Photo – Annie Atlasman © 2025
Renowned for chart-topping albums such as City of Evil, Nightmare and Hail to the King, A7X brought their signature blend of rich melodic metal and electrifying stagecraft to Athens. The set showcased firm fan favourites like “Bat Country”, “Afterlife” and the eponymous “Nightmare”, executed with theatrical production and powerhouse performance.
The atmosphere was electric: soaring guitar solos, thunderous drums and M. Shadows’ commanding vocals filled the open-air space by the sea. As the Deathbat Army chanted and cheered, the band left no doubt that this debut was poised to become legendary in the annals of Greek live music.
Adding further excitement to the day’s proceedings were theatrical rockers Palaye Royale, who delivered a flamboyant and high-energy set that won over the Athens crowd in no time. Frontman Remington Leith stalked the stage with his usual charisma, while brothers Sebastian Danzig and Emerson Barrett brought their distinctive visual flair and alt-glam chaos to the fore.
Blending elements of classic rock, punk attitude and art-house style, the trio proved to be the perfect foil to the evening’s headliners, injecting a jolt of swagger and spectacle into the early evening slot.
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This wasn’t merely a performance, it was a robust celebration of A7X’s 25-year legacy, delivered in style by one of the metal world’s most revered acts. Greek fans were treated to a full-throttle evening that will be etched into memory, as the band made their grand entrance into Greece’s rock pantheon.
The metal celebration doesn’t stop there. Release Athens Festival continues to raise the bar with more blistering performances on the horizon. On 19th July, metal monoliths Gojira return for a night of punishing, precision-driven chaos.
Fresh from their history-making appearance at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, the French giants will be joined by Italian gothic legends Lacuna Coil and British heavyweights While She Sleeps, a dream line-up for any modern metal fan.
Then, on 23rd July, the festival’s metal trifecta reaches its crescendo with a prog-heavy spectacle headlined by the mighty Dream Theater, celebrating 40 years of trailblazing progressive metal. They’ll be joined by genre-defying juggernauts Mastodon and rising stars Haken, promising a monumental send-off to the summer’s heaviest chapter. Tickets are on sale now via this link.
www.overdrive.ie
Photos – @AnnieNYHC © 2025