editorial Αρχεία - Myth Of Rock

IT’S ONLY ROCK N’ ROLL, BABY!

MythofRock — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:58:10 +0000

There’s been a lot of controversy in recent days over James Hetfield’s statement that Metallica, as a band, don’t want to express political opinions or influence their fans. Instead, they want to help us forget all the political bullshit, because Metallica means love, energy, and heavy music. Many people are criticizing Hetfield for this statement, apparently considering the American metallers sellouts, while others agree with him and believe Metallica are right to remain apolitical. I belong to the latter group. Let’s break it down, though.

I believe that art should not be politically committed or connected to politics and religion. We shouldn’t mix these things together, since art has absolutely nothing to do with political or religious beliefs! Why should we give art a political or religious character? Art, and music in particular, is not a means to achieve something. It is not a tool for political and religious soldiers and generals. On the contrary, art is entertainment, a way for the soul to express itself, and its purpose is the inner purification and redemption of both the creator and the person experiencing the creation. Music purifies you. It keeps you away from ulterior motives, pettiness and self-interest, and teaches you to respect others, regardless of what they believe in or where they stand!

Besides, music brings people together; it doesn’t divide them into camps, groups or churches. Music brings people closer, it doesn’t fan the flames of fanaticism, divide or polarize. We are all brothers and sisters who listen to rock and metal, in this case. Music means so much to us and connects us in an inseparable way, creating a close-knit community united by a shared spirit. No political or religious ideology will ever destroy the harmony that music brings. Politics and religion belong to different spheres, unrelated to notes, harmonies and chords! Regardless of our political affiliations or which God we believe in, we have our songs, with their melodies, choruses and riffs, that will accompany us throughout our lives.

I wonder about something. If Metallica, Iron Maiden or Judas Priest expressed a political opinion or religious belief in their songs that you disagreed with, how would you react? Would you still listen to that band? Even if it were just those particular songs? I don’t think so. And that would be where the damage was done! What we listened to would depend on whether an artist shared our beliefs! Such a political or religious stance expressed through music would influence us, as we would reject the “politically committed” artist! Polarization would only be a matter of time…

I want to listen to music and escape from it all! I can’t listen to my favorite musicians only to have them constantly bombarding me with politics or their metaphysical beliefs. I don’t want to get depressed by politics, nor do I want my soul to be darkened by opposing concepts such as “angel or demon” and “heaven or hell”. Where each of us stands is something we can decide for ourselves at another time, certainly not while listening to an inspired rock or metal album.

That’s why Hetfield is right! We’re talking about music, energy, and love! Not about who each of us votes for, for example, when election day comes! It’s only rock ’n’ roll, baby!

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

P.S.: Yes, Metallica have made statements through their songs. But let’s ask ourselves: are these statements political, or are they anti-war, humanistic, and in favor of love?!

Το άρθρο IT’S ONLY ROCK N’ ROLL, BABY! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

03/12/2025

MythofRock — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:16:54 +0000

Happy new month to everyone!
December has arrived, and with it, winter too.
And honestly… it was about time!
The new European tour of Judas Priest was just announced — and Greece is nowhere on the list.
At least, not yet. Let’s hold onto that for now, because surprises do happen.
Around the same time, Evanescence revealed their brand-new world tour… and again, Greece didn’t make the first cut.
It only confirms what we all know too well: Greece is almost never part of the initial plans of tour managers or bands. It’s frustrating, sure — but it’s practically tradition at this point.
Still, the live music scene here is far from quiet. In fact, the number of shows happening across the country is massive. From the big mainstream names to the thriving underground movement, there are concerts for every taste, every genre, every true lover of music.
The downside? There are simply too many great shows for the average Greek fan to attend them all. Most of us don’t have the time — or the budget — to be everywhere at once. For fans, it’s a very pleasant struggle… but for organizers, it can be a real challenge.
We can’t go to everything —That’s just how it is.
The same goes for media outlets like the Myth of Rock team. As much as we’d love to be present at every gig, it’s physically impossible to cover them all. So, our mission remains clear: to report on the most important live shows each week and shine a spotlight on the moments that shape the scene.
We receive all press releases, evaluate them carefully, and decide which shows will be featured — always with respect to the music and the community behind it.
This doesn’t mean smaller gigs don’t matter to us. On the contrary: that’s where many incredible, still-emerging and highly talented bands really come alive. They might still be fighting for commercial recognition, but not for our attention.
So — keep sending us your live news! Even if we can’t attend in person, your shows will still be included in our online agenda and reach the audience they deserve.
And of course — we are always open to becoming a communication sponsor for your live event. One message is all it takes: contact us at dzaxmetal@yahoo.gr and we’ll sort everything out together!
That’s it for now, my friends. I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with health, good energy, and unforgettable music moments!
Stay safe, have fun, take care of each other… and always: Rock on! 🤘🔥

