It’s strange to think that the last time InnerWish headlined in their hometown was back in 2016. Naturally, we’d all love to see them more often—which is probably why they make sure nights like this one feel truly special. And this time, they had every reason to celebrate: thirty full years since their formation. Generations of fans gathered at Floyd, many of whom have likely been following the band since the very beginning. It’s one of the rare concerts where I actually felt young compared to the crowd.
Elysion took the stage right on time, and although their style is far from InnerWish’s, that was no issue for me. The band has two major strengths. First, the songs: short, memorable, and instantly catchy if you’re into their brand of gothic metal. Second, Christianna. It’s not just her beautiful voice—it’s her restraint. She doesn’t rely on vocal theatrics or exaggerated stage moves. Instead, she delivers a meaningful, emotionally grounded performance that fits the music perfectly. With a setlist spanning their three full-length albums, they played some excellent tracks (what an anthem “Raid the Universe” is) and, in a way, marked their own near-twenty-year journey, which officially reaches that milestone in 2026.
I honestly don’t know why I hadn’t seen them since 2016, when they performed with Draconian at Kyttaro. The only odd moment was their appearance without a bassist. Did something unexpected happen? Did he leave? Are they now continuing as a quartet? I have no idea, and ultimately it didn’t matter. Their performance was extremely professional, earning them well-deserved applause. I hope to catch a full set from them again soon.
Setlist: Blink Of An Eye, Dreamer, Far Away, Raid The Universe, Made Of Lies, Someplace Better, The Promise, Never Forever, Killing My Dreams, Crossing Over
And then came the headliners—InnerWish—whom I honestly can’t remember seeing since Babis Alexandropoulos’ last performance in 2011 at Kyttaro, which is frankly unacceptable on my part. But quality matters more than quantity, and InnerWish made sure this celebration was meaningful. Their enthusiasm was obvious from the start. A few minor sound issues were quickly resolved, and the band took us on a journey from their 1998 debut all the way to their latest single released earlier this year. Every album was represented by at least three songs, giving us the rare chance to hear tracks that don’t usually make it into their setlist.
From their fast power-metal bursts to mid-tempo heavy tracks and epic, atmospheric moments, InnerWish gave everything they had. The crowd responded with equal passion, chanting the band’s name between almost every song and filling Floyd with their voices during “Silent Faces,” “Burning Desires,” “Sea of Lies,” and “Needles in My Mind,” among others.
A particularly touching moment came when guitarist and founding member Thimios Krikos dedicated “Higher” to his late brother, who loved that song from the latest album. During “Through My Eyes,” Christianna returned to the stage for a beautiful duet with George Eikospentakis. Before “Needles in My Mind,” the other founding guitarist, Manolis Tsigos, thanked every musician who had been part of the band through the years. And in “Ready for Attack,” during the usual introductions, Tsigos paid tribute to the people who encouraged them not to give up when they were just starting out—one of the reasons they’re still here after all this time.
If nothing else, InnerWish demonstrated a deep respect for their own history, something not all bands do. And do you know what else not everyone does? Play for two and a half hours straight, delivering twenty-three songs without losing energy or impact. How could anyone complain? It was a night we’ll definitely remember.
Setlist: The Enemy Inside, Inner Strength, Modern Babylon, Silent Faces, Bleeding Soul, Sirens, Soul Asunder, Lord Of Truth, Chosen One, Travellers In Time, Sea Of Lies, Tame The Seven Seas, Burning Desires, If I Could Turn Back Time, Dancer Of The Storm, Higher, Through My Eyes, Rain Of A Thousand Years, The Hands Of Doom, Waiting For The Dawn, Needles In My Mind, Ready For Attack, Eye Of The Storm
In closing, I want to quote something our webzine’s editor Michael Ntalakos wrote after our usual debate over who would cover the show—a responsibility that ultimately fell to me. His words capture the essence of this anniversary perfectly:
“These thirty years leave me with a bittersweet taste. I think, ‘How did thirty years go by?’ Time and tide wait for no one. But that’s how our music is. It’s with us in our joys and our sorrows. In our highs and our lows. With us when we’re all together at a show or when we feel like the loneliest people in the world. I cannot thank InnerWish and all the bands enough for the gift of music they give us every day. I hope I will be healthy enough to see the ‘sixty years.’”
George Terzakis
photos: Yiannis Dolas
