Darklon are one of the leading bands of the Greek heavy/power metal scene. Until recently, I had seen them live twice, so you can imagine my excitement, when it was announced that their new singer would be Billy Chrepas, when I heard their excellent new release titled “Mind Reaper” and when it was revealed that they would play at Piraeus Club Academy on January 23rd, 2026. As you can guess, last Friday I was at the club on Piraeus Street to witness and document everything impressive that took place.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
When I arrived outside the venue, before the doors opened, quite a few metalheads were already waiting. Shortly after, we entered Piraeus Club Academy, I took my spot at the front, and I was fully ready for what was about to follow. According to the schedule, the night would open with Stygian Path, while Leatherhead would take the stage before the headliners. It was shaping up to be a night of true steel!
Stygian Path didn’t take long to hit the stage. The Athens-based metallers delivered their tight and pure epic doom metal, earning the admiration of the crowd. Piraeus Club Academy wasn’t completely full, but everyone who came clearly enjoyed Stygian Path a lot. And it’s easy to see why—they’re a band with strong songwriting skills, a clear understanding of their sound and a passion they bring both in the studio and live. I was particularly impressed by the lead guitar and the singer’s intensity. Stygian Path have everything needed to achieve something big in the coming years. They are serious, humble and capable of raising the bar even higher while bringing their epic doom to a wider audience. Although I had seen them live before, I wasn’t very familiar with their songs—but this time, I enjoyed them much more during their short set. Yes, “The Lorekeeper” is their debut album, and it’s definitely worth celebrating! Before moving on to the next band, it’s worth noting that Stygian Path also performed “Days of High Adventure” by DoomSword, paying full respect to the original.
Everything was ready for the power/speed/thrash metal assault of Leatherhead. I had really enjoyed their new album, “Violent Horror Stories”, so I thought I knew what to expect from their live show. Or so I thought! The metallers from Larisa literally stormed the stage and blew everything apart! With relentless energy and insane fury, they delivered their fast, sweeping metal, leaving the audience completely blown away. Leader of the band was Tolis Mekras, an incredible frontman, whose vocals are matched by an electrifying stage presence. Leatherhead were fantastic, with a style all their own—the guitars cut like blades, the rhythm section hit like an anvil. Beyond speed, technique and passion, the band created a terrifying atmosphere, relying purely on their music and lyrics. They dedicated their over-the-top performance to Christos Christodoulou, who passed away just a few days ago. I’m officially a fan of Leatherhead now—not only are their compositions flawless, but their live energy is absolutely unstoppable. A friendly tip from one metalhead to another: listen to “Violent Horror Stories” and see them live!
After the whirlwind of Leatherhead, the crowd was more than warmed up, ready for the night’s climax with Darklon. And as expected, Darklon were… absolutely crushing. To be precise, without exaggeration, with Billy Chrepas on vocals, Darklon are a completely different band—far stronger, carrying the air of a top-tier act that has clearly leveled up. How could it be otherwise, when Chrepas sings and moves on stage like a true frontman? When Darklon’s material is delivered perfectly, gaining the full power it deserves? When Chrepas literally storms the stage, running back and forth like a teenager? Yes, adding Chrepas was a huge move. The new energy was immediately evident in Darklon’s set, as Chrepas has lifted the entire band to new heights. The live show was absolutely thrilling! Darklon played superbly—they had a massive, punchy sound, relentless passion and the result was spectacular. Their setlist spanned their entire career, mixing older tracks with new material from their latest full-length, “Mind Reaper”. The crowd went wild for “Redeemer”, as well as new tracks like “In The Abyss”, “Soul Stealers” and “Psyched Out”. The band’s genuine US-style heavy/power metal left the audience stunned. K.D. Kras was a powerhouse on guitar, the rhythm section was powerful and consistent, and Chrepas’ soaring vocals blew everyone away—plus, his connection with the crowd was fantastic. It’s not just that Darklon hit the peak—they clearly proved they can go even further. They smashed every expectation and are confidently looking toward the future!
The encore from Darklon marked the triumphant finale of an unforgettable show—one that was important for the bands, the scene and the fans alike. We had an incredible time, headbanged, sang along and witnessed three outstanding metal bands tearing it up without holding back! That’s metal with teeth and balls—no compromises, no bullshit!
