock band, congratulations! Though on more recent releases Rotting Christ have toned their venom down from earlier extremes, these pathologically profane metal maestros still aim to offend with sacrilegious lyrics and brutal, brooding sounds. By integrating ambient Gothic elements into their once monolithically fast and furious tempos, this band has managed to keep its sound fresh despite its moribund preoccupations with death and decomposition. They are a classic demonstration of what sonic mutations are wrought by crossing head-banging power chord rock with the high art aspirations of Opera.