We end the Greek theme with a real classic. Aphrodite's Child was a Greek progressive rock band formed in 1967, by Vangelis Papathanassiou (keyboards), Demis Roussos (bass guitar and vocals), Loukas Sideras (drums and vocals), and Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris (guitar).
Despite their short existence and lack of hit singles outside of Europe, the band is respected as a cult band, and their album 666 is often considered their masterwork in addition to being one of rock music's first concept albums. The album caught the attention of many in the progressive rock field, including YES frontman Jon Anderson, who would later collaborate with Vangelis. Contemporary progressive rock acts such as ASTRA have also cited the band as an influence.
Todays tune is the titled track taken from "It's Five O'Clock", released 1969.
The Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band NIGHTRAGE add some hair in your chest on this Greek Special that's running here on Tune Of The Day. Today we have a mixed one (:
NIGHTRAGE was founded by Marios Iliopoulos and his close friend Gus G. in June 2000. They made their first demo in 2001, then another 2 demos in 2002. The band was originally from Thessaloniki. They later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.
A lot has happened since the previous album (See below). New recording studio, Dug Out Productions. New label, Despotz Records. New artwork by CephaloSpinal Design. And a new fresh breath of air in the NIGHTRAGE machinery. This is a band that knows how to survive trends while combining the old with the new, making a killer combo without forgetting their roots or where they came from.
"The Puritan" is an uncompromising eerie dramatic and melodic death metal journey in its purest essence. 11 tracks with great hooks and the biggest sound that you ever heard from these melodic death metal legends, trends come and go but NIGHTRAGE knows how to always deliver music that reflects their burning souls.
The production from recording-guru Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, INFLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, DEVIN TOWNSEND, EVERGREY, SOILWORK) and George Nerantzis from Dug Out Productions Studios in Uppsala, it is truly breathtaking and really brings up all the best elements that characterize the NIGHTRAGE sound.
Their first release, Sweet Vengeance, was released in 2003 and featured drummer Per Möller Jensen (THE HAUNTED), and bassist Brice Leclercq. They also managed to acquire the services of vocalist Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES). Sweet Vengeance also featured guest clean vocals on a few tracks by Tom S. Englund of EVERGRAY fame. The album is proceeded by their first video for the track "Gloomy Daydreams" on an earlier edit, with Gus G. on vocals.
Their second release, Descent into Chaos, was released in 2005 and had a change of line up, with the addition of a more permanent rhythm section. Fotis Benardo (SEPTIC FLESH, INNERWISH) took over on drums and Henric Carlsson, who also plays in the band CIPHER SYSTEM, on bass. Mikael Stanne, of DARK TRANQUILLITY, provided a clean vocal section on the track "Frozen". Tomas Lindberg left the band so that a more full-time vocalist could accompany them on tours and studio albums.
When Gus G. was performing with ARCH ENEMY at Ozzfest 2005, he was replaced by Pierre Lysell for NIGHTRAGEs touring activities. For some of NIGHTRAGEs tour in support of BOLT THROWER, Gus G. was again unavailable and his place was taken by Christian Muenzer, of NECROPHAGIST. In March 2006, Gus G. permanently left NIGHTRAGE to focus completely on FIREWIND (later in 2009 becoming the guitarist for heavy metal legend OZZY OSBOURNE). At this time Fotis Benardo decided also to leave NIGHTRAGE and focus on the reunited SEPTIC FLESH. He was replaced by Alex Svenningson.
Their third release, A New Disease Is Born, was released in 2007. Gus G. was replaced by DRAGONLAND/AMARANTHE guitar virtuoso Olof Mörck. The song "Scathing" was chosen for the band's second video, and was directed by Bob Katsionis.
After the release of A New Disease Is Born Alex Svenningson and Jimmie Strimell left the band to form the melodic metalcore band DEAD BY APRIL. Longtime bassist Henric Karlsson also left the band due to his family obligations.
