There was no better way to close the Up The Hammers weekend than with another epic show. And so it was, as Eat Metal Records announced the return of the Greek audience’s favorite, Domine, supported by three bands releasing their albums on the same day—an enticing package!
Despite being exhausted from a weekend of relentless heavy metal, I couldn’t miss Domine. So, I found myself early at the familiar haunt on Epirus Street, where a sizable crowd had already gathered. The promoter had announced that only 150 tickets remained, and judging by the turnout that night, if the show didn’t sell out, it came very close. Up The Hammers played a role in this, as I spotted several foreign fans among the crowd who took advantage of the opportunity for one more show before heading home.
The schedule was followed quite faithfully, with only a slight academic delay of about 15 minutes. First to take the stage were Dragon Skull. Having seen them before, I knew what to expect—and they certainly delivered. The band took no prisoners, performing their debut album, Chaos Fire Vengeance, in its entirety (if I’m not mistaken). Their powerful heavy metal, which straddles the line between European and American styles, was reinforced by a solid sound. With the advantage of excellent audio quality, the band easily won over the audience. They closed their set with a special guest appearance from Riccardo Iacono (Domine) on keyboards for Blood and Souls.
Next up was Idmon’s Gate, who performed with a different drummer—if I recall correctly, a woman, though no mention was made of this. Not that it mattered. Their metal style leans more toward the raw and primitive, with Nikos Varsamis’ distinctive, theatrical vocals serving as a key reference point. While their style isn’t exactly my preference, they were solid on stage, and their album Under the Auspices of Idmon translated excellently to a live setting.
The third support act was, for me, the most intriguing. Stygian Path, with their debut album The Lore Keeper, have been making waves—and deservedly so. Their fusion of power, epic, and folk metal is on par with European standards. They, too, played almost their entire album, and while their compositions are quite lengthy, they never felt tiring due to their complexity and depth. The band delivered a stellar performance, and I definitely want to see them again in the future.
Before getting to the headliners, a quick mention of the merchandise: everything was reasonably priced, with a fantastic deal of three albums for 30 euros. T-shirts were also affordably priced—a refreshing change in an era where concert tees often go for 40 euros. It’s important to appreciate these things!
I knew exactly what to expect from Domine. For me, the Italians are one of those bands that guarantee a great live experience—much like Saxon, for example. It’s simply impossible not to have a good time.
Sunday’s performance reaffirmed my belief. And how could it not, when they prepared a special setlist focusing on their phenomenal debut album, Champion Eternal? They played six tracks from that record, and even though nearly 30 years have passed since its release, songs like The Eternal Champion and The Mass of Chaos still sound incredibly fresh.
To say the crowd went wild would be an understatement. The energy was electrifying, with fans singing along and eagerly engaging in call-and-response moments with Enrico Paoli’s soaring guitar harmonies. Of course, the towering presence of Morby played a huge role—his interaction with the crowd was fantastic. At one point, he mentioned he had a cold and wasn’t singing at full capacity, but honestly, you wouldn’t have known it—he didn’t miss a note!
Naturally, they didn’t leave out tracks from their other albums. How could they, when epics like The Aquilonia Suite and The Ride of the Valkyries demand to be played? The only downside was that we didn’t get to hear True Believer, but you can’t have everything.
The band was in high spirits, repeatedly expressing gratitude to the crowd and to Gregory for his hospitality. But really, how could we not love a band like Domine? The smiles never left their faces as they witnessed firsthand the overwhelming love and enthusiasm from the audience.
The night concluded with the classic Defenders and a promise to return. Just like that, three days of steel-fueled mayhem came to an end. I may have returned home utterly drained, but I was filled with joy and new memories of the music we all hold so dear.
