On the night of October 18th, 2024, the upper floor of
Thessaloniki's Eightball Club hosted a concert that featured CLEAVERCULT,
PIRANHA, and METHEDRAS. Despite a disappointingly small crowd, these bands
earned my respect for their professionalism and passion. They performed their
setlists with energy and enthusiasm, undeterred by the sparse audience, truly
embodying the spirit of live music.
The lack of turnout could be attributed to several
factors: another concert was happening downstairs at the same time, it was a
weekday, and economic constraints often lead the Thessaloniki crowd to be
selective when it comes to attending shows. This raises concerns about the
difficulty in seeing new bands in the city, as audiences often gravitate
towards the familiar.
CLEAVERCULT had the unenviable task of opening the
night. Over the course of 30 to 40 minutes, they demonstrated their cohesion as
a band, delivering their old-school death metal with thrash and black metal
elements with conviction. Despite their classic influences, they didn’t sound
dated. With more live shows under their belt, their stage presence and
confidence are bound to grow.
Next up were Athens-based PIRANHA, a band that has
been active since 1987. Their blend of thrash and death metal, combined with
their seasoned experience, made for an impressive performance. I particularly
appreciated the harmonious infusion of classic heavy metal elements and
atmosphere into their sound, adding depth and variety to their aggressive
style. PIRANHA are a band well worth catching live.
Finally, the Italian METHEDRAS took the stage,
bringing their modern thrash metal sound, packed with grooves, to the fore.
Drawing influence from Pantera, later-era Sepultura, and fellow Italians
Extrema (a fact they confirmed in an interview with me), their performance was
anchored by the fiery passion of vocalist Rex Caruso. Guitarist Daniele
Colombo’s solos were stellar, while bassist Andrea Bochi and the drummer
provided a solid, driving rhythm section. If they return to Thessaloniki, I
highly recommend seeing them live.
Text by Nick Parastatidis
Photos by Joanna Gonas
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