Question:
Almost 26 years have passed since the first black metal release from Greece (“Satanas Tedeum”, 1989, Demo, Rotting Christ). Today, the Hellenic Black Metal movement is maybe stronger than ever.
I would like your opinion on the Hellenic Black Metal. Whatever comes in your mind.
Kristoffer Rygg (Ulver, Head Control System, Æthenor, ex-Arcturus, ex-Borknagar):
With regards to the early death/black metal underground movement the Greek scene was, in addition to the stuff happening in Norway, the most exciting one in my opinion.
I was in touch with a few people in Sweden, Italy and France and such back then, writing letters, trading flyers, zines, tapes and… if you were way cool, seven inches. There were a handful underground bands like Czech Republic’s Master’s Hammer and Switzerland’s Samael, who had put out LPs, but there was definitely something special brewing in Greece, and carrying a very distinct “occult” vibe… with its peculiar Piraeus Port pronunciation and feeling which is hard to describe. I dare contend it has influenced the legacy of black metal a lot more than it’s gotten credit for. And I clearly remember the first time Euronymous played me the seven inch Rotting Christ/Monumentum split, pompously proclaiming “this is the most evil riff ever”, a couple minutes into “Feast of the Grand Whore”. Ηah! Says it all, doesn’t it?
Needless to say perhaps, soon after I sent the guys a letter (with well-concealed cash, naturally), ordering their demos (which I still have) and a t-shirt. I was so stoked about all that stuff and was already well into the Necromantia promo tape. Curious fact, Magus Daoloth (or Morbid, as he was known then) actually gave me the subtitle of my pre-Ulver fanzine “Eclipse – Chronicles of Hate”, although I doubt he remembers it. I also had bought some seven inches by other Greek bands, such as Varathron and Death Courier. We were generally very keen on the Hellenic stuff up here and I would say it inspired the Norwegian bands to forge their own strain of the “evil and mysterious”. I guess this probably went a bit both ways, so there’s definitely a lineage between Greece and Norway.
Both giants of mythology, then and now.
PS: I was also a fan of Vangelis and when some years later I listened to “666” by Aphrodite’s Child I was totally blown away. This is to this day one of my all time favorite albums. I’ve played in Athens twice with Ulver and once also with Æthenor (Synch Festival) and it’s always been a real pleasure. The “special performance” with guys from Nocternity and Order of the Ebon Hand coming on stage with me at the Gagarin was a trip and a commemoration really, in honor of these early days. My friend Iannis (Khal Drogo) just sent me the Nocternity album and I have to say it sounds fucking (black) spirited, and totally invokes that feeling of yore. To be honest, it’s been a long time since I was moved like that by a black metal type recording. The spirit lives on in Greece apparently.
The Magus (Necromantia, Principallity of Hell, Rotting Christ, Thou Art Lord)
The first time I have ever heard songs from ” Satanas Tedeum “was back in 1989 at a building occupation opposite of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It was also the first time I saw Rotting Christ perform live. The sound was -as expected- awful (I remember Themis pulling the bass drum every 2-3 minutes towards him because the floor was slippery….), but the passion and quality of the band was obvious even from that time. As a highlight of the night I remember the “Feast of the Grand Whore”, which became one of my favorite songs from this legendary demo.
Silenoz (Dimmu Borgir)
My first catch of the Greek scene was in fact the “Satanas Tedeum” demo which I bought from Euronymous in ’91. I remember it quite well, I instantly got hooked on the “occult” sounding tracks, Rotting Christ wasn’t a brutal band but they’ve always had an eerie side which I have enjoyed a lot since.
Mortiis (ex-Emperor, ex-Fata Morgana)
Hi, sorry about the delay. I´m not really up to date on the current scene in Greece, but in my early teens I discovered Rotting Christ and their “Satanas Tedeum” demo through Euronymous, and I immediately went exploring the Greek scene and soon discovered Varathron, Necromantia and a bit later great bands like Thou Art Lord, Nightfall and Septic Flesh came along. I always liked the melodic part of most of those Greek bands, as well as the mysterious occult approach some of them took, which was in stark contrast to other black metal bands elsewhere, where the approach would often be a lot more direct. My favourite demos were probably “Satanas Tedeum” by Rotting Christ, and “Procreation of the Unaltered Evil” demo by Varathron, but of course there were at least a dozen great demos out of Greece by the very early 90´ies. Naturally they also went on to create some great albums too, like “Thy Mighty Contract” by Rotting Christ, an album some say to this day is the standard by which all other Greek black metal is measured.