ZABRAHANA at Metalwar

They released their debut EP in early 2025, are gathering experience on stage, and are now preparing for the next steps. Meet the Thessaloniki-based progressive metallers ZABRAHANA, whom we spoke to on the occasion of their live show in Thessaloniki with FADING ECHOES and DOGS IN CHARGE.

Metalwar: Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Metalwar.gr. I have been following you since the beginning of your career and wanted to have the opportunity to talk to you. So, first of all, I would like you to introduce yourselves.

Zabrahana: Good evening! Thank you very much for the invitation. We are ZABRAHANA from Thessaloniki. We are a band that started as a quartet, but we have now welcomed another member on guitar.

Metalwar: I think the first question is obvious. What exactly does ZABRAHANA mean? I searched for it quite a bit, to be honest, but I couldn’t figure it out.

Zabrahana: We were expecting that question, but that’s our secret. As our motto says… “Embrace the enigma.” What we can say, however, is that the word is real. Maybe we should hold a contest and whoever finds it wins something. A private live show, for example.

Metalwar: Food for thought for our readers, then. Your music is probably best described as progressive, but it’s very unique. How would you describe it?

Zabrahana: It does indeed move within the boundaries of progressive, between rock and metal. Let’s say that the production of our EP came out more metal, but in general we are within that spectrum.

Metalwar: What are your influences? Both individually and as a band.

Zabrahana: Our influences cover a very wide spectrum of progressive music. Starting from the 70s up to modern bands. Everyone brings their influences to the table. But not so much musically. Let’s say that all the albums we like become a vehicle for emotion that comes out in our own music. We’ve discussed this many times among ourselves. Where we are musically, but in the end it doesn’t really matter to define yourself in any way. After all, as musicians we evolve, so our next songs may be something different. Our influences are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives and they are actually enriched. Many times you need to look back or look ahead. Something classic or something modern. And all of this brings out something creative. I think that’s how we write our songs. Everyone brings something of their character, and ultimately we have the result that people will hear. Labeling doesn’t make much sense.

Metalwar: I agree. Its only use is perhaps for someone who doesn’t know your music, so they can get an idea of what they’ll hear if they listen to your album.

Zabrahana: Exactly. After all, we don’t listen to everything. So you can reject something you know you won’t like without having to waste time. But that’s as far as it goes. Of course, it’s good for every musician to be influenced by different genres. To know what’s going on in the world of fusion or jazz and be able to take ideas and incorporate them into progressive music. In the world of conventional rock and metal, everything has been played to a large extent. So it’s good to be able to put something in your music that will attract interest. We try to do that. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t and we discard it. There’s no need for exaggeration.

Metalwar: That’s true. We’ve seen bands mix metal with traditional music, jazz, etc.

Zabrahana: But it has to come out naturally and not seem intentional or planned. That’s what fusion music is all about, as we mentioned earlier. It started many years ago and did exactly that. It brought together different genres of music and eventually became a genre on its own . Perhaps rock and metal music are a little behind in this regard. It’s not enough to just use a new musical instrument. More work is needed in this area.

Metalwar: There are indeed quite a few listeners who want their music to be “pure,” if I may say so.

Zabrahana: This is not only true in our genre. There are jazz musicians, for example, who will be upset if they hear anything other than the classic instruments of a jazz band.

Metalwar: Let’s move on to your first EP, “Whales Dream In Purple.” Is there a theme behind it? The truth is that it struck me as a fairly cohesive EP.

Zabrahana: There is no theme in the sense that we usually mean it. In fact, even the composition of the songs was done in different ways. Either there was an initial riff and we started from that, or there were the lyrics and then the music came in. There is a common mindset in how storytelling is approached in each song, but there is no common character or theme. Each song tells its own story.

Metalwar: Why did you decide to release an EP first instead of a full album?

Zabrahana: The truth is that we already have more songs ready, but as a new band we decided to release something small, something cohesive. We wanted to start with a quick step so we could get going and see where we stand. The EP may have been released in 2025, but there was a lot of groundwork done beforehand, there were meetings, discussions, processes. So we thought it would be a shame to wait any longer until we had enough material for a complete album. Many new bands start with complete albums and struggle in various areas. So we decided to test our strength, see what the future holds, and take it from there.

