The Haunted, regarded as one of the most remarkable thrash metal bands in today’s global metal scene, returned to Athens almost ten years after their previous live show here. Myth of Rock, excited to see The Haunted on stage again, didn’t miss the chance to catch them in action! Although they’re not one of my favourite bands, I made sure to get ready for this exceptional concert.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Around 8:30 p.m., the first band hit the stage – I See Red, a Greek death metal act already known for their fine blend of extreme metal. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but soon enough I See Red proved their potential and distinctive character. Without any fuss, they appeared before us and unleashed their death metal assault. It quickly became clear that their sound combines elements of brutal and technical death metal, along with touches of melodic death and black metal. I really enjoyed their songs – they show that this Greek band knows how to write music and lyrics in its own extreme metal style. I also loved their set, which proved they know how to deliver the goods live. Their vocalist, in particular, impressed me with his powerful performance. Check out this band – they’ve got great things to offer.
After I See Red, the baton was passed to the other special guests of the night, Amken. The extreme metal powerhouse from Athens wasted no time and began catapulting their thrash metal anthems with passion and confidence. They were relentless, and nothing could stop them. I really like the band’s top-class material, and once again, I enjoyed their thrash metal menace, their breakneck tempos, their maturity, and their tight musicianship. They were in great spirits, had the sound they wanted, and gave the fans exactly what they came for. It’s true that the audience wasn’t as energetic as the band expected, but that didn’t hold Amken back – they did far more than simply their job! It was a thrash metal holocaust – the band delivered another excellent performance, proving once again that Amken is a guarantee of pure, old-school thrash metal. They truly live by the motto “full speed or nothing!” I’m really curious to hear their new album – all these powerful live shows have clearly forged Amken in fire!
Amken finished their set, and the audience – which had almost packed the Gagarin 205 venue – was eagerly anticipating the arrival of The Haunted. The Swedish thrash metal masters didn’t keep us waiting for long; at around 10:30 p.m., they stormed the stage and unleashed a thrash metal maelstrom! The Haunted were furious and merciless, firing off one killer track after another and sending their fans into pure hysteria. There was no doubt that The Haunted still have it – their thrash metal assault was both breath-taking and commanding. I truly enjoyed their fantastic live show: the band’s massive riffs, the anvil-heavy rhythm section, and the awe-inspiring vocals of Marco Aro were more than enough to leave everyone stunned. With the lead guitar weaving a rich electric tapestry over the backbone of thunderous drums, bass, and rhythm guitar, The Haunted catapulted their signature thrash metal sound with devastating precision. The sound was loud and clear; the songs carried the power and quality of the studio versions, yet burned with the raw energy of the stage. The Haunted are a full-throttle thrash metal machine – but beneath all that ferocity, there’s a surprising depth of emotion in their music and lyrics. Their superb, no-nonsense, no-compromise set – packed with fan favourites – lasted an hour and a half and delivered exactly what we came for. The Haunted did it, and they did it fabulously!
What we experienced that night was incredible! The young talent of I See Red, the maturity of Amken, and the top quality of The Haunted made this live show a truly great moment in Athens’ concert history. After seeing and hearing three fantastic bands on stage, we made our way back home, happy and fulfilled, with the riffs of the night still echoing in our heads!
