by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

After five years, Nightstalker returned with a new album, “Return from the Point of No Return”. Which are your feelings about it?

Well, every album feels like a new beginning in life… It’s a painful but creative process you have to go through. It takes a lot of effort and energy, but in the end, I feel lighter in my soul.

There is a contradiction in the title of the new album. What do you mean with this album title?

There were times in the past when I hit rock bottom, but somehow, I managed to get back on my feet again. It’s never too late to achieve your goals. Sometimes it feels like I came back from the dead…

How does this album differ from your previous releases, both musically and thematically? How much has Nightstalker progressed?

We’re wiser now… This is the first album I made completely sober—well, “Cali sober”—but it means a lot to me because it captures a very dark era of my life. Many of my friends and loved ones passed away during these 5–6 years, and I had to walk away from people I once trusted because they weren’t good for my mental or physical health, hahaha. All of that, I just poured into the record.

From the tracklist, are there any songs you’re particularly excited for fans to hear? Any personal favorites?

Oh yes, I really like “Heavy Trippin’”, because it has that ’90s “Use Your Illusion” vibe. And “Shallow Grave” is special to me, because it reminds me of people who are no longer around.

Heavy Psych Sounds is once again releasing your album. How has your collaboration with them influenced the band’s reach and sound?

We have a very good collaboration so far. But it doesn’t affect our sound. This is something that we have already established through those years.

What was the writing and recording process like this time around? Did it differ from past albums?

Hmm, only the quarantine years were different. Those years that we could not rehearse altogether but we were composing individually. And also an enthusiasm when this era ended and we could have again our time as a band.

Who is responsible for the mixing and the mastering of the new album? Which things did you pay attention to, during the whole production?

John Sotiropoulos (the previous guitarist of 1000mods) from Wreck It Sound studio did the mix and Brad Boatright from Audiosiege did the master.

What were the main lyrical inspirations for this album? Any specific themes that run through it?

The lyrics are just thoughts, feelings, and situations I’ve been through over the years. Looking back, my life wasn’t exactly easy. I put myself in very dark places. It took me a long time to get out of substance and alcohol abuse.

You’ve been a band for over three decades. How do you keep the creative fire burning?

The main idea is to play music as long as we can! We love making music, and we’re not dead yet, hahaha. For us, music isn’t just a way of living—it’s life itself. It’s do or die.

Nightstalker played a pivotal role in shaping the Greek heavy rock scene. How do you feel about the evolution of the genre over the years?

When we started, there was no real stoner or heavy rock scene in Greece. Over the years, we watched bands come and go because rock ’n’ roll isn’t easy here. But in the last 20 years, bands started taking it seriously and professionally. The internet also gave the scene a huge push. Back then, we couldn’t even afford drumsticks… Now, anyone can go tour Europe or beyond.

“Just A Burn” and “Dead Rock Commandos” are considered classics of the genre. How do you view those albums today?

“Just a Burn” came out 21 years ago, and “Dead Rock Commandos” about 13 years ago. When I listen to some of those songs now, it takes me right back to those days. It’s like looking at old photographs.

The Greek heavy rock scene has flourished in recent years. Do you see any new bands that remind you of yourselves when you were starting out?

You know, there are many young people out there who still have that spark in their eyes! I see bands that are really into it. It’s a hard path, so you have to truly believe in it. Just don’t quit…

You’ve built a reputation for powerful live performances. What makes a Nightstalker show so electrifying?

I think it’s the music! And also, we’re real people, hahaha.

Three decades in, what is the ultimate goal for Nightstalker? What do you still hope to achieve?

To play music until we die, hahaha. I don’t think we have some bigger mission—we just love rock ’n’ roll. It’s a need, like food.

I always wanted to ask you – why did you select the name “Nightstalker” for the band?

It all happened by chance. Back in ’89, someone wanted to put two of our songs on a compilation, so we needed a band name. One Sunday after rehearsal, we went to the park to smoke a joint and think about it. We had an English-Greek dictionary with us, so we opened it at random. The page was on the letter “N,” and the first word we saw was Nightstalker. It looked tough enough for a band—in a good way—so we kept it.

You took part in the Heavy Psych Sounds Festival in Athens, on March 8^th. How do you remember this participation of yours in that Fest?

I love playing festivals, so that was a great night! Heavy Psych makes amazing festivals.

You have just returned from tour! Give us all the info about the tour! How did it go? Which particular concert(s) from that tour would you keep in mind with joy?

Every time I’m on tour, I’m having a great time because I’m with my people, playing music. We get to see old friends again, and we’re constantly traveling. Every night, every gig, is unique. But one show I’ll never forget was in France, up in the Alps, at a ski resort covered in snow. Unforgettable!

Send your message to the fans! 

I just want to say thank you for all your support through the years.