Metalwar: The EP was released in February, but in September you released a second version titled “Whales Sing In Purple,” which is essentially a live studio performance of the songs. Why did you make that decision?

Zabrahana: The idea for something like this existed from early on. In fact, we initially wanted to do a live stream, but there were some technical difficulties and it didn’t happen in the end. The reason we did it was because we wanted people who don’t have the opportunity to see us live to get an idea of who we are. Of course, it’s not the same as being in the same venue as the audience, but we decided to bridge that gap. We wanted them to get to know us as we really are. With our mistakes, our imperfections… as someone would see us live, not behind a polished production.

Metalwar: Are there any plans to release a full-length album in the near future?

Zabrahana: There are no specific plans or deadlines. For now, we are preparing to play live in Thessaloniki. We are rehearsing, putting together the setlist, and we will also present 1-2 new songs that are almost ready. But we don’t have anything definite to announce about the next album yet. There is new material, we are working on it to see where it will take us, we are trying things out to see if they fit, and when we are happy with what we have, we will release it for people to hear. After all, it’s a period of adjustment since there’s a fifth member, as we said earlier, so we have to find our footing. What we have planned though is releasing “Whales Sing In Purple” in digital format on Bandcamp because, at the moment, it is only available on YouTube.

Metalwar: If I’m not mistaken, you don’t cooperate with a label, right?

Zabrahana: Correct. The EP is self-financed and everything was DIY. From production and management to PR, we do everything ourselves.

Metalwar: Let’s move on to live show, which is one of the main reasons we are talking today. First, I want you to tell me what you’ve done so far. What is your experience as a band so far?

Zabrahana: Yes, we’ve all played a few gigs together. We performed at an open-air festival in Giannitsa and at some local venues in Thessaloniki. At least the few that are still open. We also did an acoustic live performance on radio station 1055. An interview and an acoustic live performance together, that is.

Metalwar: Of course, as I understand it, you all had your own experiences before ZABRAHANA.

Zabrahana: Yes, we had all made our attempts in the past, but a combination of coincidences and good timing led to the creation of this band. And above all, we put the human factor into this endeavor. We want to be able to get along well with each other. We’ve worked hard on that. We hang out outside of the band, we’ve gone on vacations together, trips, we went to Bulgaria to see PAIN OF SALVATION together. We’ve had drinks together. In general, we really want this bond. When there are 4-5 people in a band, you have to be able to get along with the others. You spend time with the band members and, let’s be honest, we all have our own lives, so when you put music at the top of your priorities, you want to hang out with people you appreciate. This is also a problem that causes many efforts to fail. We have so many obligations in our daily lives, so we can’t spend the time we devote to the band with people we don’t like. For example, when we have a rehearsal, we all look forward to getting together, hanging out, and playing our music.

Metalwar: Let’s talk a little about your upcoming live show with FADING ECHOES and DOGS IN CHARGE. Tell me some details about this particular live show.

Zabrahana: We will be at Rover in Thessaloniki on Sunday, November 2, with the other two bands you mentioned. It is part of the tour currently being organized by FADING ECHOES, who will visit several cities to promote their album, “Shadow Of Another.” We met Dimitris from FADING ECHOES about six months ago and discussed playing together at some point because we are musically similar. So, when he was preparing the tour, we talked and he invited us to one of the five dates to open the concert for them. We will also be joined by DOGS IN CHARGE, who are friends of ours and we have played together before. They are also a new band, very strong. They also play progressive music, but with more of a psychedelic element compared to us and FADING ECHOES. They recently released a new single (“Mora”), so it’s worth checking them out too. We hope to have a good time and listen to some great music, as we believe we have put together a very cohesive line-up. We will also have merch, of course.

Metalwar: Are there any plans to come to Athens at some point?

Zabrahana: There are no plans in terms of a specific date, but we definitely want to play in Athens. There have been discussions from time to time, but nothing has been finalized yet. Regarding the live show in Thessaloniki, we should also mention that it will be the debut of our new guitarist. It will be the first time that our songs will be heard with two guitars, and we have also worked more on the visual aspect of our performance. Of course, as we said earlier, we will also play two new songs that are still in their initial form, but in any case, new material will be heard.

Metalwar: Since we are talking about concerts, I would like to ask you for your opinion on something as residents of Thessaloniki. For many years, we have been hearing that there are not many concerts, festivals, etc. in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece in general. Recently, we have seen many good efforts, such as Rockwave in Katerini or the very strong Mammothfest this year. Are things really better, and if so, do you think Northern Greece can support such events?

Zabrahana: There will always be complaints. It’s the easy thing to do, but it’s sad to see. For example, we went to Principal in 2017 to see SOEN and there were 150 of us. It was enough to make you want to bang your head against the wall. That’s not how you build a reputation for your city, so it’s logical that bands choose not to come. Now Bulgaria is also organizing big festivals, not because they’re metalheads, but because the people there support them. Let’s hope that what you mentioned before is the beginning of a change in the situation because we have missed the big festivals not only in Thessaloniki but also in other cities such as Kozani and elsewhere. A momentum is beginning to build, and I hope it continues because we need it. Unfortunately, the number of venues is decreasing and there are only a few left.

Metalwar: I think this is a general phenomenon. The same thing is happening in Athens. Mostly the small venues have closed, and there are a few large ones left that cannot support new and small bands.

Zabrahana: Exactly. There are also many technical issues that entrepreneurs have to deal with. Of course, they run their businesses and want to make a profit. There are also additional obstacles from other issues such as bureaucracy and many procedures that complicate the situation. Of course, everything must be done according to the law and in favor of the employee, but perhaps a more flexible legislative framework should be found that suits the field because not all professional fields are the same. Of course, it’s all a matter of political will. They are simply not interested in art.

Metalwar: Another topic I would like to discuss has to do with new trends in music, such as the platforms bandcamp, spotify, etc., which we mentioned earlier. I know you have profiles on all of them. Are they really helpful for artists, or are they a necessary evil in the end?

Zabrahana: Yes, we do have profiles everywhere. That’s how it usually works. You sign a contract with a company that works with all these platforms, and then if you’re not interested in one, you just opt out. It’s something that concerns us as a band. There are many objections, but on the other hand, people need to get to know our music somehow. It’s basically a double-edged sword. Consumers benefit because they have access to everything, whether it’s big artists or smaller bands. And we get the opportunity to promote our work and put our name alongside big artists. On the other hand, these platforms are clearly designed to suck the creativity out of us and exploit our passion for music for profit, of course. This is evident from the stance they have taken in various legal disputes, which is always against the artists. Obviously, not all of them are the same, but in general, it is the artists themselves who suffer. We want people to be able to listen to us, as I said, and consumers want access, but at the end of the day, at some point, a line may need to be drawn that satisfies the ethical side as well. We try to support the platforms that help us the most, such as Bandcamp. That’s why we’re releasing “Whales Sing in Purple” only there, since the model it operates on is somewhat better for the artist. It is indicative of the situation what record company executives used to say, that music could be very profitable if musicians weren’t in the middle.

Metalwar: Who, of course, should ideally be at the center of this whole industry.

Zabrahana: At least in the past, companies were ran by producers who knew music, listened to music, and were willing to take risks to promote a band and invest money in it. Just based on their intuition and what they heard. Even today, there are independent, self-managed companies run by musicians, such as The Ocean, which operates more or less as musicians envisioned within a capitalist framework, but as fairly as possible.

Metalwar: Recently, however, there have been moves by big bands that have more influence which left spotify for example because of the involvement of Spotify’s CEO in a company that makes military drones. Do you see anything changing?

Zabrahana: People understand what is happening, but the issue is to have a truly organized and massive response, and that is the difficult part. It is very difficult because we are now talking about a global phenomenon, not something local. When Taylor Swift pulled her entire catalog from Spotify five years ago, she eventually returned to Spotify after regaining her rights. We’ll see where this whole thing goes. In any case, we miss the days a little after piracy boom and before Spotify, when consumers could buy an MP3 for a dollar and keep the file. Now we pay a subscription to Spotify, but in essence we have nothing. If you don’t have internet, you don’t have music. Perhaps only Bandcamp continues to do this to a certain extent. The golden age, of course, was the era of vinyl and cassette tapes.

Metalwar: Perhaps we, the fans of metal and rock music have maintained this pattern to some extent. That is, we will buy the CD and we will buy the vinyl, which has come back into fashion in recent years. But you can’t rely on those alone. Another topic I want to discuss is the use of artificial intelligence in music, both in terms of composition and the rest of the package. How do you see this?

Zabrahana: Regarding composition, there are bands with members who have never picked up a musical instrument. And yet they have hundreds of thousands of streams. So, first of all, let’s say that we are against the use of AI in music creation. We are musicians, so we want everything we produce to come from our own hands. Of course, we should explain how all this works to a large extent. These particular songs come from material whose copyright belong to artists. These rights have been infringed upon, and in fact, several cases are pending in court with some record labels. Let’s see where all this ends up and who will be vindicated. The odds are not in the musicians’ favor, though. In general, this is a very big discussion, and depending on the genre, it no longer concerns consumers. One quote we heard and liked is that no matter how many robots and fast cars we build, we will always want to see the 100-meter dash at the Olympics with humans. Sure, in the future, a machine may be able to write “Bohemian Rhapsody”, although I highly doubt it. Okay, good for it. A machine did it. But we are interested in what people can do. That’s why we listen to music, because we connect with the people and emotions behind the music, and that’s unlikely to change for listeners who really want to hear music, unlike those who just want to hear something playing in the background, elevator music, as we call it. Let them listen to music that comes from artificial intelligence. These people, at least in our world, would never listen to ZABRAHANA.

Metalwar: That’s one side of the issue. The other concern I have is whether artificial intelligence can influence musicians themselves in the sense of reducing their interest in creating music.

Zabrahana: Music is difficult, but when you see 4 or 5-year-old children playing an instrument, it’s wonderful to see how effortlessly express their desire to engage with music. The truth is that the technical bar is being lowered so that anyone can get started, and perhaps this will pave the way for people who were not involved in music to do so more easily, but in no case are these people the critical mass that will tip the scales in favor of artificial intelligence. I believe that someone’s need to write music is such that they would do it in any case. Perhaps for those who want to play occasionally or form a cover band and play five chords, it may now be easier, but true artists who want to express themselves will not be affected. Their learning process and their desire to learn an instrument or music in general will not be affected. They would simply deal with it as artists deal with all the other difficulties we know. We know that the road is difficult. We must also say that there are many children who are amazing musicians but do not go through the process of honing their skills and taking the risk of exposing themselves on stage or in a production. They are what we call “bedroom players.” This is slowly changing, with more and more people getting involved, but the stages are shrinking and there is no way for all these artists to express themselves. To return to the topic of artificial intelligence, we need to look at what happened in the past with painting and photography when technology entered these arts. We said that there would be no more photographers or painters, but in the end there were more. The same thing happened with Photoshop. In the end, another specialty was created, that of digital artists. To conclude, I think that today both musicality and instrument learning are flourishing, so I don’t think artificial intelligence will affect that.

Metalwar: I think we’ve covered all the topics. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Zabrahana: Apart from the live show with FADING ECHOES, there is something else in the works, which we can’t share with you yet, but there will be announcements soon (they were referring to the live show on December 6, when they will appear alongside MOTHER OF MILLIONS in Thessaloniki).

Metalwar: One last thing I would like to say is to congratulate you on your presence on social media, because that is also important nowadays. It seems that you are working hard on that.

Zabrahana: We are really trying, and thank you for your kind words. There is a lot of work behind all this.

Metalwar: Thank you very much for the chat, and I wish you all the best for your upcoming live shows and beyond.

Zabrahana: Thank you for having us, and we hope to meet you in person soon.

Interview – Text: Kostas Boudoukos