DAY TWO (2)
Saturday, August 30 — after a bit of rest, we happily stepped into the second day of the Golden R. Festival, which once again offered music for every taste! Let’s get straight to the action!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Illusive Mirrors: Illusive Mirrors is a band I’ve been following closely over the past few years, so I was already at the festival grounds when their first notes rang out. Despite having a new drummer and the blazing sun overhead, the Athens-based band didn’t step onto the stage hesitantly — quite the opposite! Dimitra Koenka, dressed in red, quickly took the lead and guided her band through a stunning live performance. They played some of their best songs, showing tight cohesion and technical precision, captivating us with their melodies. The hard rock/melodic metal of Illusive Mirrors sticks in your mind quickly, and especially in a live setting, tracks like “Over and Over Again” and “Save a Bullet” become absolutely thrilling anthems! It was one of their finest performances — yes, Illusive Mirrors have truly matured on stage, and I believe they’re ready for great things!
End of Dawn: Next up were End of Dawn, the symphonic/gothic black metallers from Thessaloniki, who took the stage and masterfully delivered their mesmerizing, dark, and atmospheric music. I was particularly impressed by the vocal and stage presence of their frontman, as well as the female vocals, which were perfectly integrated into End of Dawn’s extreme sound. I haven’t listened to their studio material, but from their set, it was clear that this band truly has something to say and offer! It’s the blend of operatic and gothic elements with extreme metal that makes End of Dawn’s approach genuinely compelling. For half an hour, the Thessaloniki group transported us into dark soundscapes, leaving us completely immersed in their terrifying world.
Powercross: Time to witness the brilliance of Powercross and find our way! The truth is, the Greek band delivers an uplifting, melodic power metal in the vein of Stratovarius and Helloween, so hearing them live naturally lifted our spirits. It was the second time I saw them live, and I thoroughly enjoyed their riffs, soaring melodies, and epic rhythms. I also can’t forget the stunning vocals of John Britsas! Despite a few minor sound issues, they didn’t let it slow them down and managed to deliver a powerful set that thrilled the fans in attendance. I can honestly say that Powercross appeared much more prepared and mature compared to their first show. Well done — I can’t wait to hear their second album!
Exilium Noctis: After that euro power break, Exilium Noctis brought us back into a black metal mood. And what black metal it was! Dark, blasphemous, profane… the Greek black metallers took the stage with full force, shaking us with their impressive songs. It didn’t take long to realize that this is an extremely skilled and talented band, with a bright future ahead! The highlight, of course, was their vocalist, who absolutely delivered, though the rest of the band more than held their own. At one point, Henri Sattler of God Dethroned even joined them on stage for a jam, and in that moment, Exilium Noctis were truly living a dream. Overall, we witnessed an outstanding band that has everything it takes to gain recognition in the wider metal scene!
Reflection: The time had come to enjoy one of the most notable bands in Greek heavy metal. Reflection are not only still active but also at the peak of their recording career! I was eager to hear tracks from “The Battles I Have Won,” though that only happened partially, as the Athens-based band focused more on their classic songs. Reflection’s performance was flawless — their passion overflowing, Stathis Pavlantis’ riffs and solos were amazing, and Kostas Tokas’ vocals were perfect for the band’s style. We got completely hyped by Reflection’s songs, singing along and headbanging non-stop! It was pure epic metal greatness!
Lucifer’s Child: As night fell, we welcomed Lucifer’s Child, the band of George Emmanouel. Although their blasphemous, satanic black metal isn’t really my style, I have to admit they played fantastically — radiating incredible energy, overflowing with passion, and delivering a sound that was simply massive! They proved themselves as one of the finest bands in the Greek extreme metal scene with a triumphant performance. The guitars were colossal, the vocals atmospheric, and the song structures exemplary! Lucifer’s Child blew us away and left the stage to thunderous applause!
God Dethroned: The Dutch veterans, with an impressive discography and a reputation as one of the finest death/black metal bands in the world, took the stage at the Golden R. Festival — and they absolutely crushed it! With remarkable ease and confidence, they won over the crowd and delivered a masterclass in extreme metal. I particularly loved their positive energy, as they performed their classic tracks (including songs from their 1999 album “Bloody Blasphemy”) with seriousness and dedication — there’s nothing better than seeing a renowned band give their all! The presence of Henri Sattler was awe-inspiring, every member was technically superb, and their tightness as a unit was undeniable: God Dethroned were a single, unstoppable force! It’s an honor and a rare opportunity to witness bands of this caliber live!
Old Man’s Child: The same goes, of course, for the headliners! Judging by the reactions of the few fans who had come to the festival, it was clear that most had arrived for Old Man’s Child. With their fans packed into the front rows, cheering wildly, the band took the stage and unleashed their black metal anthems. They delivered brilliantly, and led by Galder, they utterly dominated the festival grounds, leaving nothing but wreckage behind! It was a true black metal celebration, during which fans of the genre experienced moments of pure passion — a black metal party that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Just watching the live performance, it was obvious that Galder is a forceful presence in extreme metal and that Old Man’s Child are a black metal powerhouse, rising straight from hell!
And with that, the second day of the Golden R. Festival came to a close — certainly a very successful one.
