Planet of Zeus: Athenian Southern Rock

They've been around since 2000, playing extensively all over their country, from parties to stadiums. Their raw, honest and constantly evolving live shows secured them a loyal and hardcore underground following that stretches well beyond Greece's borders. After 5 consecutive European tours and many high-profile festivals (Bloodstock etc.), Planet of Zeus were the main support act on Clutch's Psychic Warfare 2015 European tour.

Zeus have released 3 albums. "Eleven the hard way" came out in April 2008, through Casket Music / Copro Records (UK). The album, despite being their debut, received glowing reviews from magazines like Metal Hammer and Kerrang. Even Bruce Dickinson gave it a mention on his BBC radio show. Their second album "Macho Libre," released in May 2011 through B-Otheride Records, was the album that cemented the band in Greece and started building their European reputation.

It all started when...

It all started when Babis and Yog decided they couldn't express themselves through the bands they'd played in up to that point. Two years later the band was finally founded as a trio with J.V. on bass.

The band started giving high-energy live shows, playing with many Greek bands in Athens and eventually all over Greece. In the summer of 2004 they decided it was time to stop just playing live and record their first demo CD titled "Loop 430". The band's second recording came about almost a year after "Loop 430". Two of the band's songs were included on Spinalonga Records' first two compilations, "In the Junkyard vol.1 and 2".

In July of '06, Zeus finally started recording their first album, which was Eleven the Hard Way. In early 2007 a new member was added. Yog grabbed the guitar and Seraphim G. took his place behind the drums.

Since then, their two official music videos, "Leftovers" and "Vanity suit", have become classics. With their third album, «Vigilante» (2014, ihaveadrum records), the band upped their ante. This resulted in the creation of their own distinctive blend of riff-heavy groove and rock n roll.

The power and intensity that comes through in their live shows gives you goosebumps.

My first taste

I still remember the first time I came into contact with their work. My influence?! My best mate Alex. Colleagues, friends and fellow musicians, we still influence one another to this day. Back then he was deep into Stoner and I had eyes for nothing but Classic Rock (Led Zeppelin, Hendrix etc.). 

The first track?! 'Leftovers' of course!

The natural next step... Instantly hooked! I dug up their previous records and waited with enormous impatience — like a kid waiting for Christmas! — for the next ones.

To this day I can't decide on my favourite track. Eleven the Hard Way set the bar. Macho Libre blew me away. Vigilante impressed me. and finally Loyal to the Pack and Faith in Physics kept me on my toes and made me look forward even more intensely to the band's next work.

Their entrance at the concert they gave in the summer of 2019 at Plateia Nerou will stay with me forever. They walked on to The Great Dandolos, a track that on its own cranks up the energy of a live show.

And now 'Loyal to the pack'

At a time when individualism seems to be the ultimate solution for some, Planet of Zeus returned with their highly anticipated fourth album, «Loyal to the pack». The album is an ode to the benefits of teamwork. Known for their endless heavy riffs, gritty vocals and danceable grooves, the band decided to "shuffle their deck of cards" and set off in a new musical direction, one that includes melody, clean but heavy vocals and a fresh sense of dynamics.

This blend seems to create a distinctive sound for Planet of Zeus, a sound that takes the listener on a journey through the entire history of heavy music. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to Mastodon, from the Allman Brothers to Queens of the Stone Age, and from AC/DC to The Clutch.

You can listen to Planet's work on the band's official social media below: