Massive thanks and serious respect to Acid Death ๐ค๐
Cheers to the band for taking the time to sit down with The Riff Report Blog and dive deep into riffs, roots, and all things gloriously extreme. Legends from the Greek underground doing things properly โ sharp minds, heavy sounds, zero ego. Exactly how it should be ๐ฅ
If you somehow havenโt locked into Acid Death yet, get stuck in below and prepare your neck accordingly:
๐ Official site: https://www.aciddeath.net/
๐ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcidDeathGR
๐บ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/aciddeathgr
๐ธ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aciddeathgr/
Big love from Wales ๐ค
More riffs, more chaos, more interviews incomingโฆ stay loud ๐ค
๐ฅย Origins, Chaos & Early Days
โ1.โAcid Death were brewing extreme metal in Greece long before it was fashionable. What was the underground scene like when you first started, and did it feel like you were pushing against the tide?
Well, thatโs a really good question! Extreme Metal in Greece wasnโt so unknown when we started the band in 1989โฆ There was Extreme Metal scene in Greece but in a rather different forms. There were many Grindcore, Punk and Hardcore bands those days. Thrash and Death Metal were at the first steps. We started as a Death/Thrash band at the first recordings. Progressive elements came to our music later, in 1995. When we released โPieces Of Mankindโ album the title โProgressive Death Metalโ followed us and actually we were the first Greek band with this title. Yes, it was not easy but today there are many Greek bands that play Death Metal with Progressive elements.ย ย
โ2.โSavvas and Dennis, as founding members, what was the original vision for Acid Death? Did you always plan to be this experimental, or did it evolve naturally through trial, error and noise?
Well, we didnโt have that plan in mind. The first thought back in 1989 was to play fast music like our idolsโฆ After the recordings or our very first album, โBalance Of Powerโ that included some technical elements, we decided that adding some more experimental parts would give a different and better taste in our music. So we actually changed our music direction to more technical ways. Of course the trials were in our daily routine, we had rehearsals 3-4 days in a week. It wasnโt easy at the first steps!
โ3.โEarly Acid Death material feels raw, unhinged and fearless. Were there any rules you deliberately broke back then just to see what would happen?
Yes. At first we decided not to follow any of the current music styles that were poplar at any season. You know, Gothic Metal, Alternative, a more โParadise Lostโ style, or even a more Swedish Death Metal styleโฆ We had the thought that โbreake the rule of trying to be popular, just try to be yourselfโ will work for us. After many-many years this worked for us.
๐ง ย Experimental Sound & Musical Evolution
โ4.โAcid Death have never sat comfortably in one genre box. How important is experimentation to the bandโs identity?
It was and still is very-very important! We always try to be better album-by-album. The โeasyโ way of sitting comfortably in a box is something we donโt like as stance in life generally. This is clear to our music also. Thatโs ACID DEATH.
โ5.โDo you ever worry about alienating parts of the death metal crowd by pushing boundaries, or is that half the fun?
No.. We just do our best, presenting our songs with the better way we can. It is more honest that everything else. Sometimes, yes, there are some fans who donโt accept our music. But the same happened to all bands that play live. You cannot be โokโ for everyone!
โ6.โLooking back across the discography, which album best represents Acid Death right now, not just musically but mentally?
For sure our latest one,โEvolutionโ. It includes all the musical elements of our course and mentally it is an album that has a very clear and contemporary theme. Human Evolution through the Ages.
๐ฅย Line-Ups, Brotherhood & Musical Chemistry
โ7.โAcid Deathโs line-up has evolved over the years. How has each member shaped the bandโs sound and attitude?
The truth is that our lineup is stable from 2012 when we released or 1st โcome backโ album, โEidolonโ. There were some line up changes in the past but nothing special. It is very important for a band to have a good and stable line up so everyone knows the good and bad elements of the other members and all together create on a stable basis. That is our big advantage. We are more a family that a typical band.
โ8.โKostas and John, what was it like stepping into a band with such a cult legacy already attached?
Kostas was a big ACID DEATH fan in early 90โs He was following us at the local Athenian shows, he had always a good thing to say on our music. On the other hand, John was a newer fan after bandโs come back in 2011. Both guys entered the band and give their 100% on what we do
โ9.โWhen new members join, is it more about technical skill, mindset, or surviving rehearsals without losing your sanity?
