The “Metal Queen” Doro Pesch returns to Greece, celebrating 44 years of an active career on the scene, with two special shows in the country. For Obscurus Rex, sharing the stage with one of heavy metal’s most iconic voices comes at a key moment for the band, just three months before the release of their debut full-length album, “…et homo factus est,” in December 2026.

Obscurus Rex were formed in Athens in 2021 by bassist Panos Karabelas. Drawing influences from a wide range of metal styles, they have developed their own sound, combining powerful riffs with melody and resisting easy categorization. Following their “Stand Up and Be Counted” EP (2023), the new album reveals a heavier side of the band without sacrificing their melodic character. At Fuzz, the audience will hear tracks from the new release performed live for the first time.

On October 1, 2026, they also released the first taste of their upcoming material on their official YouTube channel, with the music video for “Apex Predator”.

Obscurus Rex are:
Manos Xanthakis – Vocals
Giannis Sideris – Guitar
Sotiris Romaios – Guitar
Panos Karabelas – Bass
Stelios Sioulas – Drums

Το άρθρο OBSCURUS REX: TO SUPPORT DORO PESCH IN ATHENS εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Darkness had already fallen when we arrived outside the Athens venue. The doors had not opened yet, but Blackbriar fans had already started arriving, dressed in black, many of them with a strong gothic aesthetic and clearly impatient for the show to begin. The doors soon opened and we made our way inside, taking a position on the right side of the stage. As time passed, more and more people entered the venue, with the crowd eventually filling half of Fuzz by the time the first band took the stage.

Supporting Blackbriar were the Greek band Oceandvst. The three-piece took the stage at 9 p.m., exactly as scheduled, and started their set in a very warm and positive atmosphere. It did not take Oceandvst long to win the crowd over. They have strong original songs that sound particularly good in a live setting, and they quickly had the audience on their feet. This was one of the best support performances I have seen in Greece in recent years. Yes, Oceandvst have talent, personality, soul and that natural confidence of a band that knows it has what it takes to succeed. Everyone was excited by their songs, their covers of “All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u. and “Going Under” by Evanescence, as well as their impressive stage presence. Chrysa, in particular, is a true rock persona! We were therefore treated to a fantastic alt-rock/metal band that gave us some great moments before Blackbriar took the stage. The future belongs to Oceandvst!

And so, we reached 10 p.m., when Blackbriar finally took the stage. From the very first notes, the crowd went wild, breaking into cheers and applause. The five musicians, led by Zora Cock, took their places on the spacious stage and launched into a set featuring some of their best songs. Clad in black, Blackbriar unleashed their melodic gothic metal attack, proving that everything people say about them is true. They are genuinely a surprisingly capable band, with fantastic compositions, individual talent, impressive chemistry and a unique vision. They deserve every bit of praise they receive, and they deserve to go high, very high! Zora Cock, wearing a beautiful lace dress, captivated us with her siren-like voice, while the rest of the band gave it everything they had, delivering an excellent performance. On this magnificent night, we watched Blackbriar establish themselves as rising stars of gothic metal, taking us deep into the dark, mysterious waters of their gothic aesthetic. They even brought a loom onto the stage!Their music was like a fairy tale, their lyrics like poetry, and their whole appearance simply enchanting. They really are a highly aspiring band, ready to make their dream come true. Those of us lucky enough to be at Fuzz understood it and believed it! Truly beautiful moments, both for the quintet and for their fans!

Blackbriar played for an hour and a half, giving us an ecstatic live show full of lyricism, magic and dark charm. Overall, it was a truly enjoyable night, with female-fronted rock/metal taking center stage. It is a night we will remember for a long time, and we are already looking forward to seeing both Oceandvst and Blackbriar on stage again!

Το άρθρο BLACKBRIAR, OCEANDVST – FUZZ CLUB, ATHENS, GREECE – 23/09/2026 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Formed in Athens in 2008, Mother of Millions have spent more than fifteen years carving their own path through the modern progressive world. Equal parts cinematic and massive, subtle and overwhelming, they’ve become one of the most respected Greek bands on the international stage, and one of the few whose music genuinely transforms the listener. If you’ve ever seen them live, you already know: this band takes you somewhere else!