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Το άρθρο 03/12/2025 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

02/10/2025

MythofRock — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:45:57 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, greetings! Here’s to a great season ahead!
I hope you are all doing well!
Did you recharge your “batteries” over the summer?
I hope so, because we always need to gather strength for what’s next.
How about summer festivals – how did that go?
Myth of Rock was everywhere, bringing you our impressions and now preparing the autumn reports.
And this autumn started in the best way possible, with the Rock Hard Festival Greece at Athens’ Technopolis.
From the way things look, it’s going to be a concert-packed autumn!
May we all stay healthy so we can attend as many live shows as we want!
At the end of September, we also had the (third) historic Septicflesh show at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The memories of a death metal band performing with a classical orchestra in that awe-inspiring archaeological venue are still fresh.
A truly shocking artistic event, one that generally opens doors for metal, pushing aside prejudices and hatred.
However, I’d like to point out something … fan behavior and fan chants don’t belong in the Odeon.
The Odeon is not a stadium! In the Odeon, warm applause is the best, most meaningful and fitting way for the audience to express itself.
I know that we metalheads usually express our passion and joy more intensely, but chanting, for example, doesn’t suit an archaeological site!
Still, as we saw, the Greek metal audience once again respected the monument of the Odeon. And for that, we all deserve congratulations.
It was also an opportunity for the authorities to see that metalheads know how to adapt and show respect when and where it is required.
OK, in the metal community there are always a few rowdy types, but I think we’re talking about a very small minority.
Metal is a vast world, where you can find everything! All kinds of people. So yes, even rowdies too!
But the majority of metal fans behave appropriately in each case.
Having said that, I want to mention one little detail that really annoys me at metal concerts: often fans throw cups into the crowd.
Is it possible this happens? You’re standing there, enjoying your favorite band, and suddenly a plastic cup lands on your head?!
Doesn’t that drive you mad? Are we serious?
But I shouldn’t get too worked up! After all, it’s something that happens and will keep happening.
Still, we need to express ourselves, to say what we don’t like!
Only if we express ourselves as human beings, with dignity, can we find solutions to different problems and issues.
And this also applies to us, rockers/metalheads.
That’s all for now. Talk to you soon.
Take care! Rock On!

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

[This Editorial’s photo is the front cover of Lake of Tears’ “Forever Autumn” album, which was released in 1999 by Black Mark, a fantastic record of melodic/gothic/atmosperic rock]

Το άρθρο 02/10/2025 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Editorial – 01/08/2025

