The second day of Golden R Festival 2026 was the one most eagerly anticipated by the majority of the audience and, judging by the impressions it left behind, it fully lived up to the high expectations. Many attendees described it as one of the finest festival experiences ever hosted by a regional event in Greece.
The crowd started arriving early, noticeably larger compared to the first day, confirming the strong appeal of the lineup. PASSENGERS IN PANIC were the first to get on stage and delivered a dynamic and energetic performance with their modern sound enriched by strong elements of Greek traditional music. Vocalist Ioanna once again proved to be one of the band’s strongest assets, while the entire group showed that neither the high temperatures nor the demanding midday sun could affect their performance.
Their latest album “Amnesia”, the release that firmly placed them on the map of the contemporary metal scene, formed the backbone of their set, while “Kaixis” stood out as one of the highlights of their appearance, perfectly representing their unique sound and diverse influences.
Setlist
- Intro
- Echoes of Death
- Amnesia
- Erase Me
- Kaixis
- Shipwreck
- Outro
Another band arriving in Volos with an excellent new album in their luggage was Athens-based AMONGRUINS, who took over the stage next. Their melodic death metal, with clear Swedish influences, might have benefited from a later slot in the day’s running order, but AMONGRUINS gave everything they had, seemingly making the sun disappear over Nea Anchialos and forcing the audience into relentless headbanging.
Interestingly, the backbone of their performance came from their penultimate album “Land of the Black Sun” rather than the more recent “Advent of Chaos”. Within their limited stage time, they managed to cover different chapters of their career, offering a representative glimpse of their musical journey. It is safe to assume that those unfamiliar with the band before this performance will be seeking out their music and looking forward to future, longer appearances.
Setlist
- Tear Me Apart
- Advent of Chaos
- Bury the Ghost
- Suffer for Credence
- End of My Fall
- Wells of Wall
A particularly unique addition to this year’s lineup were TRI STATE CORNER, an international band featuring musicians from Germany, Poland, and Greece, who have developed a distinctive sound they themselves describe as “Bouzouki Rock.”
The fact that RAGE drummer Vassilis Maniatopoulos is also the vocalist of TRI STATE CORNER certainly helped justify their inclusion in the day’s lineup, and the band ultimately proved that the choice was a successful one. The absence of bassist Marcus Berger was covered through pre-recorded parts, maintaining the band’s sound and overall cohesion.
Their combination of rock, metal, and folk influences may have differed noticeably from the rest of the day’s musical direction, but the musicians’ high level of technical ability and the authenticity of their approach successfully captured the attention of the audience.
Setlist
- Faster
- Nothing at All
- Free Prison
- Schemer
- Run Away
- Hypocrisia
- Sooner or Later
- Kapia Stigmi
- Tommorowland
- Daydreamer
The next act represented the fresh blood of the festival, with ARYSITHIAN BLADE making a strong impression through their debut album “Iriath”. The band has created an entire fantasy world filled with heroes and legends, successfully transferring that epic atmosphere to the stage.
Performing the album in its entirety was the natural choice, as “Iriath” functions as a complete story rather than simply a collection of individual songs. Vocalist Christos Papadakis and guitarist Giannis Aktypis complemented each other perfectly, while bassist Petros Vasileiadis provided the necessary depth and weight to their sound.
Their appearance at Golden R Festival represented an important milestone for a band that clearly has a promising future ahead. The next challenge will be to capitalize on the momentum and attention generated by “Iriath”.
Setlist
- Iriath
- Riders of Nimir
- Crescent of the Two Moons
- Dragonsword
- Temple of Obsidian Moonlight
- Arysithian Blade
- The Crystal of Eaaren Zynn in the Name of Eseth
While ARYSITHIAN BLADE have only been active for a few years, the next band represents a living piece of Greek metal history. Athens veterans FLAMES returned to the Golden R stage to settle unfinished business from 2024, when a storm had prematurely interrupted their performance.
This time, they delivered in spectacular fashion. With twelve high-speed tracks, they took the audience on a journey through their entire career. From the legendary 1980s albums “Summon The Dead” (1988) and “Last Prophecy” (1989), to their modern era with “Resurgence” (2022) and “Frequency of Illusion” (2025), FLAMES left nothing behind and perfectly prepared the ground for what was to follow.
Christos, Thomas, and Andy, alongside the newer member, the drummer Nikos, reminded everyone what true passion and unconditional love for heavy metal means, proving that time cannot diminish genuine dedication.
Setlist
- Revenge
- Red Terror
- Mercy Denied
- Lightbringer
- Crawl Beyond
- Deathra
- Summon the Dead
- Legions of Death
- Jesus Christ
- I’m Dressed in Black Suede
- Thrashin’ Beer
- Eastern Front
Last year, CORONER surprised the entire metal world with “Dissonance Theory”, an album that reached the top positions of numerous year-end lists. Thirty-two years was a long absence, but CORONER had never truly been forgotten by their fans, and when they returned sounding fresher than ever, the response was overwhelming.
In Volos, it was immediately clear that a large portion of the audience had travelled specifically to see them, with attendance comfortably surpassing the four-digit mark. Despite some minor technical issues, the Swiss legends delivered a commanding performance, covering five of their six studio albums (with only their debut “R.I.P.” absent), while placing special emphasis on their latest release.
During “Masked Jackal”, many fans in their fifties may have found themselves reflecting on how quickly time passes, while “Renewal” served as a reminder that creativity and activity have no age limit. After all, there is something truly special about growing older alongside the bands we have loved and followed for decades.
With new shows already announced for Athens and Thessaloniki in the autumn, fans will soon have another opportunity to experience this legendary band live.
Setlist
- Oxymoron
- Consequence
- Sacrificial Lamb
- Divine Step
- Serpent Moves
- Masked Jackal
- Symmetry
- Semtex Revolution
- Metamorphosis
- Grin
- Renewal
- Die by My Hand
RAGE were never among my personal first musical choices, but what they created on the Golden R stage together with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra was something truly unique.
The festival stage was filled with members of the Volos Symphony Orchestra and conductor Pepe Herrero, creating an exceptional sonic experience. In front of them stood Peter Wagner, wearing a Rethymno Rock T-shirt, who performed the entire show seated due to mobility issues. This, however, had absolutely no impact on either his performance or his enthusiasm.
The set focused heavily on the iconic “XIII” (1998), while also featuring songs from several different eras of the band’s career. Despite the ambitious nature of the project, the result was outstanding. The sound was flawless, the musicians perfectly synchronized, and the RAGE songs gained an additional emotional and cinematic weight that suited them perfectly.
Without a doubt, it was a unique experience for everyone—both on stage and in the audience. The only ones who missed something truly special were those who left after the CORONER performance and failed to witness the final chapter of the evening.
Setlist
- Overture
- From the Cradle to the Grave
- Cold Desire
- Alive but Dead
- Memento Vitae
- Resurrection Day
- Back in Time
- Over and Over
- Empty Hollow
- Sign of Heaven
- Incomplete
- Turn the Page
- Days of December
- Higher than the Sky
And so the second day of Golden R Festival 2026 came to a triumphant conclusion. The massive attendance made the experience even more memorable, while the minor sound issues did not significantly affect the overall impression.
The food and beverage supply issues had been resolved, and the weather conditions remained manageable, helped greatly by the venue’s proximity to the sea.
Golden R Festival had already delivered one of the most important days in its history — with the third and final day still waiting to unfold.
Live Correspondent: Napoleon Gkouvis
Photos: Sofia Bali
Text edit: Kostas Boudoukos