Vocalist Antony Hämäläinen, bassist Anders Hammer, and drummer Johan Nunez joined the band in the summer of 2007. Their fourth album, Wearing a Martyr's Crown, was recorded, produced, and mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman for a 2009 release date.
The fifth album Insidious. The song Wrapped In Deceitful Dreams references in the lyrics "Seas Of Eternal Silence" which may refer to the Sweet Vengeance song At The Ends Of The Earth or the 1997 Exhumation (Marios Iliopoulos' former band) album by the same name. Insidious is the first and only Nightrage album in the band's history to feature the same line up as the previous album. The Japanese version of the album includes a cover of Def Leppard's "Photograph".
Olof Mörck has not been part of a live performance or band photography since 2011. It is assumed he has left the band to focus on his main project Amaranthe. Antony Hämäläinen and Johan Nunez officially left the band to pursue other musical ventures in 2013.
Todays setup:
Marios Iliopoulos | Guitar
Ronnie Nyman | Vocals
Anders Hammer | Bass
Olle Ferner | Stand in drummer
Nightrage is back once again! This time with full force and their sixth album to date named "The Puritan". Todays tune "Kiss Of A Sycophant" is the first single out from the upcoming album, release is set at 24th April
The Greeks not only delivers brilliant stoner rock and sludge, there are also a lot harder acts as the little more angrier guys from Thessaloniki, Greece.
PSYCHO CHOKE hail from the island of Greece and formed in 1999 by rhythm guitarist Argy. The band has four albums to their credit with the latest entitled "Unraveling Chaos". Other band members are Bax (rhythm and lead guitars), George Montes (drums), Al Roy (vocals) and Phantomas (bass).
In the spring of 2009 the band started recording their new -long anticipated- full length album called "Unraveling Chaos". It took two months to record it and another six to mix it, reamp it, and master it at Hansen studios in Denmark by Jacob Hansen (NIGHTRAGE, VOLBEAT, MERCENARY). The result of this process was the heaviest shit the band have made.
With a little help from their friends- Gus.G (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), Marios Iliopoulos & Olof Morck (NIGHTRAGE) and Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR, ANUBIS GATE, BEYOND TWILIGHT) PSYCHO CHOKE have created a really vulgar album that contains a good mood of brutality with hard hammer drumming and screaming guitar riffs.
Todays tune "Get Down" is taken from the album "Unraveling Chaos", 2010. Guest solo from Gus-G (FIREWIND). Video is Directed/Shoot/Edit by Gabriel Psaltakis.
We continue with the Greek theme and today we play some Swamp rock.
From Athens, Greece we find a band called POTERGEIST. The band was founded in 2004, started out as a southern metal band.
They recorded their début "Southwards" album back in 2006 and it got released 2007, the album had a crossover of dark and groovy southern blues metal is regarded as a novelty by many.
In 2008 they released their self titled EP. Where they showing a more heavy and dark side of the band.
In December 2010 the band entered the studio recording their 2nd full length album "Muddy Mermaids". The same year director Costas Zapas inspired by the music of POTERGEIST works with Alex S. and Asimakis Repas on his new movie "The rebellion of red maria" creating a brutal metal soundrack twisted enough to mach the hardcore and often twisted world of Zapa.
In 2012 "Muddy Mermaids" is released through Distroball productions and through Warner Music in digital form. With "Muddy Mermaids" the band goes even more dark and bluesy. Not being able to label their own music any more the term Swamp Metal is used to describe POTERGEISTs dark southern bluesy sound. In June 2012 POTERGEIST were chosen to open for LYNYRD SKYNYRD showing that hard work does pay.
In 2013 started the band recording their 3rd album, working with David Castillo (KATATONIA, OPETH, AMON AMARTH, DRACONIAN, NASUM among others) on the mix, re-amp and production. Angry Blue (GUNS AND ROSES, DANZIG, FAITH NO MORE, SLAYER, MELVINS) designs the cover this time and "Swampires" comes to life on 2014 via Distroball productions and B-otherside records.On December 2014 and after performing at the Red Bull unplugged sessions POTERGEIST strikes an endorsement deal with Red Bull.
