[Live Report] Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, This is Nowhere @An Club, Athens 11/4/2014

After three great albums, and a tour supporting the mighty Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats visited Greece for the very first time, starting from An Club in Athens. The packed up venue, and “This is Nowhere” as opening act, seemed the best way to set solid foundations for a great gig.
 

[Playlist of the Week] 14/4/2014 - 27/4/2014

The members of Downtuned Magazine suggest music for the week

Thanos > Circle - Lokki 

Kavaldi >  Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Over and over again
Parasight > Faith No More - Cuckoo For Caca
Victor >  The Re-Stoned - Shaman
Pijo > Aunt Mary - G Flat Road
Just a Burn >  Nick Waterhouse - Dead Room
Sotos >  1000mods - Claws
Vasilis Durden > Fields of Locust - Fog
Lyk > Yasmine Hamdan - Hal
Christos A > Rush -Tom Sawyer
Pol Lord & Sonic D. > Swans - The Seer Returns

[Live Report] Villagers of Ioannina City, Chinese Basement @ Mylos Club Thessaloniki 2014-04-04

This isn't an ordinary live report because it wasn't supposed to be a report, I knew it couldn't be just a   report... All the following are some feelings I would like to (try to) share with the world. Such feelings usually are hard to be described by words but right now this is the best that I can do for you. I will just try to describe you all that I experienced that night and I hope I can make it (well at least I want to try).

Going to this gig I knew what I was going to face... I knew in what kind of meteorite's trajectory I was walking in, and I was eager to do it. I arrived in the venue much sooner that the expected starting time of the gig 'cause I wanted to meet with some friends. Entering the venue I noticed that people was already inside and I thought this was a good sign... a sign that those people knew where they came and what for. I had the chance to meet friends that I had pretty much time to see and the chance to meet some new people also.

[Interview] Down with Burn the Sun

Welcome to Downtuned

Tell us a few words about the group, when and where did you get started? How did you meet?

Well the story goes a little like this. Fotis (guitars)  and Angelos (percussion) were in the same high school. At some point we became aware of each others musical interests and we said ‘you know what?’ lets start a band. Soon we were joined by Angelo’s brother Stamatis (guitars, vocals). We spent around two years jamming in Angelos attic basically learning how to play our instruments and function as a band. Even back then we were more interested in creating our own music rather than playing covers. At last the band was complete with the inclusion of our first bass player Andreas. With the line up complete we started playing some small gigs witch led us to playing Schoolwave in 2011, a great festival focused on bands around school age. Back then we were called ‘Scapegoat’, more of a middle ground than name since we couldn’t agree on something else. After that festival our sound started to change, becoming more mature and unique, or so  we like to tell ourselves. This is when we changed our name to ‘Burn the Sun’ and recorded our first demo. Since then the bass guitar duties have fallen to the worthy hands of George, we continued playing gigs, creating more music and trying to find a musical identity. Couple of months ago we finished the recordings of our second EP ‘Crack of Dawn’ at Unreal Studioz  which is now in the stage of mastering and it’s coming out really soon.

[Review] Meanwhile in Mexico - Rosengrantz and Guildenstern are Deaf

Way more than a year after it was anticipated (judging by the time it was recorded, according to the band), the debut LP from Meanwhile in Mexico is finally here.This is a record that sets brand new standards in music using experimentation and innovation as vehicles, and will inspire future generations to boldly discover and invent new musical styles and genres. Well umm NO. This is a surf rock record duh. So why should anybody go and listen to a surf rock record in 2014? What new could it possibly have to offer to the listener?

[Interview] Down with Korsikov

Welcome to Downtuned

Tell us a few words about the group, when and where did you get started?

How did you meet?

Hello Downtuned! The idea of getting a band together goes back to 2001 when Giorgos and Stavros were studying at the university. In 2005 they met Yiannis at a party and after a few beers more we arranged our first rehearsal, back then known to the world as Horny By Dawn. The name changed to Korsikov in 2006 before our first live show in Farsala. Back then we were a four piece with Mitsos of Released Anger on bass.

[Live Report] Belzebong, Automaton, Omega Monolith @ Six d.o.g.s., Athens 5/4/2014

It seems that being a stoner rock /stoner doom fan in Greece, is kind of blessing these days. The local “scene” has a solid presence, and lots of well-known bands of this genre visit Greece quite often. On Saturday (5/4) it was Belzebong’s turn to pay a visit to our country, and more specifically to Six d.o.g.s. club in Athens. “Omega Monolith” and “Automaton” were also there, and judging from the result, they were something more than “supporting” bands.

[Playlist of the Week] 7/4/2014 - 13/4/2014

The members of Downtuned Magazine suggest music for the week

Thanos > Pharaoh Overlord - Revolution
Kavaldi >  Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell - The Thicker The Better
Parasight > Villagers of Ioannina City - Perdikomata
Victor >  Sonic Mass - Iron Bong
Pijo > Aluk Todolo - Occult Rock II
Just a Burn > This is Nowhere - Theme for Peter
Sotos >  Villagers of Ioannina City - St. Triad
Vasilis Durden > Villagers of Ioannina City - Τούτοι οι μπάτσοι που ΄ρθαν τώρα
Christos A > Deftones - Diamond Eyes

Pol Lord & Sonic D. > Bad Liquor Pond - Saccharine

[Review] Lizardia - s/t

It’s early in 2014 and Lizardia have released their debut self-titled album. After “the Serpent’s Trace”, a seven track demo which was released in 2008 and “Home Recordings”, which was released in 2011, they’re coming back more potent than ever.

[Review] Villagers Of Ioannina City - Riza

The other day, I went to visit Thanos for some beers. When I got to his place, he had just downloaded a new album from a Greek band, called Villagers Of Ioannina City. He suggested to give it a couple of spins, so I can also take a taste of Greek traditional music since I have never heard of anything similar. I didn’t know what to expect of course. After a small intro, a song called “Echoes” kicked in. Among the conventional “rock instruments”, here it was standing proud… a clarinet. I’ll be damned!

Playing a kind of music I’ve never heard before. It was so strange but in the same time I felt really attracted to it. When I listened to the polyphonic part, I was in love. What kind of sorcery is this, I asked myself.

In the end of the evening, I took the album with me and I have listened it fiercely since then. Thanos translated the lyrics to me, leading me to a deeper understanding and emotions. I also invested some time in checking the original songs that these guys transfered to us today.