Weekends away from town are always great since you can fill your batteries and relax, except if KARMA VIOLENS are making a trip to Agrinio, then you surely won't have any thoughts about relaxing. Two Greek bands along with an Irish one seemed like a really good way to spend my Saturday night there, so without having any second thoughts I paid a visit to Dewars Club. This is the first time I visited the specific club and I have to admit that I was amazed by the really good work they have done in there. You feel welcome from the very first second you step your foot in there, not only because of the warm atmosphere, but also because of the two guys who own it, who are two amazing and friendly metalheads!

Anyway, enough said. I quickly grabbed a beer and turned my eyes towards the stage to watch BEYOND PERCEPTION who has just started their set. I have seen this band again in the past and if you remember I have also reviewed their debut album. The band is a Stoner/Sludge act with lots of influences from bands like DOWN, CROWBAR etc, delivering grooves and breakdown parts that will challenge you to bang you fucking head. The people in Dewars though didn't seem to accept this challenge (only a few exceptions) despite the singer's efforts. Anyway, the band performed songs from its new album "Blood & Whiskey", as well as whiskey soaked tunes from its debut "The Final Descend" (damn, I love that "Know Nothing Tender" groove) and gave its best despite the "cold" crowd. Thumbs up!

The next band was the Irish quartet SIROCCO with its Heavy Metal sound, incorporating elements from THIN LIZZY to METALLICA. Their Folk elements along with their classic Heavy/Thrash Metal sound didn't sound bad at all, but it was kind of "strange" between the other two, more brutal bands. Despite the few mistakes, SIROCCO made my head move up and down. The bad thing is that nobody knew the band and its songs, so the reactions weren't that energetic, but the band didn't seem to bother while delivering the goods. Two guitarists that know how to handle their axes, a tight drummer and singer with a wide range of vocals were more than enough to earn my respect. Cheers mates!

And the moment I was waiting for had come. KARMA VIOLENS hit the stage and are ready to unleash chaos. This was the band's first gig with brand new guitarist Costas Papadopoulos (VERDICT DENIED, DOUBLESQUARE), who seems the perfect fit for George, the other six string killer. These guys seem to get better and better as time goes by and they prove it on stage every single time. The band played with only a few rehearsals with the new guitarist, while Marios was ill, but when the first notes were played everyone realized that those were just details. The bestial vocals of Marios prepared us for the Armageddon that was on its way and the band just went nuts! Performing mostly new songs from the freshly recorded album "Dormancy", as well as a cover of SLAYER's "Raining Blood" and a medley with "Freezing Moon", "Domination", "Symptom Of The Universe" and more, the band managed to make the - unfortunately - few metalheads that were in the club turn into animals! Just think that there was a wall of death during their show, and let me tell you that Dewars is a really small club! Hell, I just realized I didn't stop headbanging until their set was over! The highlight of that night was when John Nakos (MORTAL TORMENT, DARK VISION), a friend of the band, grabbed a microphone to help them with "Into The Core" while wearing a woman's fur coat!

I can't say it was the best gig I have ever witnessed, but for some reason it was the first time I had so much fun during a Metal show. It doesn't take more than good friends, good bands and a nice club to get things going. That's all from me folks. Stay heavy and support the local scene (ok, and the Irish scene, too, hahaha)!

(photos by Velz-Evouli)