Recently, a new alternative metal group has made a strong impression on the Greek heavy music scene. They are Absinthe Green, the band led by Eirini Papadopoulou, who have just released their debut album, “Of Love and Pain”, and impressed listeners with the quality and freshness of their compositions. So, when the time came to present the album live at Piraeus Club Academy, Myth of Rock naturally made sure to be there and document everything that took place. The support acts for Absinthe Green were DeepDive and Narcosis.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
I’ve seen DeepDive live before, and to be honest, they hadn’t impressed me that much. So, before they started, I was feeling a bit hesitant. But the moment they played the first notes of their set, it’s also true that they completely caught me off guard! Seriously—what a groove! What massive riffs! I’m not exaggerating at all, I was genuinely blown away by their songs, which they delivered with remarkable ease and confidence. So, what changed since the last time, you might ask? Well, DeepDive have released their debut album, and its material truly impressed me. Their new tracks are fantastic—whenever you get the chance, check out “Astral.Tech.Negative”; it’s on another level altogether! The unique nu/industrial/alternative metal blend they’ve achieved is incredibly energizing. Add their electronic keyboards into the mix, and you realize that things really go wild here! Bravo, guys—a captivating performance!
After the crushing performance by DeepDive, Narcosis had a tough task ahead of them. With the bar set high, the Greek quartet had to keep the same level on every front. In any case, Narcosis were not quite as strong. Not that they played badly—far from it. They simply fell short compared to DeepDive. That said, they were solid and showed they have the raw material and quality to achieve something better in the future. Stylistically, they stand at the crossroads of heavy rock and grunge/alternative rock. On stage, their presence is straightforward, and technically they are tight and capable. What they’re missing, though, is that extra spark that would make them truly stand out. The only way to find the elements that will set them apart is through hard work. If they stick with it and further develop their style and ideas, they will definitely sound much stronger. All in all, Narcosis gave us a pleasant set and left promising signs for a better future. Their performance was certainly a positive one. But time moved on, and it was finally the turn of the headliners.
The Absinthe Green crew began setting up the band’s equipment on the stage of Piraeus Club Academy. You could spot microphones marked with the band’s initials, a stand glowing with a green color, two banners bearing the band’s logo, and the same logo displayed on the wall behind the band at the back of the stage. The club wasn’t packed, but there were definitely dedicated fans gathered at the front of the stage, eagerly awaiting the start of the show. And Absinthe Green delivered. One by one, the band members took their places, with the biggest eruption of excitement coming, when Eirini appeared in front of us. Dressed in black and initially wearing a hood, Eirini and her three bandmates kicked things off with “Cat Song”. Their sound was perfect—tight and powerful—thanks to having their own sound engineer at the desk, Geegor, essentially the band’s fifth member. The guitars sounded spot-on, the bass was perfectly present, the drums were full and punchy, and the vocals were strong and crystal clear. With such an incredible sound, it was no surprise that Absinthe Green shone on stage. They also brought a distinctive, beautiful stage presence—Eirini in particular was truly stunning, striking commanding poses across the Piraeus Club Academy stage. They performed the entire “Of Love and Pain” album, plus two covers: Black’s “Everything Is Coming Up Roses” (what a cover!) and “Viva Forever” (Spice Girls, another beautiful rendition). On top of that, they treated us to a clever mini-medley of “Black Sabbath” (Black Sabbath) and “Phantom of the Opera” (Andrew Lloyd Webber). It’s also worth noting Eirini’s excellent connection with the audience: chatting, joking, sharing stories about the songs, even playfully firing banknotes at the crowd with a toy gun. Even when the band paused so Eirini could speak at length about “Of Love and Pain”, thank people and reflect on the journey, it never felt awkward or dull. Simply put, Absinthe Green proved they are an outstanding band—well-rehearsed, experienced, talented and driven by vision. An impeccable, truly great live performance by Absinthe Green. We’re eagerly looking forward to what comes next.
Having lived through beautiful moments and with our minds filled with the sounds of the three bands that played that night, we left Piraeus Club Academy with a big smile on our faces. It was a truly special evening—a celebration for Absinthe Green and an alternative metal event that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Anyone who was there that Friday night has nothing but the best things to say about it!
