As it does every year, the historic New Long Festival returned to Nea Makri this summer. This year’s edition was particularly special, as the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary. On June 20 and 21, all roads led to the Nea Makri Cultural and Sports Park, where twenty-two bands, the vast majority of them Greek, took to the stage to deliver their live performances. Naturally, Myth of Rock couldn’t miss the occasion. Below, you can read what took place at this year’s New Long Festival and our impressions of the event.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Before we move on to each band’s performance, I’d like to point out that this year’s New Long Festival was primarily a punk-oriented event, although there were still a handful of acts representing other musical styles. As a result of this stronger punk and lighter metal focus, fewer metal fans attended the festival this time around. Nevertheless, New Long Festival once again demonstrated why it is regarded as one of Greece’s most important alternative and underground music institutions. Now, let’s take a closer look at what happened over those two days, one day at a time.
Day 1
As is our custom on such occasions, we arrived at the festival grounds just as the gates opened to the public. Dressed lightly, carrying plenty of bottles of water, and eager for an afternoon and evening of great, loud music, we found the perfect spot to enjoy the eleven bands performing on the festival’s first day. As usual, the performances alternated between the main stage and the smaller stage.
Chlorini: Chlorini had the honor of opening the festival at 6:00 p.m. A young band that describes its own sound as pop punk, they took to the stage despite the heat and the still modest crowd. The quartet delivered their melodic punk with plenty of enthusiasm, performing their Greek-language songs with energy and genuine passion, leaving a very positive impression. It was clear that Chlorini have real potential, and if they continue on this path, they are capable of achieving great things.
Monoblok: Next up were Athens-based Monoblok, who treated us to a memorable set of their post-punk sound. The four-piece delivered their compelling material with drive and confidence, steadily winning over the audience as the crowd continued to grow throughout the evening. Backed by a solid sound mix and displaying excellent preparation, Monoblok invited us into their distinctive musical world, where post-punk blends seamlessly with indie rock and electronic influences. My first encounter with the band was an undeniably enjoyable one.
Grim Love: The action then shifted back to the main stage for Grim Love, one of the fastest-rising and most promising bands on the Greek modern metal scene. I was thoroughly impressed by their Mataroa album, and their live performance certainly lived up to my expectations. Their set was relentless, with crushing riffs and memorable melodies shaking the audience from start to finish. The vocalist also delivered a strong performance, although signs of fatigue became noticeable towards the end of the set. Performances like this make it clear that Grim Love have all the ingredients to achieve major success—and sooner rather than later.
Conceive: Things became considerably heavier with Conceive, whose hardcore sound is infused with a strong dose of metal. Their performance proved to be one of the day’s highlights, thanks to crushing riffs, devastating grooves, and songs that hit with remarkable immediacy. Even though this isn’t usually my preferred style, I genuinely loved Conceive and their ferocious brand of metallic hardcore. With this level of aggression, intensity, and inspiration, this is a band that clearly has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
Herta: Herta are already well known to many, largely because they feature Konstantinos Togas of Nightrage, are signed to Lifeforce Records, and have built a solid reputation through many live appearances. Their performance at New Long Fest 2026 certainly lived up to that reputation. Once again, their songs stood out thanks to Togas’ outstanding vocals, the band’s irresistible groove, and the sharp, technically accomplished guitar work. Herta gave an all-out performance, benefited from a strong sound mix, and won over the audience with ease. They are clearly on a steady upward trajectory, and it won’t be long before they’re receiving even greater recognition.
Above Us The Waves: The metal presence continued with Above Us The Waves, whose sound is firmly rooted in metalcore. What stood out most during their New Long Fest performance was the incredible energy they poured into every moment of their set, channeling it through a collection of highly infectious songs. With years of experience and several releases under their belt, they displayed the confidence and tightness of a seasoned live act. In short, they tore the place apart and left the audience wanting more. This is a band that deserves to be on every metal fan’s radar.
Junkheart: Junkheart took us back to the world of Greek-language melodic punk rock. The Athens-based band has contributed greatly to the genre over the years, and their performance proved that they are currently at the peak of their creative powers. They played with infectious enthusiasm, kept their foot firmly on the accelerator, and shared their stories through a set full of energy and positivity. The audience clearly enjoyed every minute, and the band seemed just as delighted to be performing their excellent songs for us. Personally, I added another name to my list of Greece’s finest punk bands—a recognition I probably should have given them much sooner.
My Turn: And then it was time for My Turn. The punk/hardcore story continued with full intensity. Another highly respectable band from the Greek scene took their place at New Long Fest, and as expected, chaos erupted both on and off the stage. My Turn proved that they fully master their craft, delivering songs that stick in your head and rhythms that immediately ignite mayhem in the pit. Among their strongest assets are the relentless, fast-flowing vocals and the sharp, aggressive guitar work that cuts through everything with precision. It was a set defined by energy, urgency, and constant motion—exactly what this kind of music is meant to deliver.
Psychobreak: Hailing from Thessaloniki, Psychobreak have been active in the Greek-language punk rock/hardcore scene for years and are well known for their catchy, rhythm-driven punk anthems. Many people at the festival seemed to be there specifically for them—there were plenty of Psychobreak T-shirts in the crowd—so it was no surprise that the response to their set was extremely enthusiastic. Seeing them live made it immediately clear why they generate so much buzz. Massive, explosive, and overwhelming, Psychobreak truly blew our minds.
Strafi: Strafi followed next, taking over the reins of the punk rock celebration. I’ll be honest—I wasn’t familiar with them beforehand, and as I quickly realized, that was a mistake on my part. While they may not be reinventing the punk rock wheel, they certainly bring real value to the local scene. They hit the New Long Fest stage with full force, delivering their Greek-language punk with undeniable momentum and pulling the audience into a frenzy of rage and melody. I’m pretty sure that with performances like this, Strafi are anything but a waste of time.
Bad Movies: Bad Movies were the headliners of the first day of New Long Fest, and it’s worth noting that they managed to fill the amphitheater at the main stage. And rightly so, as their Greek-language punk rock is highly uplifting and extremely infectious. The crowd made a tremendous amount of noise during every song, with everyone singing along, screaming, and moving together in unison. The Thessaloniki-based band clearly showed they have a loyal and dedicated following, and they proved that their material translates very effectively into a live setting. Personally, however, I found the vocals a bit one-dimensional, even if not necessarily bad. Still, in an electrified atmosphere full of excitement, Bad Movies delivered exactly what their fans came for and closed the first day of the festival in a state of pure joy. Well done to them.
