The first all-metal day of this year’s Release Athens Festival turned out to be one of the most emotional live events in recent memory. The bill featured a long-awaited Greek debut alongside two farewells—or rather, one definite goodbye and one that remains open to interpretation.
The “welcome” belonged to SYLOSIS, who finally made their first-ever appearance in Greece while enjoying one of the strongest creative periods of their career, backed by the outstanding “The New Flesh”. On the other hand, SEPULTURA played what is expected to be their final Greek show as part of their farewell tour, while MEGADETH still leave room for hope. After all, Dave Mustaine himself has stated that the band’s final touring cycle is expected to continue for several more years.
SYLOSIS had the difficult task of opening the festival early in the evening. At 6:30 p.m., the first notes of “Beneath the Surface” echoed across Plateia Nerou, setting the tone for a set heavily focused on their new album, with five of the eight songs coming from that.
Surprisingly, a sizeable crowd had already gathered in front of the stage, and it was one of those rare occasions where the energy was palpable from the very first minutes. A large mosh pit erupted almost immediately, while Josh Middleton’s relentless encouragement soon led to several impressive walls of death.
It’s not often that a band gets such an overwhelming reaction to brand-new material. “All Glory, No Valour”, midway through the set, sparked absolute chaos once the crowd had fully warmed up—both literally and figuratively.
That says a lot. On one hand, it confirms that “The New Flesh” already deserves a place among the year’s finest metal releases. On the other, it suggests that many Greek fans actually discovered SYLOSIS through this very album.
If there was one thing everyone could agree on, it was that SYLOSIS should have visited Greece much sooner. Judging by the reception they received, it would be no surprise to see them return very soon, perhaps this time for a headline club show at Floyd. Before leaving the stage, the band also paid tribute to the two legendary acts that would follow, although their admiration appeared to lean slightly more towards SEPULTURA.
Setlist
- Beneath the Surface
- Erased
- Poison for the Lost
- Lacerations
- All Glory, No Valour
- Mirror, Mirror
- Deadwood
- The New Flesh
By 8:45 p.m., it was time for the night’s first farewell. As Derrick Green and company took the stage, one couldn’t help but imagine the members of SYLOSIS watching their heroes from backstage as SEPULTURA delivered what is likely to be their final performance in Greece before a devoted audience that has supported them for decades despite the long-standing absence of the Cavalera brothers.
There was some criticism, however, particularly regarding the setlist. Fitting the band’s entire legacy into fifteen songs was always going to be impossible, but choosing to play three of the four tracks from their latest—and arguably underwhelming—EP felt like an odd decision that disrupted the show’s momentum.
Still, once classics like “Inner Self,” “Dead Embryonic Cells,” the unstoppable pairing of “Territory” and “Refuse/Resist” from the legendary “Chaos A.D.”, and finally “Roots Bloody Roots” arrived, everyone was reminded why SEPULTURA remain one of the most influential names in extreme metal.
Derrick Green delivered another commanding vocal performance, Andreas Kisser reminded everyone how much his presence had been missed during the band’s previous Greek appearance, while veteran bassist Paulo Xisto provided the familiar backbone that has always characterized SEPULTURA’s sound.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came from 24-year-old drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who stepped into the enormous shoes left by Eloy Casagrande two years ago and looked completely at home. He has all the makings of becoming one of metal’s next great drummers, and it will certainly be interesting to see where his career takes him once SEPULTURA finally call it a day.
After roughly seventy minutes, the Brazilian legends took their final bow before the Greek metal community. On nights like these, strict criticism feels somewhat pointless. The historical significance of the occasion speaks louder than any review ever could.
Setlist
- Inner Self
- All Souls Rising
- Desperate Cry
- Kairos
- Means to an End
- Attitude
- The Place
- Kaiowas (guest percussion)
- Dead Embryonic Cells
- Beyond the Dream
- Territory
- Refuse/Resist
- Arise
- Ratamahatta
- Roots Bloody Roots
Then came the night’s second “farewell”—or perhaps not.
MEGADETH seem to be enjoying something of a second youth. Had it not been for Dave Mustaine’s well-documented health struggles, one can’t help but wonder what else the band could have provided to metal community.
The show opened with “Tipping Point”, taken from their latest album, before quickly moving into a relentless barrage of classics. Every song seemed to trigger another wave of excitement from the audience. “Hangar 18,” “Wake Up Dead,” and “Sweating Bullets” ignited the crowd early on, followed by fan favorites such as “Skin o’ My Teeth,” “Mechanix,” and, of course, the devastating one-two punch of “Tornado of Souls” and “Peace Sells.” Their only downside was reminding everyone that the end of the evening was drawing near.
The crowd also erupted during the band’s cover of METALLICA’s “Ride the Lightning,” which felt like Mustaine’s own way of acknowledging—and perhaps revisiting—that chapter of his musical history.
Unlike SEPULTURA’s newer material, songs such as “I Don’t Care” and “Let There Be Shred” blended seamlessly into the flow of the set without disrupting the atmosphere.
The encore was entirely predictable, yet no less satisfying. “Symphony of Destruction” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” lifted Plateia Nerou into the air one final time. Before leaving the stage, Mustaine dropped a small bombshell by telling the audience that this wasn’t necessarily the end—a statement that echoed the rumours already circulating among fans. We’ll see. After all, 2028 isn’t that far away.
There were also several moments during the performance when I simply stood still, smiling quietly as I watched the breathtaking guitar interplay between Mustaine and Teemu Mäntysaari. Pure perfection.
After all, a MEGADETH concert has always been more of a guitar masterclass than a vocal showcase. Mustaine’s voice has never been the band’s strongest asset, and nowadays the audience happily fills in whatever he leaves unsung.
Setlist
- Tipping Point
- Hangar 18
- Wake Up Dead
- Sweating Bullets
- I Don’t Care
- Angry Again
- Skin o’ My Teeth
- Hook in Mouth
- Trust
- Puppet Parade
- Mechanix
- Ride the Lightning (METALLICA cover)
- Let There Be Shred
- Tornado of Souls
- Peace Sells
Encore
16. Symphony of Destruction
17. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due
By around 11:30 p.m., the curtain had fallen, leaving behind a bittersweet feeling that an era is slowly coming to an end. The bands that shaped heavy metal throughout the 1980s and 1990s are gradually stepping away, leaving enormous shoes to fill.
One of the most common conversations at concerts these days revolves around who will inherit that legacy. The obvious answer is often GOJIRA, but the way people consume music today has fundamentally changed. It’s difficult to imagine a band formed in the 2000s achieving the same lasting cultural impact as the giants of previous generations.
And yet, one thing seems almost certain. Even in 2050, metal fans will still be screaming at the top of their lungs:
“Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?”
Live Correspondent: Kostas Boudoukos
Photos: Release Athens Festival
