Dreamlord, the Greek speed/thrash metallers, are back with a vengeance, and this interview finds them at their most honest and energized. From their high-school beginnings in the ’90s to their full-force comeback with the “Artificial Imprisonment” album, the band has lived through twists, setbacks and revival. Their new album dives headfirst into the chaos of modern life, wrapped in heavier riffs, darker moods and a raw power that defines their sound. In this chat, we talked everything about the band! Whether you’re an old fan or a new recruit, this is Dreamlord in full scope.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
Give us a short biography of Dreamlord.
(Babis Paleogeorgos) Dreamlord was formed back in the mid ’90s by me and Yiannis when we were still in high school. We went through several lineup changes during the decade and eventually went on a long hiatus in the late 2000s. In 2010, we brought the band back to life when Christos joined on bass, and the lineup was completed in 2013 when Nick came in on drums. Our debut album “Disciples of War” came out in 2019, and now we’re back with our second full-length, “Artificial Imprisonment”.
How did you come up with the name of the band (“Dreamlord”)?
(Babis) The name came from a SepticFlesh song called “Morpheus the Dreamlord” that I came across in the mid ’90s. It sounded powerful, mysterious, and kind of mythic, so it just clicked. We took it and made it our own.
How does it feel to return with a new full-length album?
(Babis) It feels amazing. Six years is a long time between albums, but a lot happened in those years, both for us personally and for the world. “Artificial Imprisonment” feels like a statement, like we’ve come back sharper, heavier, and with more to say than ever before.
When did you start working on “Artificial Imprisonment”? How did you compose the tracks of this sophomore album?
(Babis) We started writing ideas not long after “Disciples of War” came out and during the pandemic period, when we couldn’t meet for rehearsal, but the real focus started around 2022. The songwriting process was more collaborative this time. Εveryone contributed ideas and helped shape the songs, even on lyrics, which in the past was more my responsibility. We worked carefully on arrangements and atmosphere to create something more layered, both musically and emotionally.
The record deals with themes like digital addiction and modern isolation. Why were these subjects important for you to express? What message do you hope listeners take from this album?
(Babis) Because we’re living in it. Everywhere you look, people are trapped behind screens, disconnected from reality, constantly being fed fear and distraction. We wanted to talk about that, not in a preachy way, but to reflect the tension of our times. The message is simple: awareness. Realize the cages around you, whether they’re digital, social, or mental, and try to break free from them.
How would you describe the sound of the new album compared to “Disciples of War”?
(Babis) It’s darker, heavier, and more atmospheric. “Disciples of War” was more straightforward, classic thrash. Fast, aggressive, in-your-face. “Artificial Imprisonment” still has that core energy, but it digs deeper. There’s more melody, more space, and more emotional weight behind the riffs.
Your music clearly has old-school thrash roots. Which bands shaped your sound the most?
(Babis) The obvious ones, Slayer, Metallica, Sepultura, Megadeth, Testament. We love the aggression of old-school thrash, but we also love atmosphere and storytelling.
Do you feel there is still room for thrash metal to grow in 2025?
(Babis)Absolutely. As long as there’s anger, frustration, and something worth fighting against, thrash will always have something to say. The style keeps evolving. Bands are mixing it with groove, melody, even progressive elements and that’s healthy. You just have to stay true to the spirit of it: honesty and intensity.
What was the biggest challenge during the recording process and the production of this album?
(Yiannis Glykiotis) During the recording process, each of us definitely had our own difficulties regarding our performance and our parts, making sure everything came out the way we had envisioned it. But I think the most challenging part was the mixing stage. That’s where we all must make a lot of decisions together, about levels, what parts stay or go, what effects are added and where, the tone and color of each instrument, and so on, so that, in the end, we’re all happy with the final result.
Was there a moment in the studio when you said, “Yes, this is the sound we want”?
(Yiannis) The first time that hit me was when I heard the guitar tracks during recording. The tone was insane—absolutely screaming. And it hit me again during the mixing stage, when we started carving out that final sound. That’s when everything locked in and we knew we had something powerful on our hands.
Which song from the new album best represents Dreamlord in 2025, and why?
(Yiannis) I’d say “This War of Mine”. We feel it’s one of our most mature tracks so far, both in terms of composition and structure. But honestly, every song is Dreamlord, because they all carry the core elements of our sound: a blend of thrash riffs, atmospheric passages, and strong melodic lines.
The album balances aggression with atmosphere and melody. Was this a conscious decision or something natural?
(Yiannis) For us, this combination is in our DNA. We’ve been following the same pattern since our first album, “Disciples of War”. But it’s not something we do entirely consciously. It comes out naturally during the songwriting process, because it’s embedded in our subconscious and our influences. So I’d say it’s more something natural.
How important are guitar solos to your songwriting identity?