Mother of Millions began their journey in the late 2000s, slowly shaping a sound that blended progressive rock, atmospheric metal, post-rock textures, folk influences and a strong sense of cinematic storytelling. Their early years were marked by experimentation — not the “show-off” type, but experimentation rooted in emotion and concept.

Their debut (“Human”) arrived in 2014 through Turkey Vulture Records and Universal Music Group distribution, immediately catching the attention of listeners with its dense atmosphere and thematic weight. It introduced their motto “Rise, Evolve”, taken from the track “Evolving”, and laid the foundation for everything that came after.

Three years later came “Sigma”, released through ViciSolum Productions. A concept album centered around silence — not as absence, but as a state of tension and inertia, it pushed the band into deeper emotional territory. Musically, it felt at once intimate and monumental. Critically, it positioned them as one of the most compelling new voices in European progressive metal.

“Artifacts” landed in 2019 and marked a major artistic peak, receiving glowing reviews from fans and press worldwide. But it also became tied forever to tragedy. During the promotional shows for the album, the band lost their keyboardist and dear friend Makis Tsamkosoglou in June 2019. It was a devastating moment, one that could have ended the story entirely. But Mother of Millions chose to continue. Not out of stubbornness, but out of respect, out of love: from that point on, they moved forward as a quartet.

 The “Orbit” EP (2022) marked their return. Short, atmospheric, emotionally heavy, it showed a band grieving, healing and redefining themselves.

In 2024 came “Magna Mater”, the album that re-established them creatively and emotionally. It was layered, cinematic, brutally honest at times, and easily one of their strongest works, a chapter that demanded to be heard from start to finish.

Throughout their career, Mother of Millions have proven to be a powerful live act. Their shows often sell out in Athens, but their audience extends far beyond Greek borders. They’ve toured Europe, joining Textures on their final tour and supporting Ruud Jolie’s For All We Know in the Netherlands. They’ve shared the stage with bands like Pain of Salvation, Devin Townsend Project, Leprous, Oceans of Slumber, Sleepmakeswaves and Septicflesh — artists who, like them, treat music as a form of storytelling rather than simple entertainment.

Even their name carries weight. Mother of Millions comes from the plant Bryophyllum delagoense, known for its intense reproduction and toxicity. The band has explained that this dual nature — the ability to create endlessly while also containing danger — felt like the perfect metaphor for society and the human condition. Their logo reinforces this symbolism: an X-like mark, reminiscent of a warning sign, but also functioning as a heraldic banner bearing the band’s initials.

Mother of Millions are often labeled as post/progressive metal, but these descriptions barely scratch the surface. Their music is built on hypnotic rhythms, cinematic textures, atmospheric build-ups, post-rock tension, folk-inspired nuances and a constant sense of emotional storytelling.  Their influences range from Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Porcupine Tree and Explosions in the Sky, to heavier or more modern acts like Tool and Pain of Salvation. Film composers such as Hans Zimmer also leave their mark, shaping the band’s cinematic identity. The important thing, though, is how all these influences are filtered: carefully, elegantly, in service of atmosphere and meaning. Mother of Millions have never sounded like anyone but themselves.

The death of keyboardist Makis Tsamkosoglou in 2019 was a turning point that could have shattered them. Instead, the band transformed their grief into art. Since then, every note they write carries an additional weight.

Now, as “Magna Mater” completes its cycle and the band prepares to enter the studio once again, their story is far from finished. If anything, they seem more focused, more committed to their vision than ever.

Their upcoming show on November 22, 2025, at Fuzz Live Music Club stands as a final celebration before the next chapter begins. With Part of the Theory and Within Progress joining them, the night promises to be a proof that creativity and passion exist within the Greek progressive metal scene.

Το άρθρο MOTHER OF MILLIONS – RESHAPING PROG METAL εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.