Blackbriar are currently one of the most promising rising bands in the hard rock and metal scene, so their arrival in Greece for live shows in Athens and Thessaloniki brought plenty of excitement and smiles to the country’s metal fans. Having followed the Dutch band’s progress over the past few years, Myth of Rock was at Fuzz on September 23 and brings you everything that happened that night.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Darkness had already fallen when we arrived outside the Athens venue. The doors had not opened yet, but Blackbriar fans had already started arriving, dressed in black, many of them with a strong gothic aesthetic and clearly impatient for the show to begin. The doors soon opened and we made our way inside, taking a position on the right side of the stage. As time passed, more and more people entered the venue, with the crowd eventually filling half of Fuzz by the time the first band took the stage.
Supporting Blackbriar were the Greek band Oceandvst. The three-piece took the stage at 9 p.m., exactly as scheduled, and started their set in a very warm and positive atmosphere. It did not take Oceandvst long to win the crowd over. They have strong original songs that sound particularly good in a live setting, and they quickly had the audience on their feet. This was one of the best support performances I have seen in Greece in recent years. Yes, Oceandvst have talent, personality, soul and that natural confidence of a band that knows it has what it takes to succeed. Everyone was excited by their songs, their covers of “All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u. and “Going Under” by Evanescence, as well as their impressive stage presence. Chrysa, in particular, is a true rock persona! We were therefore treated to a fantastic alt-rock/metal band that gave us some great moments before Blackbriar took the stage. The future belongs to Oceandvst!
And so, we reached 10 p.m., when Blackbriar finally took the stage. From the very first notes, the crowd went wild, breaking into cheers and applause. The five musicians, led by Zora Cock, took their places on the spacious stage and launched into a set featuring some of their best songs. Clad in black, Blackbriar unleashed their melodic gothic metal attack, proving that everything people say about them is true. They are genuinely a surprisingly capable band, with fantastic compositions, individual talent, impressive chemistry and a unique vision. They deserve every bit of praise they receive, and they deserve to go high, very high! Zora Cock, wearing a beautiful lace dress, captivated us with her siren-like voice, while the rest of the band gave it everything they had, delivering an excellent performance. On this magnificent night, we watched Blackbriar establish themselves as rising stars of gothic metal, taking us deep into the dark, mysterious waters of their gothic aesthetic. They even brought a loom onto the stage!Their music was like a fairy tale, their lyrics like poetry, and their whole appearance simply enchanting. They really are a highly aspiring band, ready to make their dream come true. Those of us lucky enough to be at Fuzz understood it and believed it! Truly beautiful moments, both for the quintet and for their fans!
Blackbriar played for an hour and a half, giving us an ecstatic live show full of lyricism, magic and dark charm. Overall, it was a truly enjoyable night, with female-fronted rock/metal taking center stage. It is a night we will remember for a long time, and we are already looking forward to seeing both Oceandvst and Blackbriar on stage again!
