Pantheist are a Belgium-based band formed by Greek musician Kostas Panagiotou, pioneers of the funeral doom metal genre. For over two decades, they have blended crushing heaviness with atmospheric and progressive elements, creating music that is both dark and deeply emotional. Known for their philosophical themes and boundary-pushing sound, Pantheist remain a unique voice in the international metal scene.
Regarding their compilation release “25 Years of Pantheïsm,” Joanna Gonas reached out to the band to discuss all their latest news.
Jo: Welcome, and thank you for joining us!
Kostas: Thank you for featuring us in your magazine!
Jo: Could each of you introduce yourselves, detailing your role in Pantheist and one unique aspect of your musical journey that you bring to the band?
Sure. Anno 2025 Pantheist are:
Kostas: vocalist and keyboardist, songwriter and driving force for the last 25 years
Atanas: guitarist and bringer of heavy riffs and deep sorrow. Man of few, carefully chosen words.
Matt: bassist and calm, reliable force. Appreciation of rhythmic nuances and timekeeping consistency
Fanel: batters the drums relentlessly, creating full and deep echoes of DOOM. Band’s extrovert and networker
Linda: soprano singer and music professional. Brings flair and much needed Anima to the collective.
Jo: Your band’s name, Pantheist, is very distinctive. Could you tell us what it means to you and why you chose it?
Kostas: I always found the philosophy of pantheism very appealing. The inspiration for the band name really came from the band Atheist. I thought, if they can bring their world philosophy and general outlook into their music, so can I. It also gives me the opportunity to create a grand, holistic vision for my sound, which would have been much more problematic with a more extreme band name.
Jo: If Pantheist’s music were to be translated into a visual art form, what medium would best capture its essence?
Kostas: That’s a good question. Maybe photography would capture it best. Possibly some mystical, atmospheric photograph that captures a reality, but does it in a way which makes you question it.
Jo: Your recent release, Kings Must Die, presents a distinct evolution in your sound. What inspired this shift, and how do you feel it reflects the band’s current artistic vision?”
Kostas: I wanted to create something more accessible, especially with the addition of our soprano singer Linda.
I felt the melody was strong and had a certain pompous quality to it, so I invited Jake from my previous band Landskap to do the clean vocals as I could not imagine someone else singing the track.
Once all ideas were weaved together we ended up with a composition which almost lasts for a quarter of an hour, so much for trying to be accessible!
I think the track flows well from beginning to the end, and I’m pretty fond of the way it captured the socio-political climate of that time.
I found and still find that disconnect between the people who are born into privilege and think they have a god given right to rule over us the common people, quite disconcerting. The rest of the EP is filled with the recordings of an amazing gig we played at Huddersfield Town Hall accompanied by a pipe organist. It was a truly unique experience.
Jo: How do you perceive the relationship between silence and sound in your compositions?
Kostas: I perceive it as completely natural. The compositions are loud when they have to be, and quiet when they need to be. I don’t believe that sound and silence are two different things, it’s all a perception of our brains at the end of the day. When it’s quiet, we still hear the ramblings of our internal organs in the background.
Jo: If your music could evoke a specific weather phenomenon, what would it be and why?
Kostas: Maybe it could evoke petrichor, that scent of rain that’s still up in the air following the first rain after a dry period.
Jo: In what ways do you think your cultural backgrounds influence the band’s sound and themes?
Kostas: My Greek background has had a direct influence on many compositions, I think it’s pretty apparent on tracks such as Don’t Mourn, Unknown Land and The Loss of Innocence. At the moment, Pantheist has members that are Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Irish and Welsh/Italian. We are proud to incorporate all these cultural backgrounds and I encourage everyone to be themselves and bring that part of their own cultural connection to the band.
Jo: If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and what would you aim to create together?
Kostas: It’s never gonna happen, but I would have loved to collaborate with J.S. Bach, Ennio Morricone and Vangelis as they have all been massive influences on my musical education.
Jo: How do you approach the balance between personal expression and the collective identity of the band?
Kostas: Very easily as I write most of the music. I’m fussy about the general direction but not as fussy about the detail of the arrangements, so that’s where the collective identity comes in as we create the songs together.
Jo: What role does nature play in your music, both thematically and sonically?
Kostas: A very important one. Nature is an endless source of inspiration, both for my mental wellbeing and as a direct inspiration for my music, lyrics and general philosophy. A number of my lyrics directly reference the idea of getting lost in nature and the wilderness as a way of finding your true self.
Jo: If you could soundtrack a film or documentary, what genre would it be and how would your music fit?
Kostas: Maybe some folk horror film. Because that genre is mysterious, atmospheric, a bit weird, obsessed with religion, God and the Devil and nature loving. All attributes that fit perfectly to the band and its sound!
Jo: How do you navigate the evolution of your sound while staying true to your roots?
Kostas: I learned not to worry about these things over the years. The sound evolves, but no matter how much it changes, it always sounds like Pantheist; therefore I have no concerns and do whatever I feel inspired to do.
Jo: What is the most unexpected source of inspiration you’ve drawn from for your music?
Kostas: I have recently travelled to Panama and got absolutely obsessed by a funny, weird looking bird I saw and heard, called the laughing falcon. It has a strange mating call that sounds like a mad laughter, ever increasing in volume like a feedback loop. It really felt like it was laughing at us stupid humans. There is a track about that bird which will be featured on the new album.
Jo: How do you envision the future of funeral doom metal, and where do you see Pantheist within that vision?
Kostas: I don’t think much about the future of funeral doom metal, I have lost my interest in the genre many years ago. We do what we like to do and if people think it’s funeral doom, then it’s fine. But our vision seems far removed from the other bands that call themselves funeral doom nowadays.
Jo: If your music could be experienced in a non-traditional setting, where would it be and how would the environment enhance the experience?
Kostas: Not sure how you would define a non traditional setting. We have played several gigs in a church building, which fits the band’s sound and look perfectly but I wouldn’t call it non traditional as many metal bands have done something similar. I would like to play in a castle one day, that would be really cool. There are a lot of castles here in Wales where I live.
Jo: Pantheist has a dedicated following in Greece. Have you considered performing there, and what kind of experience would you aim to create for your Greek audience?
Kostas: As a matter of fact, we performed at An Club in Athens back in 2013 as guests of our friends Daylight Misery. It was great playing in my home country and I would love to do it again, as I know that we have many followers there and our music has a deep connection to my own cultural roots. I have of course also played several times in Greece with my previous band Crippled Black Phoenix who are very popular there.
Jo: “Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your insights with us. We wish you the best with your current and future projects, and hope to see Pantheist live soon!”
Kostas: It’s an absolute pleasure. Thank you for the thought provoking questions!
Interview – text editing
Joanna Gonas
https://www.metalwar.gr/
https://pantheistuk.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/Pantheistuk
https://www.instagram.com/pantheistband/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Pantheistuk