MythofRock — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:20:21 +0000

• Hey guys!
• How are you? Hope you’re doing well!
• How was your concert summer in Athens?
• Because today Dark Angel are playing at Gagarin 205, and that’s it for Athens this summer.
• So, let’s do a little recap.
• The most emotional moment of the summer was the historic Savatage live show at Terra Republic and the performance of “The Spirit Carries On” by Dream Theater.
• The biggest surprise came from Avenged Sevenfold, who proved just how powerful they are as the next big band, and from King Diamond, who showed he can still hit those high notes. Gojira were also super, but we already knew that!
• There wasn’t really any disappointment – everyone was at least good! Even W.A.S.P., who we were afraid would rely too much on pre-recorded vocals, but thankfully that didn’t happen!
• Alice Cooper was, as always, a god, Beth Gibbons was heart-wrenching, Fantastic Negrito was full of passion, and we even got to see The Hooters – super melodic and absolutely flawless.
• The organization of the festivals went quite well overall, though there are a few complaints.
• Like with Release Athens Festival, which takes place at Plateia Nerou – after each day, there was total traffic chaos!
• And at Rockwave Festival, where the decision to move the Opeth and SatchVai live shows from Lycabettus to other venues didn’t really work out – for various reasons, the new venues just weren’t as suitable.
• The organizers need to take a look at what didn’t go so well and fix it.
• After all, the enemy of good is better!
• The rest of the festivals are happening outside of Athens, in the provinces.
• We’ve got Golden R, Rethymno Rocks, Over The Wall, and Metal Union festivals.
• Hopefully, those festivals go well too, because they really need our support.
• Though honestly… where can we find the money for all these live shows?!
• At least, wherever we can go, let’s go!
• Maybe drink a few fewer beers at our favorite rock/metal hangout.
• Of the upcoming festivals, they all look interesting, though personally I’m really looking forward to Golden R because of the lineup.
• Let’s all have a great time at the upcoming live shows and get some rest during the holiday season!
• From me – have a great summer, take care, rock on, and we’ll catch up again in September!

Το άρθρο Editorial – 01/08/2025 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

SEPTEMBER 2024

MythofRock — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:29:03 +0000

September ends and we get to mid-autumn, and a new season has already began. However, before October comes, we have a special event on the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece on October 28th, 2024. Septicflesh are going to play there with the Athens State Orchestra, just like they brilliantly did some years ago with the Mexican Symphony Orchestra in Mexico City! So, Septicflesh is the first death metal band to play at the Herodeion, this historic place next to the Acropolis. As thousands of head-bangers will gather there, it is history that will be written, and a dream is coming true. Apart from the historical significance though, this event is a huge step for heavy metal in our country, Greece. Because in such a small, conservative country, it is very important that a death metal band is recognized and that the Greek State takes a death metal band seriously. With this concert taboos are broken, progress is made and the anti-metal culture seems to have been overcome. Septicflesh has all the qualifications to perform at this legendary place and their death metal style shall not be an obstacle! Chris Antoniou, guitarist and orchestral arranger of Septicflesh, was interviewed in Myth of Rock, and said some very intriguing things about all the meanings of this upcoming event and the whole situation that the band copes with. Other good news is that this collaboration of Septicflesh with the Athens State Orchestra will take place at a full Herodeion, as the event is for days now sold-out! Many metal fans from all around the world will be there, plus many people, who have never been to a heavy metal concert! So, brothers and sisters put on your nice clothes and pack the Herodeion as soon as the entrance is open! These happenings are a life-time experience, artistic phenomenon that will live with us forever on. From my side, I would like to wish that we all will have a good time at this Saturday evening. Rock on!

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Το άρθρο SEPTEMBER 2024 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

