As in every artistic scene, ours has its fair share of great, mediocre, and poor artists. There are also bands that, for one reason or another, experience a sudden rise and generate considerable hype around their name—sometimes deservedly, sometimes not. However, when genuine quality and widespread acclaim come together, then both the listener and, even more so, the concertgoer should consider themselves fortunate to witness such a combination on stage. GROZA are one such band, and we were lucky to welcome them back to Greece after four long years, armed with their incredible latest album, “Nadir”.
When this dreamlike scenario is accompanied by an equally impressive opening act such as our very own PLAGUE, the experience becomes even better. PLAGUE took the stage shortly before 9:30 PM and, in front of a respectable crowd—especially considering it was the middle of a working week—delivered an outstanding old-school death metal performance featuring material from their sole full-length release to date, “Portraits of Mind”.
It has often been said that DEATH’s influence on PLAGUE is evident, and I can certainly confirm that. Not only in the songwriting, but also in Apostolis Kyriazis’ intricate guitar solos. Behind the drums, Giorgos Karamperis dictated the pace, shifting effortlessly between relentless aggression and mid-tempo passages which, combined with Giorgos Katsanos’ heavy bass lines, created a dense and oppressive atmosphere. Nikos K gave everything on vocals with his abyssal growls, while even a simple “good evening” early in the set sounded like an integral part of the entire horror-inspired performance.
PLAGUE achieved something quite difficult: they were not merely filling a slot on the bill but left a lasting impression and captivated the audience in their own right. We eagerly await their second release, as it would be a real shame for such an exceptional band not to produce new music more frequently.
Setlist
- Portal Into Reality
- Intersperse
- Deranged Madness
- Pandemic
- Cave of Vectors
- Shattering The Illusion
- Mind Control
After the customary break—accompanied by the usual conversations and gatherings in the Gazarte courtyard—it was time for GROZA. The entire visual presentation, with its smoke effects, atmospheric lighting, and the musicians’ masked faces, evoked a dark black metal ritual, with the band setting the pace and the audience following as if hypnotized.
GROZA have the remarkable ability to sound live almost exactly as they do on record. Their performance struck a perfect balance between overwhelming power and crushing atmosphere, further elevated by P.G.’s emotionally charged vocal delivery (read his interview here!). Emotion reached its peak during the closing moments of the show, when P.G. dedicated the magical “Daffodils” to M.S., their former bassist, who passed away unexpectedly around two and a half years ago.
The setlist was more than satisfying, as the band performed “Nadir” in its entirety while also paying tribute to their previous two albums with three additional songs. Many people—including legendary black metal figures such as The Magus—argue that this particular genre of metal either cannot or should not be performed live because it inevitably loses part of its magic. To a large extent, I agree. Nevertheless, GROZA’s performance at Gazarte came remarkably close to demonstrating how a truly immersive black metal ritual could be presented on stage. And they deserve full credit for that.
Setlist
- Soul: Inert (Intro)
- Asbest
- Ouroboros
- Elegance of Irony
- The Redemptive End
- Equal. Silent. Cold.
- Dysthymian Dreams
- Homewards
- Deluge
- Daffodils
The evening came to an end shortly after 11:30 PM, with an ecstatic and visibly satisfied crowd chanting the band’s name in unison. I have a feeling their next visit to Greece will come much sooner than the four years it took them to return this time—perhaps in support of their next album, which is expected sometime in 2027.
P.S. I also learned a valuable lesson on Wednesday night: never leave merch shopping until the end of the show. By the intermission between the two bands, a large portion of the merchandise had already sold out.
Live Correspondent: Kostas Boudoukos