Actually it was a serious decision for band survival. The older members back in 2000 were not the ideal cooperators. So many problems and most of all were buried under the carpet.. ACID DEATH is a band, not just some people who exist together and create problems the one to the other. John and Kostas were the idea cooperators in this trip but finally they became a family. Not just musicians who play in a band.
๐ฏ๏ธย Legacy Members & Influences
โ10.โPast members like Themis Katsimichas and Gus G played key roles in the bandโs journey. How important were those chapters in shaping what Acid Death became?
Themis Katsimichas was the lyric creator that season. We are talking about years 1992 to 1999. He made to create the lyrical profile of the band, including influences from personalities like Stephen King or Clive Barker. It as a really bis shock when he decided to quit the band, on the other hand is was a life decision. We totally understood that decision. Gus K, was just a guitar player who joined the band for just one year. Nothing more.
โ11.โAre there any riffs, songs or moments from former line-ups that still haunt the band in a good way?
Yes, we still add some songs from bandโs first period in our set lists. E.x. โApathy Murders Hopeโ is a song that we always play at shows.
โ12.โIf you could pull one former member back in for a one-off Acid Death chaos set, who would it be and why?
Sorry to tellโฆNo one! Except Themis Katsimichas, who joined our show 1-2 time in the recent past, as guest member.
๐ธย Live Shows & Controlled Mayhem
โ13.โAcid Death on record is intense, but Acid Death live feels dangerous. How do you translate that experimental chaos onto a stage?
It is always a challenge! We try to perform all the tracks on their entirely. For this case we use some pre-recorded parts, not too complex, but with this method we make to perform the tracks in a way like the sound on the records. Of course rehearsing is in our routine, something very important for a live performance.
โ14.โDo you prefer small, sweaty club shows or bigger festival stages where the sound can really stretch its legs?
Actually, yes, we prefer the less big venues with a more familiar atmosphere. But we can perform very well also to big venues of festival stages.
โ15.โAny gigs over the years that went completely off the rails but somehow became legendary?
Yes, it was back in 1993 when we had to play as a trio and it was a decision that was taken on the fly just because Themis was serving his military services.. With no rehearsal for more than 5 months. Just the three of us and we had a headline appearance in an Athenian venue. We thought โno wayโฆIt will be a disaster!โ It was one of the strongest shows we had ever performed!
๐ฉธย Greek Metal Scene & Underground Survival
โ16.โGreece has produced some iconic extreme metal bands. How do you see Acid Deathโs place in that legacy?
– We are part of this legacy. Of course we are less known than megatherions like Rotting Christ or Sepic Flesh, but we belong to the same generation. Imagine that we started almost together with these legends and we are still here creating music and performing live shows as all of them.
โ17.โWhat advice would you give to new underground bands trying to survive without compromising their sound?
One and only. Be honest with what you do!
โ18.โDoes the Greek scene still feel as tight-knit and rebellious as it did in the early days?
This is a big conversationโฆ Of course some things remain the same but actually everyone changes as the years pass. There are really good bands, really good musicians butโฆ Sometimes only social media matter! And this is something we donโt like at all!
โธป
๐ฎ The Future of Acid Death
โ19.โIs Acid Death still evolving, or have you reached a point where the band finally feels โcompleteโ?
โSky Is The Limitโ as we say! ACID DEATH is still evolving. There are so many good things in music that we have never tried. We are here to try them in the future.
โ20.โWhat can fans expect next โ new material, more experimentation, or total sonic destruction?
At first many live shows. It is too early to talk about a new album butโฆyou nevr know!
โ21.โIf Acid Death ended tomorrow, how would you want the band to be remembered?
Of course for the good music and the low and honest profile. Thatโs what we are.
โกย Quickfire Riff Report Round
โ22.โHeaviest Acid Death riff ever written?
Forging The Chainsโ first music theme.
โ23.โAlbum you wish youโd written?
We dare sayโฆ โSpiritual Healingโ
โ24.โOne word to describe Acid Death in 2026?
โEvolutionโ
โ25.โBeer after the gig or silence in a dark room?
Beer in a dark roomโฆand one cigarette please!
