Septicflesh, the Greek pioneers of symphonic death metal, who collaborated with the Symphony Orchestra of Mexico in 2019, are back full throttle, poised to collaborate this time with the Athens State Orchestra at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. For the first time, a death metal band will perform at the Herodeion, and the Greek audience will witness art and history in the making! Myth of Rock had the privilege of talking with Christos Antoniou (guitars, orchestral arrangements) of Septicflesh, and just a few days before this monumental event, we share our conversation with you.
by Ira Bunia
Good evening Christos, how are you?
I’m fine, Ira … We are calming down!!
First of all, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honor of speaking to us due to the time pressure you have some days before the upcoming live at Herodeion … 28/09/2024 … A goal comes true or better one of your dreams. The greatest and most historic theatre in Greece will be filled that Saturday with your tunes and the sky will hiss with the explosion of real metal. For the first time in Greece, the Athens State Orchestra will meet the explosive Septicflesh. Which are your feelings about this big event?
We feel the pressure, but we are also very happy that we got this iconic space, we have been chasing it for a long time, many years. We have the beneficial stress, which will give us the boost to make a very worthy performance so that the people who will see something special in this historical place will also be pleased.
Your symphonic death metal sound was presented with a symphonic orchestra for the first time in 2019, at the Metropolitan Theatre of Mexico City, with the Symphony Orchestra of Mexico (140 musicians and a 40-member choir). It was truly a masterpiece and if I may say so, only pride and chills you could cause to us on a national level. No matter how many times we see it, we want more. Do you feel justification that the state institutions have finally become more open minded and you will be the first death metal band to play in the most iconic theatre under the Acropolis?
We definitely see an improvement from the system, small, but it is there. You know the system continues to support other types of music and consequently leaves no space for rock and metal to express itself. What is going to be done is an important step, but there must also be a continuation. Otherwise it will be as it never happened. The scene and metal in general should be helped.
Do you think that other notable rock/metal artists will then have the opportunity to play in Herodeion?
Well, I don’t know if there will be a continuation of Herodeion, but it’s not only Herodeion, there are other things too that need to be improved in the scene and in metal in general. In other words, there must be a sequel to Herodeion, which will help the scene to a significant extent.
Over sixty musicians on stage under the direction of the internationally renowned Dutch conductor Koen Schoots, in the Herodeion. Give us some info about that.
We are proud to collaborate with the state orchestra, which is the best orchestra in Greece, with a conductor who, as you said, is internationally renowned and who will also give his own touch to the whole show. The fact that we will have a foreign conductor also shows how seriously we have taken this project. That is, we want to have a perfect result at all levels.
Regarding the presence of Septicflesh on stage, should we expect to see and hear any surprises?
You know this show is going to be a special show anyway, I don’t think it needs a rant on spectacle etc. The essence and the art will speak more. It is also a space that must be respected, the sound must be at the right levels. We will have some guests on some songs which will be presented only by the orchestra. We will focus on the essence, that is, to present something that will remain in the people, without fires, fireworks, etc.
We would love to know if you’re going to play tracks from most of your albums!
We will move on the paths we have been following the last few years. That’s why we also have the orchestra after “Communion”, we will play “Communion” tracks and later. We have no plans at this time to present anything from the old discography, from the first era. It needs another approach. It’s not that simple. We also have an album to present, “Modern Primitive”. In other words, think about playing for the first time in Herodeion with the state orchestra and playing for example from fifty songs the thirty ones from the old discography. It needs a different approach.
Next important stop, again Mexico City, in 2025 … Tell us a little about the audience there … It must be super, as far as energy is concerned.
Well, Mexicans live for metal, they have a different mentality compared to us. We have our own temperament, you know, the Southern Europeans. The Mexicans are more rock/metal oriented. I’m not saying that it’s a warmer audience compared to the Greek, but we have a lot to deal with, it’s not like I’m the crazy one who complains about the system. It’s just that there isn’t enough space for metal here, you see.
Do you think that metal stumbles over many obstacles in Greece?
Of course. If we were Norway, things would be different on all levels. Mexico has a stronger rock/metal culture than we do … we have been through so much to get to Herodeion, We heard crazy things. I’ll speak, when the time comes, you understand. In other words, we talked with orchestras, okay, not advanced level, and they considered us to be out of their league. But you see, sometimes things turn out not as planned. We will play with the best orchestra in Greece and we will play in this emblematic place, which, you know, they are trying to fill it with poison, you know.
In Mexico, you will play with the same orchestra you played in 2019?
We will play with another orchestra that we played at the festival a year ago.
Christos, thank you very much for talking to us. Good luck from all of us and soon we will enjoy you on the 28th September 2024 at the famous Odeon of Herodes Atticus in the Acropolis of Athens!
Take care, Ira.
