After several years, the time had finally come for Sacred Reich to return to Athens, and the anticipation was more than justified. Since their return to the stage, the band had already visited the city twice, arguably spoiling the Greek crowd in the best possible way. Add to that a billing completed by crossover veterans Acid Reign (for their first ever live show in Greece) and the “new” band The Troops of Doom, both with more than enough of their own value, motivation and history to make the night worth attending. The fact that the show fell on a Sunday, with a working day following, did little to discourage the dedicated ones from showing up in good numbers and with the right attitude, although the final attendance could have been better. Fans also travelled from different parts of the country, with some even making the trip to Athens only a few days after catching Sacred Reich in Thessaloniki. The combination of the anticipation surrounding the headliners and the promise offered by both support acts made it clear that this was going to be more than just another date on the calendar. The mood was already set for a night of proper, uncompromised thrash metal energy.
by Tasos Bouhoutsos
photos by Tasos Bouhoutsos
The Troops of Doom were the first to take the stage. Although a relatively new band, their lineup includes musicians with serious history behind them, most notably Jairo “Tormentor” Guedz, formerly of Sepultura, and Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik of Sodom and formerly Kreator. Despite the fact that this particular lineup is still relatively recent, the experience of its members was clearly reflected in the way they played together, with the band sounding tight and well connected throughout the set. Their material moved between thrash and early death metal, performed with enough weight and conviction to work very well as an opening set. The sound was somewhat bass-heavy at times, creating a little blur, but whenever things cleared up, the quality of the playing came through. At the same time, there was a certain rawness to the performance that actually suited what The Troops of Doom are trying to achieve. This kind of old-school extreme metal does not necessarily benefit from absolute perfection in sound and execution – sometimes a little dirt and roughness are exactly what keeps the feeling alive. The band seemed to understand that, bringing an appropriately old-school vibe without sacrificing the efficiency of their performance, which was very appreciated by the crowd. Their closing rendition of Sepultura’s “Troops of Doom” was, unsurprisingly, the moment that brought the strongest reaction and provided the fitting connection to Guedz’s past. Their performance certainly earned them some attention and a watch-out for what’s coming next.
Acid Reign followed, and from the very first moments it was obvious that we were in for a true crossover/thrash metal experience that honors the genre and the fans beyond the band itself. The English were immediately energetic, with frontman Howard “H” Smith becoming the undeniable focal point and a genuine driving force. He seemed to be everywhere at once, climbing onto different levels of the stage, moving constantly, interacting with the rest of the band and eventually entering the crowd and the moshpit. At one point he even ended up singing from the bar, while his humorous interaction with both band and audience felt genuinely spontaneous rather than rehearsed. His voice, shockingly unchanged, led the set in a constant “high-energy mode”. What was equally impressive was how tight the band sounded behind him. The sound was clear and balanced, allowing the riffs and tight playing to come through properly, while the younger lineup seemed to have fully embraced the character of the band. H is the only original member, but he clearly remains the person guiding Acid Reign’s identity. The newer material sounds more modern at times but without ever losing that particular crossover/thrash metal personality. Their set, demonstrating songs from all the phases of their discography – with most recent, the album “Daze of the Week” – offered a genuinely authentic experience of a style and attitude that is not so easy to encounter nowadays, and by the time they left the stage, Acid Reign had undoubtedly made a very strong impression. The surprise appearance of “Just Sit There” by Crampsuckers added another nice touch to an enjoyably relentless performance that brought more than smiles in everyone’s faces.
Sacred Reich confidently took the stage and immediately showed that the years have done little to diminish their impact. If anything, the band seems to be enjoying a second youth. Their performance was extremely tight and precise, with enough aggression and live energy to keep everything firmly rooted in the moment. Phil Rind sounded excellent, still instantly recognizable. Wiley Arnett was simple and cool as always, while Joey Radziwill gave his guitar side of the band plenty of presence, feeling like a natural fit, adding to the band’s dynamic. Eduardo Baldo also proved more than worthy of the difficult task of filling the position after Dave McClain, bringing power, stability and precision behind the kit. The set flowed naturally, with enough changes of pace to prevent the performance from ever becoming one-dimensional. The crowd responded accordingly, with constant movement and non-stop moshing, especially during “Ignorance” which set the bar sky-high, only to remain up there throughout the performance. Phil’s interaction with the audience remains one of the strongest elements of the show, since he never becomes excessive in any way. He also – as H did earlier – spoke about people coming together through music and the bonds in this, while a technical problem with the drums was handled calmly and without disturbing the momentum. Most importantly, the band never allowed anything to distract from the songs themselves. The classics carried their weight, the performance remained consistently sharp, and their well-known version of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” fitted naturally into the set, while the final stretch of “Death Squad” and “Surf Nicaragua” brought the show to exactly the kind of aggressive conclusion the crowd had been waiting for. And perhaps the most fitting image of the night came after the notes, when Phil remained at the front of the stage, signing records and memorabilia, handing out picks and talking with people, seemingly in no hurry to leave. Above him, “What a Wonderful World” was playing, creating a contrast with the sounds that had filled the venue moments earlier. Yet there was nothing contradictory about it. The aggression of Sacred Reich has never been about posturing or playing the tough guy. It’s about release, connection and turning anger into something shared. Phil embodies that without forcing it. He can be politically conscious, outspoken and uncompromising, while remaining warm and approachable. And somehow, in that moment, the image confirmed what many of us have probably thought for years: Phil Rind might just be the sweetest guy in thrash.
This special show felt like another strong chapter in a recent series of live experiences centred around thrash metal and heavy music, many of which have taken place at this particular venue. Older bands continue to prove that authenticity, passion and belief have little to do with age, but rather with mentality and appreciation. The atmosphere produced can easily bring longtime followers and younger fans together as one crowd. The bands gave the night its energy, the crowd returned it in full, and as the show came to an end, the image of people smiling and communicating through a sense of release, is what stays in mind first. Hopefully this recent tradition of such musical events continues. See you at the next one.
