Live Report: Demidead, Risabov, Ktinos (Temple – Athens, Greece 4/9/2026)

The 2026-2027 season got off to a strong start at Temple, with Italian death metallers DEMIDEAD visiting Greece for the first time, bringing with them their excellent debut album, “WarAgainstOurselves.” Joining them were two particularly interesting Greek bands, KTINOS and RISABOV, forming a line-up that covered a broad spectrum of extreme metal.

The night was opened by black metallers KTINOS, who had created an impressive stage setup at Temple, resembling a cemetery. Railings decorated with flowers, a tombstone and the smell of incense blended perfectly with the utterly dark music of KTINOS, whose setlist was based on their EP “YourDeathwish,” released approximately a year ago, as well as songs that, judging by their presentation, appear to be destined for their next release.

In contrast to the elaborate stage setup, the band’s presence on stage was stripped-down and understated. Very few words, limited movement and an absolute focus on the music. This approach worked perfectly, further intensifying the frozen and ominous atmosphere inside Temple – and, truth be told, the venue’s temperature could easily have transported us to a frozen forest somewhere in Norway.

Without a doubt, KTINOS are one of the most interesting acts in the Greek underground metal scene, which is, after all, both rich and thriving.

Setlist

1. Intro (River Styx)
2. The Dawn That Human Felt
3. Slaughtered Spirits
4. Huntress
5. Betrayal
6. Chaotic Infinite
7. Damnor
8. The Arcane Soul
9. Eternal

Next up were Athens-based RISABOV, a band carrying almost 20 years of experience, as well as two full-length albums, the latest being “LightYearsTowardsImpact,” released in 2024.

The first thing that stands out about RISABOV is just how full and massive their sound is, despite the fact that they consist of only three members. Their compositions possess density, weight and a variety of musical influences without being confined within the narrow boundaries of a single genre.

Death, thrash and progressive elements coexist under a broader post-metal aesthetic, creating a distinctive sonic result that fitted perfectly with the overall atmosphere of the evening. Special mention must be made of Max’s guitar work, while the extended instrumental passages gave the compositions enough room to develop and reveal all their different facets.

Setlist

1. What If Time
2. Inner State
3. Outer State
4. Directive 4
5. Dreaming Infinity
6. Static Sunset
7. Rise Above
8. Sanction

Shortly before 23:00, it was time for the Italians DEMIDEAD, who truly filled the stage with their imposing presence. Their set was based exclusively on their debut full-length, “War Against Ourselves,” which they performed almost in its entirety, with only “Only One Thing” – presumably due to time constraints – left out.

With their impressive face painting and mysterious lighting, DEMIDEAD maintained the atmosphere established by the two previous bands and further enhanced it with their own distinctive style.

At the center of the performance was the band’s excellent vocalist and bassist, Danilo Mazzei, the only founding member who remains in the line-up to this day. Mazzei had no trouble delivering both the extremely fast-paced tracks, such as “RevelationWithin,” and the more straightforward thrash-oriented songs like “Incarnation of Death” with equal power and theatricality.

One of the most memorable moments of the show came when guitarist Dave stepped down from the stage and played among the audience for a few minutes, creating a direct connection with the metalheads who had turned up to support the band.

Overall, much like RISABOV, DEMIDEAD do not limit themselves to a single musical genre, incorporating plenty of modern elements into their more old-school death and thrash foundations. And they do so in a very interesting way, one that translates particularly well to the live environment.

Setlist

1. The Dawn of Our War
2. 5 2 Rise
3. Everything Burns
4. When My Demons Overcome
5. Pollution Eden
6. Incarnation of Death
7. Rorschach Test
8. War Against Ourselves
9. Revelation Within

The only real downside of the evening was the limited turnout. It is, after all, difficult for a foreign band that has yet to establish a solid fanbase in Greece to attract a large audience, particularly during a period when the live calendar is packed with events.

Nevertheless, this did not seem to affect any of the three bands. And perhaps this is ultimately one of the most authentic aspects of the underground metal scene. Musicians take the stage because they love what they do and want to share it with their audience, whether there are 30 people or 3,000 standing in front of them.

That is the magic of Metal music, and the underground scene continues to keep that magic alive.

Correspondent / Photos: Kostas Boudoukos