Varathron
Varathron | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ioannina, Greece |
| Genres | Black Metal |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | |
| Website | varathron |
| Members |
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Varathron are a Greek black metal band currently based in Ioannina, Greece, founded in 1988. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands in this region. Alongside Rotting Christ and Necromantia, they are also considered pioneers in establishing the Greek black metal scene that was prevalent in the early 1990s.[1]
History[edit]
Varathron were founded in Athens in early 1988 by vocalist Stefan “Necroabyssious” Karasavvas, bassist Jim “Mutilator” Patsouris, drummer Spyros “Captain Death” Papanastasatos and a guitarist only known as John.[2] Most of the original band members were, at the time, already involved in other bands that would eventually become prominent in the early underground metal scene of Greece; Jim Mutilator was a founding member and the original bassist of Rotting Christ, while Spyros Captain Death and John had been members of the grindcore band Sound Pollution. The band’s first demo, Procreation of the Unaltered Evil was released in late 1989 and was met with acclaim, despite its low sound quality. Following a few line-up changes – including the addition of Themis Tolis of Rotting Christ on drums – the band would later release an E.P., titled One Step Beyond Dreams in 1990 and a split-LP with Necromantia, another prominent Greek black metal group, titled Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins, in 1992.
After a number of additional personnel changes, leaving Necroabyssious and Mutilator as the only original members, Varathron released their debut album, His Majesty at the Swamp in 1993, through the Dutch label Cyber Music Records. The album was met with critical acclaim.
Following the release of the album, Jim Mutilator also left the band, leaving Stefan Necroabyssious the only founding member. However, Varathron were eventually re-formed, consisting of Stefan Necroabyssious on vocals accompanied by Pyrphoros of the pagan black metal band Kawir on guitars and bass and keyboards player known as Adrastos. With this line-up, Varathron released their second album, Walpurgisnacht, through the Greek label Unisound Records in 1995.
In 1999, the E.P. The Lament of Gods was released through the Polish label Pagan Records, including four original songs, as well as a cover of Merciful Fate’s Nuns Have No Fun. The latter would later be included in a tribute album to Merciful Fate, also consisting of cover songs performed by Acheron, Vital Remains, Soilwork and Dan Swano.
Varathron’s third album, Crowsreign, was released in 2004 by the Greek label Black Lotus Records.
Their fourth album, Stygian Forces of Scorn, was originally intended for release in 2007, but was delayed due to the dissolution of Black Lotus.[2] The album was eventually released in 2009 by the Spanish Label Die Todesrune Records.
As of 2014, Varathron have been signed to the Polish Label Agonia Records, which is also home to a number of other Greek black and death metal bands.
Varathron released their fifth album, Untrodden Corridors of Hades, in 2014. The album, notably, contains a music adaptation of Eliphas Levi’s Kabbalistic Invocation of Solomon.
The band’s fifth album, Patriarchs of Evil, was released in 2018.
Varathron’s first official live album, titled Glorification Under the Latin Moon, was released in September 2020.[3]
Musical style[edit]
Varathron are considered one of the most important acts of the early 1990s Greek black metal scene.[4] Their debut album, His Majesty at the Swamp, alongside Rotting Christ’s Thy Mighty Contract and Necromantia’s Crossing the Fiery Path, is regarded as responsible for defining and popularizing the signature Greek black metal sound which, compared to the Norwegian style that was prevalent at the time, is characterized by mid-tempo pacing and more traditional metal riffing and melodies.[5] The band’s lyrical themes mostly focus on occultism.
Band members[edit]
Current Members[edit]
- Stefan “Necroabyssious” Karasavvas – Vocals (1988-present)
- Achilleas “Crown” Kalantzis – Bass (2004-2005), Guitars (2004-present)
- Haris Kokkinos – Drums (2004-present)
- Sotiris Kokkinos – Guitars (2005-present)
- Stratos Kountouras – Bass (2012-present)
Former Members[edit]
- Jim “Mutilator” Patsouris – Bass (1988-1993)
- Spiros “Captain Death” Papanastasatos – Drums (1988-1989)
- John – Guitars (1988-1992)
- Themis Tolis – Drums (1990-1992)
- Stavros Mitropoulos – Guitars (1990-1992)
- Dimitris “Necroslaughter” – Guitars (1992-1993)
- Pyrphoros – Guitars, Bass (1994-1999)
- Adrastos – Keyboards (1994-1995)
- Bill "Crazy Wizard" – Keyboards (1995-2007)
- Tolis - Bass (2005-2012)
Discography[edit]
Full-length albums[edit]
- His Majesty at the Swamp (1993, Cyber Music)
- Walpurgisnacht (1995, Unisound Records)
- Crowsreign (2004, Black Lotus Records)
- Stygian Forces of Scorn (2009, Die Todesrune Records)
- Untrodden Corridors of Hades (2014, Agonia Records)
- Patriarchs of Evil (2018, Agonia Records)
Live albums[edit]
- Live at the Swamp (Live rehearsal recordings from 1990, Time Before Time Records 2004)
- Glorification Under the Latin Moon (Agonia Records, 2020)
EPs[edit]
- One Step Beyond Dreams (1990, Black Vomit Records)
- The Lament of Gods (1997, Pagan Records)
- The Confessional of the Black Penitents (2015, Agonia Records)
Demos, singles and split-LPs[edit]
- Procreation of the Unaltered Evil (Demo, 1989)
- Genesis of Apocryphal Desire (Demo, 1990)
- Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins (Split with Necromantia, Black Power Records, 1992)
- Sarmutius Pegorus (Demo, 1997)
- Darkness Has Landed (Split with Desolation, Floga Records, 2009)
- Emissaries of the Darkened Call - Three Nails in the Coffin of Humanity (split with Black Altar and Thornspawn, Floga Records / Hellsfire Records – vinyl / Odium Records – CD, 2012)
- Old Demons Rise (Split with Den Saakaldte, Floga Records, 2014)
- Duality of the Unholy Existence (Split with Rotting Christ, Hells Headbangers Records)
Compilations[edit]
- Genesis of Apocryphal Desire (Compilation of early demo songs and previously unreleased material, Cursed Productions, 1997)
- Varathron 1989/1991 (Early demo releases and a 1991 live performance, Ordealis Records, 2004)
- Walpurgisnacht / His Majesty at the Swamp / The Lament of Gods (Double CD compilation of their two first full lengths and the 1999 EP ''The Lament of Gods'', Mutilation Productions, 2004)
- Genesis of the Unaltered Evil (Compilation of demos and split-LPs up to 2012, Nuclear War Now! Productions, 2012)
- Archegonic Abysmal Dominion (Box Set, Floga Records, 2018)
Music videos[edit]
- Into the Absurd (2018)
- Son of the Moon – Live in São Paulo (2019)
References[edit]
- ↑ Welton, Benjamin (2016-02-24). "Up From the Chthonic Depths: A Brief History of Greek Black Metal". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Biography". Varathron | Official Site. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ↑ Latsara, Crystal. "Interview with Varathron | Metal Invader". Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ↑ Welton, Benjamin (2016-02-24). "Up From the Chthonic Depths: A Brief History of Greek Black Metal". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ↑ dzorr (2019-06-06). "Thy Mighty Contract: A Guide to the Hellenic Black Metal Scene". Ride Into Glory. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
External links[edit]
Media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 466: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 466: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]] at Wikimedia Commons- Official Website
- Varathron at Encyclopaedia Metallum
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