Through the years POTERGEIST have shared the stage with the likes of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, MONSTER MAGNET, PRO PAIN, THE HAUNTED, THE SHRINE, KYLESA, PARADISE LOST to mention a few and have become known for the energy they deliver when on stage.
In 2015 POTERGEIST return after a short break to record their 4th studio album "Crocodile Tears" produced and mixed by Peter Rutcho (FALLING IN REVERSE, REVOCATION, BURY YOUR DEAD, HAVOK, SEEMLESS, THE GHOST INSIDE) with the cover art being done once again by Angryblue. "Crocodile Tears" will be out this summer from G.O.D. records and POTERGEIST are getting ready to hit the road once again.
Members:
Alex S Wamp - Vox
Nikos XP - Guitar
Stratal - Guitar
Kostis Vihos - Bass
Tolis Toleas - Drums
Todays tune "Rivers and Oceans" is taken from their second full length album "Muddy Mermaids".
1000MODS is a psychedelic/heavy rock band from Chiliomodi, Greece. They were formed in the summer of 2006, and since then they have played over 150 live shows, sharing the stage with bands like GRAVEYARD, BRANT BJORK, COLOUR HAZE, KARMA TO BURN and many more. They are known for their commitment to vintage equipment, thick and heavy analog sound and remarkably passionate stage performances.
Chiliomodi (Greek: Χιλιομόδι) is a village in eastern Corinthia,
Peloponnese, Greece. It was the seat of the municipality of Tenea.
Chiliomodi is situated in a valley, 3 km southeast of Koutalas, 5 km
west of Athikia, 15 km southwest of Corinth and 23 km northeast of
Argos. It is on the Greek National Road 7 (Corinth - Argos - Tripoli -
Kalamata) and on the railway from Corinth to Kalamata. Chiliomodi has
several schools, shops and a church. Chiliomodi suffered damage from the
2007 Greek forest fires.
In October 2010, the almighty Billy Anderson visited Greece in order to produce the band’s debut album, while Malleus Rock Art Lab took care of the artwork.
Super Van Vacation was born. In order to promote their debut album, they played 40 shows in 15 countries around Europe, including festivals such as Desertfest, Up In Smoke 3, Rockwave and Lake on Fire.
After two successful European tours, the band was ready to get down to work again. Their experiences and growth paved the way for their latest album, Vultures which was released on the 30th of May 2014.
These Greek rockers in 1000Mods creates some really good music where the undistorted riff sinks deep and hooks you on and drags you down to the gutter deep. It's solid stoner rock that will keep you busy for several hours.
Todays tune "Horse’s Green" is atmospheric piece with its slow and a bit doomy melody. Enjoy!
Upcoming Tourdates:
Apr 15 Savino Larnaca, Cyprus
Apr 27 Ost Pol Dresden, Germany
Apr 28 Roemer Bremen, Germany RSVP Share
Apr 29 Forum Bielefeld, Germany
Apr 30 Kulturbanhof Jena, Germany
May 01 Timmerfabriek Maastricht, Netherlands
May 03 Jh De Bogaard Geel, Belgium
May 08 Das Bett Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
May 09 Vortex Siegen, Germany
May 10 Sedel Luzern, Switzerland
May 11 Feierwerk Munich, Germany
May 12 Kinski Zurich, Switzerland
May 13 Lo Fi Milan, Italy
Greek stoner has quicklystart spreadingon the world map, like an Virus named "Quality". I have found many good bands of this genre that are really infected by this! So I will continue to hand out some cool and good acts for you to discover and all from Greece, I hope that you will enjoy it this week.
