Greek black metal is usually talked about in terms of the "big three": Rotting Christ, Necromantia, and VARATHRON. All of them formed in the years 1987-1989, went on to have productive and influential musical careers, and are still around to this day. Varathron formed in 1989 and came from the Greek city of Ioannina. Their early demos The Procreation of Unaltered Evil (1989) and Genesis of Apocryphal Desire (1991), as well as the EP One Step Beyond Dreams (1991), all showcased a style that was more about the varied rhythms and evil atmosphere now associated with the hellenic black metal scene.
"Dawn of Sordid Decay" is from the 1989 demo Procreation of Unaltered Evil
Their first full-length--1993's His Majesty at the Swamp--is one of the gems of 1990s black metal, and one of the true highlights of Greek black metal. Like Rotting Christ's material from the same era, Varathron's sound contains all of the occultic and atmospheric elements of black metal without falling into the Norwegian template. Unafraid to craft black metal that has the components of the old school as well as some newer elements, Varathron is rightfully considered one of Greece's best.
"Unholy Funeral" is an excellent example of Varathron's classic sound
Varathron is still active today, having released numerous albums subsequent to Majesty. Their most recent album, Stygian Forces of Scorn, came out in 2009.
Select Discography
Procreation of the Unaltered Evil (demo) (1989)
Genesis of Apocryphal Desire (demo) (1990)
The Everlasting Sins EP (split with Necromantia) (1992)
His Majesty at the Swamp (full-length) (1993)
Walpurgisnacht (full-length) (1995)
The Lament of Gods EP (1999)
Crowsreign (full-length) (2004)
Stygian Forces of Scorn (full-length) (2009)
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Hailing from the capital city of Athens, the black/death band VOMIT was only around long enough to put out two infamous demos, 1988's Mechanic Abomination and 1989's Sickness is Not an Experiment. Vomit also became well-known in the Greek metal underground because of the 'zine they published. Their sound was a heavily thrash-influenced sound, with elements of old-school black and death metal.
"Blower Head" is from the 1989 demo Sickness is not an Experiment
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ASFYX, also hailing from Athens, formed from the ashes of the more doom-oriented band Nightmare and managed to put out the Spirit of the Dead demo in 1989. One can definitely hear the methodical, plodding rhythmic elements of doom metal in their black metal, yet at the same time, the more occult-oriented atmosphere of black metal is present as well.
"The Dark (Nightmare)" is off of their one demo
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Athens' scene was positively bursting at the seams with extreme metal bands. Being Greece's largest city that should come as no shock. One such old-school black/death band was SADISTIC NOISE. With various members hailing from Greece's punk scene, the speed and rawness of Sadistic Noise shouldn't surprise anyone. Sadistic Noise was a pretty long-running band in the Greek underground, putting out numerous demos (including 1988's Black and Chaos and 1990's The End) and a studio album (1999's Decade in the Grave). In the beginning of their career, Sadistic Noise was clearly in the vein of old-school black metal, but they gradually shifted their sound to a more death metal style by the latter half of their career. An interesting side note: Sadistic Noise was the first band to open for Napalm Death in Greece.
"Brothers of Gore" is from the 1988 demo Black and Chaos
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Yet another band from Athens, MORTIFY began in 1987. Despite forming that early, they didn't put out any demos until 1990's Dizziness of the Occult. Like fellow countrymen Vomit, they had a raw version of the distinctly Greek sound. Unlike Vomit, their sound was more steeped in the gritty, old-school production values of the 1980s. Mortify went on to release ...And Darkness Was Upon (demo, 1993) and two unnamed demos in 1995 and 1996 before breaking up.
"The Occult", off of the 1990 demo Dizziness of the Occult
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Forming as ERESHKIGAL in 1988, then changing to FLEGETHON the following year before changing back to Ereshkigal in 1994 comes this next Athenian band. No demo material as that initial incarnation of Ereshkigal exists, near as I can tell. As Flegethon, however, a 1990 demo (Repugnant Blasphemy) and a 1993 EP (Doomed in Eternal Suffering) were recorded. After breaking up as Flegethon in 1994, band member Rotten Flesh re-formed Ereshkigal, but it was several years of toiling in the underground before a studio album was released (2005's The Raping of the Divine).
From the 1993 EP, Doomed in Eternal Suffering
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Other noteworthy Greek bands formed in these early years, like VORPHALACK, FIENDISH NYMPH, AGATUS, and NOCTURNAL DEATH.
Next time: ISENGARD
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