Varathron are one of the three bands that built Greek black metal. From the early days of 1988, when Necroabyssious and Captain Death first met in Athens, to our own time, they have kept the same dark and melodic style that gave the country its own place within the genre. Thirty-eight years on, their path runs through demos, split releases, line-up changes and a steady presence on Agonia Records.
“`Country: Greece
Style: Black Metal
For fans of: Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Septicflesh
The beginnings in Athens: 1988-1990
The band was put together in the early days of 1988 in Athens. On vocals was Necroabyssious, on drums Captain Death, on bass Jim Mutilator of Rotting Christ and on guitars John. In October 1989 they recorded the demo «Procreation of the Unaltered Evil» and in December of the same year «The Great Seal of Graal», the last recording with Captain Death on drums. He was replaced by Themis of Rotting Christ, with Stavros on guitars. In 1990 they released the second demo «Genesis of Apocryphal Desire» and the EP «One Step Beyond Dreams» in a thousand numbered copies on Black Vomit Records.
The first black/death live show in Greece
In 1990 Varathron played at the Rock Palais Club in Athens together with Rotting Christ and Death Courier. It was the first black and death metal concert to take place in Greece — Mayhem were booked to take part, but they were stopped at the border of Yugoslavia and never made it through. In 1992 came the split «Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins» with Necromantia on Black Power Records.
«His Majesty at the Swamp» and the Greek trio
On August 20, 1993, «His Majesty at the Swamp» came out through Cyber Music, the album that defined Greek black metal. Together with Rotting Christ’s «Thy Mighty Contract» and Necromantia’s «Crossing the Fiery Path», they gave the country’s sound its basic traits: slower paces, more melodic lines and themes around the occult. The three bands became known as the «Greek trio» of black metal. In 1994 the band was rebuilt by Necroabyssious and Pyrphoros of Kawir, with Adrastos on keyboards. In 1995 «Walpurgisnacht» came out through Unisound, and on March 19, 1999 «The Lament of Gods» through Pagan Records, with Bill «Crazy Wizard» in Adrastos’s place.
The years in Ioannina
In 2003 the band moved to Ioannina and the line-up changed again, with Achilleas and Haris joining. On December 30, 2004 «Crowsreign» was released through Black Lotus Records. In 2005 Varathron took to the stage after fifteen years, in Athens, together with Rotting Christ and Primordial. On August 15, 2009 came «Stygian Forces of Scorn» through Die Todesrune Records.
Agonia Records and the new era
In 2014 the band signed to Agonia Records. On November 21, 2014 «Untrodden Corridors of Hades» was released, while on April 27, 2018 came «Patriarchs of Evil». On August 4, 2019 they recorded live in São Paulo the «Glorification Under the Latin Moon», on the «30 Years of Darkness» tour. On December 1, 2023 «The Crimson Temple» came out.
2026: the book «Forever Immortal»
On September 15, 2026, «Forever Immortal» was released, a 300-page biography from Agonia Records accompanied by a fifteen-track CD — a book, not a new album. In the near future the band have a scheduled appearance in London on November 28, 2026, at the «Stygian Invocation» show, and in Barcelona on August 27, 2027, at «Drums of War». More on their history and releases can be found on the band’s official page.
Varathron are not the best-known name of the Greek scene, but they are among those who hold its core. From the demos of 1989 to «The Crimson Temple», they stayed faithful to a sound that does not copy the north but stands beside it. For anyone looking for the Greek side of black metal beyond the obvious names, their path is the next starting point.
See also
Rotting Christ: a tribute to 39 years of Greek black metal · Kawir: 30 years of «Pros Kaveirous» live at Eightball Club.
Source: https://varathron.com/biography/