45Rats is a three-piece instrumental heavy rock n' roll band, founded in 2008 in Athens-Greece by Chef (guitars, harmonica), Dam (drums, percussions) and Kavaldi (bass). With influences by the 70’s, as well as from modern bands performing that vintage style, compose songs containing heavy and pure fuzzed rock riffs and drived melodies, such as rock n’ roll solos. On December of 2010 the band recorded their 1st self-financed Ep “First Gear” performed Live in studio. On March 2011 the cd comes in 300 copies with handmade covers , which has a positive response from the fans.
At the end of 2012, after many powerful live shows in many different venues around Greece, and sharing the stage with bands like SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT, KADAVAR, RADIO MOSCOW, BABY WOODROSE, ORANGE GOBLIN, MARS RED SKY and with really encouraging critics from all the sides, the band reordered the first full Length Album, titled "Electric", with their music being more powerful and advanced. The opening track and todays tune "Double Cut", of the album was chosen from the American magazine "GQ" as the cover of the promo video of the photo shooting for the actor mr Michael Fassbender. In August of 2013 was released in digital form, end expected to be released in vinyl in the beginning of 2014.
Record/Vinyl
Limited edition 12'' vinyl, comes in 300 copies, in transparent red color.
Includes unlimited streaming of Electric via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
April, Monday and a new week, which means we'll introducethis week's "Record Of The Week", this timewe goina Greektheme.
From Athens, Greece we find the stoner rockers NIGHTSTALKER. A band that have earned a reputation due to their pure Rock ‘n Roll attitude and their constant live activity, and been lauded with the highest praise and respect since their beginning in early 90’s.
The whole concept was realized by the singer (and drummer at that time), Argy, who was the founding member of the band. Together with Andreas (ex ROTTING CHRIST member), who joined in 1992, managed to combine their heavy rock influences with funky rhythms and grunge melodies. With all these elements they released the first EP called ‘SideFx’ in 1994. With the second, but first full length album ‘USE’ (1996), the band established their rich songwriting, the heavy sound that has been their trademark to this day. After a ‘dark era’ with member changes but also an EP release (The Ritual,2000), which was the deepest, darkest psychedelic album they have ever made, the band managed to gain recognition and a new strong fan-base with the release of the ‘Just A Burn’ album. In 2009 the band released the ‘Superfreak’ album through the US ‘historic’ label ‘Meteorcity’. The latest release ‘Dead Rock Commandos’ (2012) came out through ‘Small Stone Records’ and established the band’s name in bigger audience.
Record Of The Week is "Dead Rock Commandos", a full package of heavy andrough rock 'n roll, catchy melodies filled with gritty riffs and stunning electric haze from Tolis Motsios guitar, groovy rhythms, swinging drums of Dinos Roulos and intense bass playing of Andreas Lagios, all merging with the vigorous of Argy’s vocals. This is in album that you should get or at least turn in at Spotify.
Todays tune "Children Of The Sun" is taken from the album "Dead Rock Commandos".
Upcoming Tourdates:
May 16, 2015 Thessaloniki GR Principal
May 02, 2015 Larisa GR Stage
May 01, 2015 Kerkyra GR 7, Texnwn Topos
Apr 30, 2015 Ioannina GR Polyxwros Agora
Apr 25, 2015 Athens GR Gagarin 205
Apr 15, 2015 Trikala GR Kentriki Plateia
Apr 03, 2015 Serres GR EKKO Live
Apr 02, 2015 Skydra (Edessa) GR Stones Rock Bar
Mar 28, 2015 Rethymno GR Perihgitiki Lesxi
Mar 27, 2015 Xania GR Antipolemiko Festival - Parko Eirinis kai Filias
Mar 14, 2015 Rhodes GR Legends
Mar 13, 2015 Rhodes GR Legends
Dec 03, 2015 Nicosia CY Ibiza Night Club
Listen to "Aphrodite's Child- It's 5 O Clock" on Spotify here!
