New Long Festival is one of the most historic music festivals in Greece, one of the most important rock/metal institutions in the country, and this year marked its nineteenth edition. It took place over two days, at the Sports and Cultural Center of Nea Makri, with two stages each day (Stage 1 and Stage 2). When one band finished its set on Stage 1, the next band began on Stage 2. According to the schedule, the show was set to start at six o’clock and end half an hour after midnight—and that’s exactly what happened.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Although New Long Fest has taken place every year for the past 19 years, this was my first time attending, and I must say I was impressed by the accuracy and professionalism of the organizers, who had set everything up perfectly—we missed nothing. We parked our car immediately, entered the park comfortably, and since the schedule was followed precisely, we managed to see all the performing bands from the very beginning! We could enjoy the live gigs either standing or sitting, and we were able to buy beers or something to eat without waiting in long queues. At dusk, a pleasant breeze helped ease the heat. Everything went smoothly, so congratulations are in order to everyone involved!
Each day featured eleven Greek bands, so let’s dive right in—firstly with July 26th (and then with July 27th)!
Day 1
Drunk Jackals: The beginning of the fest was powerful—Drunk Jackals stormed the stage and proudly delivered their heavy rock material. I really liked their songs; they had a great sound, and their passion was obvious. The sun was almost melting everything, but in a strange way, the heat and the heavy sound of Drunk Jackals made a great combination. I’m sure we’ll see interesting things from this band in the near future.
Qualia: This punk rock/metal/math rock band was a pleasant surprise for me. I was aware of their extraordinary fusion of styles, but their sound truly shook me—and all the fans in attendance as well. They combine different musical elements with a fresh perspective, raw energy, and a lot of emotion. They may not have catchy tunes, but their tracks are a vital breath of fresh air for the Greek rock/metal scene. Don’t miss this band if they ever play near you!
Spineless: I have seen this band live before and am familiar with their avant-garde, experimental sound. This time, in Nea Makri, we all witnessed a more mature, more focused, and more confident version of Spineless—it’s clear that their live experience has helped them grow. Chrysa Tsaltampasi was in great form, and together with her bandmates, she managed to mesmerize us with her brilliant musical approach. For the entire rock and music scene, Spineless is a step forward!
Ripping Wounds: It was time for some old-fashioned crossover thrash metal, and that came courtesy of Ripping Wounds. With influences from Slayer, Sepultura, and others, this band has a lot to offer, as their vintage sound is blended with hardcore freshness. They were aggressive, relentless, and had some killer riffs. Ripping Wounds proved that they have the quality and the mentality to stand out from the rest! Keep up the good work, guys!
Euphrosyne: Euphrosyne has a strong reputation in the Greek extreme metal scene, and their appearance at New Long Fest showed us exactly why. They dove into their post-black/dark metal world, taking us on a short but marvelous and emotional journey. Their frontwoman, Efi Eva, was like a magnet—her entire presence captured our attention! With powerful performances like this one, their name is sure to grow even bigger!
Malignant: The next band was Malignant, a thrash metal group with strong hardcore elements, hailing from Athens. That night, they were reckless, unstoppable, and very… angry! Their riffs were crushing, the vocals had a sharp edge, and their rhythm section tore everything down. I really liked their full-throttle sonic attack, as well as their witty, caustic lyrics. Malignant are here to stay—their music and message have undeniable value!
The Vulcan Itch: This renowned heavy/stoner rock band is both charismatic and experienced. I had seen them live last year and was really looking forward to their performance this time! And indeed, they played with full force, showcasing their stoner greatness. Their songs truly rock, have their own unique character, and gave us a real boost for the rest of the evening. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the headliners of the day—a great show!
Cursed Blood: We were tired after The Vulcan Itch, but Cursed Blood gave us the final shot! Their extreme metal sound is unique, fusing thrash metal, death metal, and punk rock, and their show at New Long Fest felt like a complete demolition. They destroyed everything without holding back! Cursed Blood’s style is built on bone-shattering riffs—once their killing machine started, nothing could stop them. Definitely a band you should check out!
Domination Inc.: Another interesting band here! See Domination Inc. live, and you’ll love them! At New Long Fest, we enjoyed their solid death metal/modern metal/hardcore approach and were absolutely swept away by their relentless aggression and brutal energy. The guitar sound was fiery, and the vocals were an absolute blast! I didn’t know much about them before, but their set was compelling. That’s adrenaline, that’s sonic violence! A talented band with a lot of promise!
Calyces: Then one of my favorite Greek bands took the stage! Calyces had released a solid sophomore album a few months ago, and seeing them live was a priority for me. Their Mastodon-like metal, infused with modern metal, groove metal, and prog metal elements, was super satisfying as they played with conviction and passion. If you like energetic music with plenty of technical skill and a psychedelic vibe, Calyces is for you! It was a blast!
1000mods: One of Greece’s finest exports in the heavy/stoner rock genre, 1000mods played for us and showed us how live music should be done. The headliners of the first day delivered a kick-ass performance and achieved yet another sonic triumph! With so many great songs in their live repertoire, failure was impossible—in fact, they nailed it, delivering perfect sound and connecting deeply with an audience that adored them. The best way to close out the first day of the fest, 1000mods took us to a euphoric state of mind!
