by Panos Niko

photos by Panos Niko

Chained Saint kicked off the proceedings setting an aggressive pace with sharp musicianship and heavy down-tuned riffing that instantly woke up the early bird crowd. Following them, Crypta delivered an absolute masterclass in ferocious death metal. The Brazilian powerhouse fronted by the dynamic Fernanda Lira tore through their material with blistering speed and tight technical precision, proving why they are rapidly becoming one of the most vital and exciting forces in modern extreme music today.

Once the stage went dark for Slaughter to Prevail, the tension in the historic venue reached a boiling point. The overall atmosphere was intensely dark, ominous and genuinely creepy at times, heavily amplified by the band’s terrifying masks, “industrial stage presence” and strobe lighting intense enough to induce seizures.

Standing right at the barricade in the front row, the auditory and physical impact was completely visceral. At one point during the set, Alex Terrible stepped up to the edge of the stage and unleashed his signature “unamplified” raw vocals directly over the front rows without a microphone. Hearing that booming, primal roar cut through the air was nothing short of massive. Backed by a world class drummer who pounded out relentless, non-stop blast beats with machine like precision, the band delivered an absolute clinic in modern deathcore execution. The chaotic energy quickly spread through the crowd, erupting into massive “bone crushing” walls of death and swirling mosh pits that consumed the entire venue. Beyond the sheer “musical brutality” the frontman took several meaningful moments between the tracks to connect with the audience. After expressing his gratitude for the Greek fans’ hospitality and unwavering support, he gradually shifted to more personal reflections, speaking candidly about self-improvement, the destructive nature of drug abuse and his own personal journey of getting his life together, adding a deeply human dimension to the evening.

The only minor downside to an otherwise flawless performance was that the headlining set lasted for exactly one hour. However, given the insane physical demands, vocal toll and sheer athletic stamina required to sustain such a hyperaggressive show, the concise runtime made complete sense. By the time the final feedback faded into the warm summer night air, it was clear that this was an absolute triumph for Thessaloniki’s metal scene.

Το άρθρο SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, CRYPTA, CHAINED SAINT – MONI LAZARISTON, THESSALONIKI, GREECE – 25/07/2026 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

 by Christina X
   photos by Christina X

It was a hot summer Friday, when the doors of Moni Lazariston opened up to the hundreds of people queuing to watch their favorite bands perform and everyone was cheerful and full of glee, waiting for the set to start. The evening began with Greek guitar god Gus G. and former Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero immediately getting the crowd worked up with their unmatched instrumental as well as vocal skills. Their gorgeous dynamics and musicianship stole the show and had everyone watching in awe. Gus G. was flawless, as he has always proven to be and gave every last bit he had to the crowd, who in response chanted his name and the lyrics to songs. Gus’ setlist consisted of numerous of his own tracks, some of his band, Firewind, and Rainbow covers. As the show went on and people got rowdy, none other than Steel Panther frontman Michael Starr joined Romero on vocals and wowed everyone. We were slowly approaching the end of Gus’ set and the band said their thank you’s and were on their way, leaving everyone in a haze.

There was a brief pause in between and that gave us a bit of time to prepare for the glam opera that was soon to be among us. Steel Panther took the stage, each one of the members getting cheered as they walked up the ramp. Their glitz and glamour was on show right from the get go and had people mesmerized. Steel Panther, who came to Greece for the first time, made Moni Lazariston fill up with deafening chants, I love you’s and countless signs in the crowd. The band’s banter in between tracks added to their glam and sleazy vibe and made it all more authentic. Tracks like “Asian Hooker”, “Gloryhole” and “Death To All But Metal” were immediate hits, having people jumping up and down to their nostalgic tune. Satchel even greeted the crowd with some newly learned greek of his and just as he joked, the band started playing a cover of “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, with Gus G. coming out to join and unleash his pure power with that ever so catchy riff we all know and love. With scenes straight out of an ‘80s rock star movie, this show definitely took you back in time and served you with a side of glitter and hairspray. As the night slowly came to an end, Steel Panther called for the women in the crowd to come up on stage and dance with them, even having called one up to “write her a song” earlier.

With the vibes in the air still electric and hearts thudding, the band thanked us and left the stage, as a beautifully ominous feeling took over. The words in my head were repeating: this was a night I’d surely never forget!

Το άρθρο STEEL PANTHER, GUS G. FEAT. RONNIE ROMERO – MONI LAZARISTON, THESSALONIKI, GREECE – 12/07/2024 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.