(Yiannis) Very important. We see a solo in a song as a point of climax, an outburst. You have the intro, the riffs, the tempo, the refrains, all of which obviously play a huge role and define the song. But the solo is the final strike, the moment when the song gives it all. We aim for solos that stick, that carve themselves into your mind. It’s more important for a solo to have something to say and to be memorable, rather than just technically complex for show.
Leads are also a key part of our compositions. Melodic lead passages that add something extra to the song, an additional layer of interest, color, and atmosphere, which is a defining feature in almost all our tracks.
How do you handle the emotional heaviness of the album’s themes when performing live?
(Yiannis) When we play live, what creates and supports the dystopian atmosphere of our songs is mainly the sound and the way we perform, combined with the vocals and our stage presence, our body language. When you feel something and truly believe in it, it comes through. It’s also about the chemistry between us. We all serve that purpose instinctively, each in our own way, and I believe the result proves itself. I say this because we feel that emotional weight ourselves, and it spreads between us and the audience. If we don’t feel it, then something has definitely gone wrong.
Do you think technology and social media have changed the way bands communicate with fans, for better or worse?
(Yiannis) Absolutely, technology and social media have made it much easier to connect directly with fans. You can instantly follow a band’s news, grab merch, read interviews, or reach out to the members. For bands, sharing announcements or anything they want is just a click away.
But in a way, it has also taken away some of the magic that existed before. There was a certain mystery back then. Nothing was handed to you on a platter. All you had was a record, a cassette, or a CD, and whatever the booklet revealed. Maybe a magazine or two for bigger bands. Everything else lived in your imagination. You waited for live shows like sacred events. They had weight, energy, and a unique value.
That’s the balance of it. Something is gained, something is lost. I can’t say which is better, but we feel privileged to have experienced that raw, unfiltered era.
What is the role of anger and frustration in your creativity?
(Yiannis) Anger and frustration are a big part of what drives us. The issues we face today, the isolation, control, wars, the decay of society, propaganda, the sudden rise of AI, despair, and yes, rage, these feelings shape both our lyrics and our music.
They push us to write sharp, aggressive riffs, strong rhythmic sections, atmospheric melodic passages, and vocals filled with raw emotion. Every element of our songs reflects these emotions, turning frustration and anger into something powerful and tangible through our music.
The Greek metal scene has grown stronger in recent years. How do you see Dreamlord’s place in it?
(Christos Peveretos) Indeed, the Greek metal scene is stronger than ever. I believe that Dreamlord, already have a good reputation regarding the live performances and we have managed to build a very good name regarding our music. This is depicted, through the fact that many bands have invited us for a live concert, it was a privilege and an honor. We are sharing this love with other bands also and we are trying bit by bit to create an even large metal scene.
When you play live, what do you want the audience to feel?
(Christos) Being a thrash metal band, you can correlate that our music core is the energy. This is the most important part; our audience should feel during our lives. Energy and headbanging attitude are the things that we expect to see from our side also.
What’s your favorite city or venue to perform in, and why?
(Christos) We don’t have anything favorite place or venue that we like, since I believe is always linked with the vibe we receive from our audience. If the audience likes our music and takes part physically (headbanging. mosh pit etc), then our performance will be a blast and we will have a tone of fun, even if the venue was not good. With this aspect, I believe we prefer stages that give the opportunity to communicate almost with the whole audience. This is the important part, to have fun with your audience and conclude in a perfect night.
You have a live show in Athens at Temple Athens in November. What can fans expect from that night?
(Christos) The live show contains besides us, Piranha and Blynd, some of the most known metal bands in Greece and Cyprus, so for sure the night is expected to be extraordinary. Our fans can expect to hear some of our new songs, mixed with some touches from our first album. It would be the first live performance of some of the second album songs, so we are pretty anxious to see how the audience will respond to them.
Are there any songs from the new record that you can’t wait to play live?
(Christos) The answer is the whole record!!! We have played a couple of the new songs before the original release of the second album, and the feedback we received was overwhelming. So, we really want to play the complete record live, to see audience’s response to it.
What are your plans for 2026? Touring? New videos? More releases?
(Christos) We are planning some live performances, including a mini Greek tour, while we are in discussions with some abroad festivals (mainly Europe) though nothing definite yet. An important date to mention though, is our release party, which will be announced in the coming weeks and we can’t wait to share the new album with the world in our own headline show! We got everything lined up, and only thing I can share for now, expect an AWESOME night!
What do you want to say to the fans who have followed Dreamlord from the start and to those discovering you now?
(Christos) To the old ones, thank you for your support through all those years, we are really fortunate to have you, you really helped us keep going with your support and love. To the new ones, welcome aboard, be prepared for a lot of headbanging and let’s meet in one of our concerts.
For both new and old ones, see you in the pit.
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