Nightstalker are playing live together with Naxatras on September 14th at Technopolis, Gazi, Athens Greece. Don’t miss this fascinating live show!   

Το άρθρο NIGHTSTALKER – HEAVY ROCK COMMANDOS! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Christina X

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Very few bands have captured the raw spirit of heavy/desert rock quite like Nightstalker. Today, the pioneers of the genre in the Greek scene, with thirty plus years of headbanging experience under their belts, rock stadiums.
Their spark was evident right from the beginning. Hailing from the gorgeous Athens, the quartet has made headlines and left a massive impact in the scene. 1994’s “Side Fx”, the band’s debut release, was a psychedelic dream, right what they planned it to be. With head-shaking and mind-boggling rhythms, the maniacs left nothing to the imagination as they unleashed their creations to an ever-growing crowd. “Use”, the band’s second album from 1996 (later re-issued in 2006) was an immediate hit. The hour-long, fuzz-fused trip was cathartic yet drenched in paranoia. As Argyris Galiatsatos, the band’s vocalist, stated in an interview: “The album I would give to someone who’s listening to Nightstalker for the first time is “Use””.
The lineup has ever so slightly changed during the course of the years, but as of today, desert rock stars Nightstalker consist of: Argy Galiatsatos, the gravel toned, soaked in whiskey and relentless vocalist behind the microphone, Dinos Roulos, the powerhouse drummer that lays down thunder with a tribal groove, Tolis Motsios, the ever so electric guy behind the razor sharp and fuzzy guitars and Andreas Lagios, down tuned bass hero that blends and fuses notes like thunder.
Nightstalker have released nine, full of that desert like, intoxicating tone, albums as of 2025. With tracks like “Dead Rock Commandos”, “Sweet Knife” and “The Dog That No One Wanted” taking the rock and metal world by storm, the Godfathers of the genre Nightstalker went from playing local shows and small festivals to touring the world and playing huge venues and at renowned events.
Their latest intoxicating album “Return from the Point Of No Return”, just released in 2025, has been met with glowing, or should we say psych inducing, positive feedback and singles like “Uncut” are a clear record of that. The album is a thunderous sermon of fuzz and fire. Groovy, and unapologetically heavy, it drags the spirit of stoner rock into a new era.
Nightstalker are raw. They carry the weight of years spent on the road, in smoky rooms, under stage lights, and in the hearts of loyal fans. Their sound is heavy but never forced, groovy but never polished, staying true to the band’s roots while still feeling fresh. There’s something timeless about the way they play, like the music was always there, waiting to be heard.

And now, that raw energy comes to life on stage. On May 9th at Principal Club Theater, Thessaloniki, Nightstalker will bring the full force to fans, unfiltered, and alive. It’s more than a gig. It’s a celebration of everything they’ve built, a night where the riffs hit harder, the grooves run deeper, and the spirit of true rock ‘n’ roll fills the air. Whether you’ve followed them for years or you’re just discovering the noise, this is a show you won’t want to miss.

Here are some very interesting things/facts about Nightstalker

• Nightstalker were founded in Athens in 1989, predating the global stoner rock wave. At the time, their sound was closer to grunge and heavy rock, which later evolved into the signature fuzzy, desert-drenched stoner style they are known for today.
• Frontman Argy, with his gritty, powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence, has become a cult figure in the Greek rock scene. He has remained the face and voice of Nightstalker through every incarnation of the band.
• In the earliest lineups, Argy was the band’s drummer! He eventually stepped up to vocals, establishing the classic lineup formula of the band. His transition significantly shaped the band’s identity.
• Andreas Lagios, a key part of Nightstalker’s modern lineup, played bass for black metal legends Rotting Christ, highlighting the cross-pollination within the Greek heavy music scene.
• Following their “Wounded“ EP (1995), Nightstalker slowed their activity. It wasn’t until 2000’s “The Ritual” EP that they began to rise again with renewed energy and a heavier stoner direction.
• Nightstalker are part of the Heavy Psych Sounds roster, one of the most respected stoner/doom/psych rock labels in the world, which includes names like Brant Bjork, Nebula, and Yawning Man.
• Their 2012 album “Dead Rock Commandos” was a turning point, earning them a broader international fanbase. The record’s catchy riffs, massive grooves, and raw production captured the essence of what modern stoner rock could be.
• The band described the title “Dead Rock Commandos” as a nod to the dying breed of rockers who live and breathe rock ‘n’ roll, walking alone against the tide of pop culture and conformity.
• Nightstalker’s success in staying true to their underground roots while achieving cult status helped lay the groundwork for Greece’s flourishing stoner and heavy rock scene, influencing acts like 1000mods, Planet of Zeus and Villagers of Ioannina City.

Το άρθρο NIGHTSTALKER – A RETROSPECTIVE εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.