As we… feared, Anorimoi have done it again! Unfortunately for all of us, Greece’s finest representatives of comedic, satirical metal are about to deliver a truly catastrophic live show at Fuzz Club on December 19th, where, among other disasters, they will present their latest “masterpiece”, “TERATOGENESIS” (“ΤΕΡΑΤΟΓΕΝΕΣΗ”). Ahead of this silly, kitschy and downright shameful event, Myth of Rock got in touch (so to speak…) with two members of the band, Necropethamenos (guitars) and Trampakoulas (vocals), who attempted to answer our questions. I don’t think they succeeded. Below you’ll find everything that was said between both sides—a disgusting interview you’d really be better off not reading!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
live photos by Dimitra Koenka
How would you describe Anorimoi to someone who has never heard of you?
Necropethamenos: As a mixture of melodic metal with comedy. In Greek. In case of non-Greek speaker, a mixture of melodic metal with random vocal sounds.
Do you consider yourselves a metal band with humor or a comedy group with heavy riffs?
N: It’s the exact same thing for us. Both aspects are of the same importance, pretty much.
Which bands/artists influence you the most?
N: Musically, way too many to give a fair answer but I suppose the classics (Metallica, Manowar, Maiden etc.), In Flames (and NWOSDM as a whole) and the various 90s alt scenes (Therapy?, Offspring etc.) would be a good start. Also, US metalcore at a later stage, some death metal too, I DON’T EVEN KNOW STOP ASKING.
Trampakoulas: Now take all of the above and blend them with the comedic flair that emanates from Harry Klynn and Tzimis Panousis, two artists that pretty much shaped our sense of humor.
What was the very first Anorimoi song that made you think, “Yes, this is wonderfully stupid—we must continue”?
N: This never happened, we somehow would continue no matter what, mostly due to complete lack of self-awareness.
Where do your funniest lyrical ideas usually come from?
N: For me it’s inside jokes, majestic/epic vocabulary assigned to bodily functions and, weirdly enough, dreams!
T: Personal experiences exaggerated for the sake of extra drama plus ridiculous stories from all around the world that somehow made the news. All filtered through a dystopian and ominous prism. There are no happy endings in our songs!
How hard is it to balance humor with musicianship?
N: It’s always been borderline automatic for us. It was a given all along.
T: Piece of cake if you ask me. It is a preinstalled feature and flows like the Force.
Have you ever written a song that was too ridiculous even for Anorimoi?
N: There is no such thing.
T: We keep on pushing boundaries, exploring ridiculousness and provocation so I guess the sky is the limit!
Do you feel comedy metal is understood better today compared to when you first started?
N: Definitely, it looks like it’s not being thought of as an attack on Metal, for starters!
T: If we take into account that we are currently more popular than ever, then I guess time was on our side. And it’s a global phenomenon too. Comedy metal bands are a thing, building careers while being revered by fans and critics alike.
What’s the weirdest fan request you’ve ever received?
T: We are proud of our fans. They totally get what we do and play along. No request is weird enough for us though. Keep trying guys!
If Anorimoi were a food, what would you be and why?
T: I like to think of us as a buffet overflowing with all kinds of treats. Everyone’s welcome to indulge like there’s no tomorrow, just be ready for the heartburn and stomachache that will definitely follow!
Do you write lyrics first or riffs first? How is an Anorimoi song usually composed?
N: It hasn’t always been the same. Sometimes they are being developed in parallel, other times music comes first.
Which of your songs do you think best represents the Anorimoi spirit?
N: Tough one. Should be a toilet anthem like «Τερατογένεση»; Μaybe a bad luck extravaganza like «Η χειρότερη μέρα ever» or «Γκομενιά»; Dunno.
Has your humor ever gotten you into trouble—on stage or online?
T: We had one guy show up to one of our shows and try to start a brawl because he thought we were disrespecting metal. Thankfully, most people who know us either get what we do or at least keep their discontent to themselves.
If you could collaborate with any artist—metal or not, who would it be?
T: Unfortunately, our top picks have left this world. I am talking about our idols Harry Klynn and Tzimis Panousis. We came close to working with the incredible Christos Dantis though. This plan didn’t go through eventually but I wouldn’t rule the possibility out.
Are there any topics you consider off-limits, even for Anorimoi?
T: Our moto is that there are no limits. We are no fans of malicious provocation. But if we can produce successful satire on a matter that some consider a no-no, we will go through with it!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about the band?
N: I have no idea but I’m guessing several stuff I am unwilling to share. There you go, THAT’s how cool people respond.
T: There is this constipated notion that heavy metal can’t be funny or that humor and satire do not get along with serious and professional metal music. Well guess what guys!
How do you keep the band’s chemistry strong after so many years?
N: It’s very easy, we hate each other horribly and we make sure nothing ever gets resolved.
What can fans expect from the next phase of Anorimoi?
T: We are currently booking dates for the promotion of Teratogenesis. Nicosia is already booked for 16/1 and Salonica for 30/1. Patra, Ioannina, Larisa, Kavala and Volos will follow. We are determined to invade as many cities as possible.
You are performing live at Fuzz Club on December 19. How do you feel about this upcoming show, and what should the audience expect from Anorimoi that night?
T: We can hardly wait for our annual Athenian extravaganza. Three hours of Anorimoi material, including the new album in its entirety. We will also present our new intro so we advise everyone to be there 21:00 sharp! You wouldn’t want to miss this. And be sure to hang around after the show because we want to meet you, shake hands, take photos and chat. Vinyl and cd versions will be available at the merch table along with our brand-new t-shirt design. Life is good.
Send a message to our readers!
T: Hey Myth of Rockers, thanks for reading our humble bullsh*t. See you at the pit!
