Last Friday night (November 14) was different from the usual. And that’s because four noteworthy bands from the Greek rock/metal scene — Modulus Zero, The Ruckus Habit, Narkissus Fall and Bring Back Persephone — were set to play live at Piraeus Club Academy. I had already seen the first two bands before, Narkissus Fall were giving their first-ever live show, and Bring Back Persephone would be a first-time experience for me as well. In any case, it was a very interesting concert package that created real anticipation, even if stylistically the bands weren’t exactly aligned… We arrived on time at the small venue on Piraeus Street, but the doors opened a bit late due to delays with the bands’ soundchecks. Good things take time, what can I say!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
First on the billing were Modulus Zero. I’m quite fond of their alternative/post/prog rock style, so I really enjoyed their thirty-minute set, which included several of their own songs as well as their successful cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. This band has talent and vision — they have a clear musical identity and express it eloquently. Of course, they still need to keep working hard in order to stand out even more. That said, the night at Piraeus Club Academy wasn’t perfect from a sound-production standpoint, as the guitar and the vocal reverb were practically nonexistent! Even so, Modulus Zero managed to charm the small crowd and passed the baton to the next band feeling satisfied and proud.
The Ruckus Habit kept the night going with their fiery indie/alt heavy rock, and honestly, their music set Piraeus Club Academy on fire. They played like madmen — passionate, intense, and full of confidence — and the crowd loved every minute of it. Honest and authentic, The Ruckus Habit know exactly what their sound is, they write with inspiration, and they perform their engaging music with maturity and control. With great sound and a “ready for anything” attitude, the four musicians thrilled and entertained everyone in attendance. I believe The Ruckus Habit are a band that has everything it takes to succeed on every level. It’s in their hands to become alt rock stars!
And then it was time for Narkissus Fall. They’re a relatively new band in the symphonic metal scene and so far have released only a few singles. This show was their very first live performance, so it was natural for them to feel a bit nervous — but none of that showed onstage. In fact, once Narkissus Fall stepped onto the platform, they unleashed their powerful symphonic metal, sending waves of excitement through the audience. The five-piece had many of their own fans present, cheering at every opportunity! It became obvious that Narkissus Fall’s music is quite demanding, yet when faced with the challenge of bringing it to life on stage, they not only rose to the occasion — they crushed it. I was especially impressed by Dimitra Lefay, who mesmerized everyone with her operatic vocals, the drummer who absolutely tore it up, and the keyboardist who commanded his instrument like another Tuomas Holopainen.
The night wrapped up in style with Bring Back Persephone taking the stage. They’re a well-known name in the Greek scene, with more than fifteen years under their belt. Their sound leans strongly into post-hardcore and metalcore, and their songs are full of energy. That was obvious from the very start of their set — simple, stripped-down and absolutely explosive. With monstrous grooves and killer riffs, Bring Back Persephone pushed us to scream our lungs out, go wild and applaud like crazy. The crowd wasn’t huge at that point, but those who stayed for their show definitely got more than their money’s worth. Their cover of Placebo’s “Every You Every Me” was great, the singer had a sharp sense of humor and connected easily with the fans, the drummer played like an octopus, and the guitars did all the dirty work. I’ll be honest: I had never seen the band live before, but what I witnessed that night turned me into a fan. And I’m sure the same happened to plenty of others in the audience. Finally, an extreme metal band with a low profile and real dedication to music!
Once the fourth band finished their set, the curtain came down at Piraeus Club Academy and we started heading back, tired but genuinely happy to have watched four truly remarkable bands live. Support the bands, who deserve it!