August 2024

MythofRock — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:37:55 +0000

Today is the first day of August 2024, the third month of summer, and the high temperatures continue to make us suffer. It’s a sign of the climate change, but, anyway, we are in deep summer, so it’s natural that it is hot outside. Most festivals have finished here in Athens, Greece, since the concert season is over in the capital of Greece. Both Release Athens Festival and Ejekt Festival are past now, and with the exception of the Placebo and the Lenny Kravitz live shows, we don’t have other major concerts here. So, it is time to see what significant we lived this summer in the live stages of Athens.
First of all, the best show belongs to Rammstein, who literally set everything on fire. They had an amazing, incredible production and if you take into consideration their super loud sound, you can understand why – in my opinion – the German industrial rock superstars mad the best live performance of the summer. This season began so empatically, so the bar was high for the rest of the bands that were scheduled for Athens, Greece. The Offspring were the next big thing to happen, their show in Release Fest was great, however, I think that they could have been even more energetic and vivid with their fans. Coldplay gave also an incredible show and touched the Greek audience with their evocative melodies, yet, as i mentioned before, the top belongs to Rammstein. And one thing with the live appearance of Coldplay, I think their concert had some weak moments and wasn’t cohesive. Release Athens Festival continued with Blind Guardian and Megadeth – well, these two top acts are a guaranty for the attendees, who all enjoyed the superb performance of these historic, legendary bands. It’s always a pleasure to experience the formidable force of Hansi Kürsch and co and the thrash mania of Dave Mustaine and his gang. The best day of Release Athens Festival was the evening that Accept, Bruce Dickinson and Judas Priest played for us! We are talking about monumental live performances from Bruce and Priest, plus a nice introduction by the Teutonic armada of Accept. Dickinson was at a great mood, he even played the refrain of “Alexander the Great” by Iron Maiden for the Greek fans. After the incidents with the flare guns in OAKA last year, Dickinson was somehow apologetic. Priest were also stunning, having a great Rob Halford, who sang better than Priest’s last gig in Athens two years ago. Some other highlights of this summer were the extraordinary live show of Rotting Christ at the Rockwave Nights Fest on the Lycabettus hill, the otherworldly live show of Opeth on the Lycabettus hill too and the compelling gig of Ross the Boss at Temple – he played a 100% Manowar set! The concert that disappointed me was the one of Smashing Pumpkins, who didn’t have a good sound (too blurry and too much bass, I would say) and the show which made me think and prompted me to explore the bands back catalogue was the show of Massive Attack. As far as I know, the concerts of Behemoth at Release Athens last day and Steel Panther in Thessaloniki were also unforgettable!
So, in a couple of days the summer concerts in Athens, Greece, will have passed – with a positive feeling of course. I would like to wish you nice summer holidays, if you still haven’t gone for holidays, and stay active and … metal! We will be in touch through the digital pages of Myth of Rock and our official social media pages! Take care, my friends.

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photo by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Το άρθρο August 2024 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

January 2024

MythofRock — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:21:50 +0000

The Myth is Reborn! Myth of Rock has undergone a complete transformation, emerging fully renewed, redesigned, and relaunched! After nine years since its inception, Myth of Rock has taken on a new form to stay current, modernize, and align with the latest needs and trends of 2024. In the digital landscape of this year, a website must not only be aesthetically pleasing but also functional, interactive, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. While the essence of Myth of Rock lies in its textual content and writing style, it is equally essential for the website to offer a hospitable and seamless user experience.
The previous iteration of the Myth of Rock website, while a commendable online magazine, was showing signs of age, riddled with errors, and faced various challenges. With this fresh start in 2024, Myth of Rock unveils a completely rebuilt website, promising a new layout, enhanced functionalities, and additional columns. The “Rock and Metal Mythology” section will delve into articles about beloved rock and metal iconic bands, artists, records, genres, personalities, and tributes. In the “Art” section, Myth of Rock expands its coverage to include literature, cinema, TV, theater, and more, offering reviews, articles, and presentations. I would like to thank here Internet Wizards for the great technical job they have done!
However, the core elements that have defined Myth of Rock remain intact. Daily news articles, significant reviews, intriguing interviews, concert reports, and various articles will continue to be just a click away. This relaunch signifies a monumental step forward for Myth of Rock, aspiring to new heights with a promise to be the ultimate companion for all rock and metal enthusiasts. As part of this exciting new chapter, Myth of Rock has joined forces with the radio program “Rock Diadromes” (broadcasting on 94,3 Ellada FM). Together, we plan to venture into the realm of podcasts, featuring special video interviews and presentations.
The Myth of Rock team has expanded as well, welcoming new editors Ira Bunia, Argiro Vailakaki, and Panos Lambropoulos, along with new photo-reporters Iro Kalligeri and Dimitris Kokkinogenis. This is only the beginning of a journey that promises a myriad of experiences, making the Myth of Rock encounter even more multi-dimensional and versatile. Comments and inquiries from the audience are encouraged, with the email dzaxmetal@yahoo.gr available for communication.
Welcome to the new website, ushering in a new era for Myth of Rock. Together, we aim for the stars, promising an exhilarating journey for all rock and metal enthusiasts!

Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Το άρθρο January 2024 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.