Interview: W.E.B., Gentihaa, Drama Noir | @ Temple Athens | 29.04.23

Three bands that worthily represent symphonic and atmospheric extreme metal sound in our country. We're talking about W.E.B., Gentihaa and Drama Noir. Three acts that each in their own way have laid down their credentials to the maximum degree possible, on a scene of extreme sound with a long and glorious history, a dynamic present and a promising future, joining forces for a night that has all the makings to remain unforgettable for lovers of the genre.  

29 April is shaping up to be one of the standout nights of 2023 in extreme metal, where darkness, passion and atmosphere will be in abundance, offering the crowd an experience everyone will remember. Be there! 

Saturday 29 April 

Doors open 20:00 

Entry 10 euros 

Facebook event

Tickets cost 10€ in presale.

Presale takes place via viva.gr and its network of stores. 

https://www.viva.gr/tickets/music/w-e-b-gentihaa-drama-noir-live-at-temple/ 

Temple Athens (Facebook, Instagram)

Iakhou 17 – 11854 Athens

Tel.: +30 210 3468523 

Ahead of the upcoming show, tell us a bit about your thoughts on this appearance. Tell us a bit about how it came about. Have you played with these particular bands before?

W.E.B.: ‘We haven't played in Athens since 2018, and what could be better than playing at an event framed by bands we're into and who are also our friends. The idea for the event started with Gentihaa, they proposed it to us and of course we immediately started the process of making it happen. We've never appeared together before, none of the bands with each other, but we have a lot of common ground artistically, so it's a collaboration where each one complements the other in their own way.‘

Drama Noir: ‘We're very happy to be part of this particular event. 3 bands representing extreme symphonic sound joining forces for a night that will surely go down in history. The proposal came to us from W.E.B. and Gentihaa, since we had already talked in the past about playing some joint show together and it finally became reality. So far, as Drama Noir we haven't played with either of the 2 bands.‘

Describe to us your most special musical experience? Some live show, some musical memory, some funny story…

W.E.B.: ‘I remember on tour with Batushka in 2018, arriving at a venue in Romania that really didn't even have decent speakers for the crowd, and the dressing room was a room that was still bare concrete behind the stage and had no power. Batushka, so we could somehow use it, filled it with the candles they had for their stage, and suddenly we had something like a church for a dressing room. I remember after our performance at that place, being inside that setting, eating pizza, surrounded by Batushka in their outfits ready to go out and play. It was a completely surreal image and we still remember it and laugh, even though on that day, all the laughter had been knocked out of us by the whole situation.‘

Drama Noir: ‘So far we've only played one live show, in 2019 together with Selefice and Piranha. Definitely a special moment for us was our first record deal and the release of our 2^nd album "A Necromancy Lore" on vinyl. Seeing your hard work on vinyl, for us metalheads I think that was always something very significant.‘

Tell us your thoughts on the music scene in Greece, regarding the genre you represent.

W.E.B.: ‘Greece is a pioneering country in extreme sound when it comes to black metal. We of course don't belong exactly to that, we're in an offshoot of it. There aren't many bands of our kind in our country, and to be honest, I haven't formed a clear picture of what kind of acceptance symphonic extreme metal has in our country beyond the recognition that Rotting Christ and Septicflesh have.‘

Drama Noir: ‘The symphonic metal scene doesn't have many representatives in Greece. Of course the top ones are Septicflesh, who are also a huge influence for us. The Greek metal scene definitely has some really worthwhile bands, and if we could all stand united together, we'd have nothing to envy from equivalent scenes abroad.‘

Tell us a bit about your style and influences. How was the band formed?

W.E.B.: ‘W.E.B. came about completely by accident. At first there were just some friends who'd go to the studio and jam, and that slowly evolved into something more and more permanent and more and more serious. The style wasn't even discussed. It emerged through the compositions – which are obviously the distillation of our influences – through constant experimentation, and whenever we landed on something we liked, we kept it as a song. That's probably why our first 2 releases sound quite a bit more varied, maybe even a bit confused at moments!‘

Drama Noir: ‘The band was formed by Mephisto in Korinthos, in 2017. Since then, with the help of session musicians, some of whom joined permanently, the band has released 1 single, 1 split EP and 3 albums, with the 3^rd coming out in a few days, specifically on 3 May, through Floga Records. As for influences, we could definitely mention Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth and definitely Septicflesh. Still, a band that for us started it all is without a doubt Metallica, and we should also mention Therion, Soulfly, Gojira and Iron Maiden.‘

Tell me a bit about the band's future plans. Upcoming live shows, upcoming albums.

W.E.B.: ‘We're discussing quite a few shows and another tour in Europe within 2023. Once something's official, of course it'll be announced. On the recording front, we've almost finished an EP that's set to come out in early autumn, and a new album is scheduled for 2024. Both will be released through Metal Blade Records of course, since our deal was renewed after "Colosseum”.‘

Drama Noir: ‘We want to play abroad as much as possible and keep releasing records for as long as we can hold out. Alongside that, rehearsals, rehearsals and more rehearsals.‘

To wrap up, we'd like you to tell us what those of us who show up at the gig can expect.

W.E.B.: ‘These are 3 bands aiming to give their best selves for all of you. As for us, as W.E.B. we'll have a full metal show for you with everything that entails. Believe me, you don't want to miss this one.‘

Drama Noir: ‘Thanks for the support, and rest assured that Saturday 29 April will go down in history as the best symphonic metal night of recent years. We're waiting for all of you at Temple!‘