Acid Mammoth w/Wormhog & Rascal Whack at Temple

Besides, it was a chance to see Acid Mammoth, Wormhog and Rascal Whack sharing the same stage…

On Friday, November 12th, a mini-festival was organized by Made of Stone Productions (Instagram) featuring three bands from the Greek Doom/Stoner/Heavy rock scene at the venue TempleThis particular scene has enjoyed a great reputation within our borders for many years now. There are quite a few bands that represent us admirably abroad too, boosting the popularity of the Greek scene, and they have nothing to envy from bands of other traditional scenes in the genre.

So, we couldn't wait to spend an evening with heavy sounds, having been deprived of indoor gigs due to the pandemic. So, after scanning our ticket, our vaccination certificate, showing ID,….tax number, social security number, certificate of good social conduct (…humour!) we entered the venue.

The Temple had started filling up early with people eager to enjoy all three bands, and also to check out the merch stalls. The band members were there to help out at the stalls, but also to chat with the punters. The venue seems ideal for small but powerful gigs like some of the ones we've caught here before, and now it was time for the event to kick off!

Rascal Whack

First up on stage were Rascal Whack, a five-piece heavy rock band from Markopoulo who have 2 releases under their belt, with the most recent one coming out this past summer. I hadn't had any prior contact with this particular band, so I'd be hearing their music for the first time tonight.

From the first notes the hard guitars filled the space with a style familiar to those of us who follow the domestic scene. The band started off a bit stiff –maybe from the two-year break from gigs- but there were quite a few friends of the band in the crowd who quickly warmed up the atmosphere. The guitar riffs kept swapping back and forth, while one of the guitarists frequently backed up the main singer with second vocals. 

The band comes across as well put-together with a full sound backed up by their sound engineer and charming melodies, especially for lovers of this particular sound. The tracks sound pleasant and the first neck-bangs started up! The band left me with good impressions, I still need to check them out on Bandcamp.

After playing for about 45 minutes the band left the stage to make way for the 2^nd name on tonight's line-up.

Wormhog

As for the Wormhog I had heard very good things but hadn't happened to actually hear them before tonight's live. The guys come from Tripoli, Arcadia and have released an EP and an album back in 2020.

From the very start of their setlist, the sabbath-y riffs and progressive touches made their appearance! The band plays non-stop at blistering rhythms, while their style and melodic lines reminded me strongly of bands like Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats. The band is very tight and the roles are clearly defined. The bass and drums lay down the carpet for the prog melodies to spread out on. 

The relentless headbanging gave way to atmospheric interludes that kept things interesting, and there was no shortage of bass solo sections either. The band seems ready for big things, with strong songs and a very solid live performance. I don't know if they've played abroad, but I'm sure they could easily hold their own on international festivals and stages within this idiom. Check them out…

Around 22.30 the ritual of Wormhog came to an end with the appearance of the first moshpit of the night! Many more would follow….

Acid Mammoth

A little before 23.00 the familiar doom sounds of the Athenians made their appearance — Acid Mammoth! The band needs no introduction. 

Having already released 3 albums and a split EP, and having played stages in Greece and festivals abroad (they recently appeared at Desertfest Belgium), they've won themselves fanatical fans and become representatives of the Greek doom scene! What caught my interest from the very first moment I got to know the band is that it features father (lead guitar) and son (vocals-guitar)! Truly amazing from every angle!

And the ritual begins! Deafening drums, heavy guitars and riffs pulled straight from the sonic legacy of Iommi and his crew build a wall of sound that makes Temple shake and our ears bleed! Excellent sound and songs that call on you to give yourself over to endless headbanging. The area in front of the stage has turned into a shapeless mass of bodies, moshpits and stage diving give and take, while bodies fall next to us!

And while you wait for the band to slowly ramp up the intensity, the riffs get even heavier and slower, as befits true children of the Black Sabbath doom legacy! For those of you who are lovers of this particular sound, pay attention to Acid Mammoth and follow them to their next live shows.

A little after 00.00, and after treating us to one more song as an encore, Acid Mammoth put an end to a night that left us with the best impressions and a few scrapes….

In conclusion: Support Local Acts….they deserve it!