It’s still raining in Trikala! From that perspective, the conditions were far from ideal for a trip or a casual stroll in the beautiful city. But, for a concert? Quite the opposite! Especially when we’re talking about Riot and Dark Nightmare. The first visit of the American band to the city left the local rock/metal community buzzing with excitement. Fans from other parts of Greece also flocked to see them—or to relive their performance after the triumphant shows in Athens, Agrinio, and Thessaloniki.
First to hit the stage were Dark Nightmare, a band formed in 1999 with four studio albums under their belt. The quartet played for nearly an hour, presenting songs from their entire discography, including rare live tracks like “Travel.” The audience was well-prepared, familiar with the band and their music, and their participation—especially towards the end—was filled with enthusiasm. A banner frequently waved from the front row, showing the fans’ dedication.
Their performance was technically flawless, with a passionate and spirited stage presence—just as expected! Despite each member coming from different corners of the globe, dare I say, their cohesion made it seem like they had been playing together forever. Giannis Papadimitriou on vocals and guitar was impeccable and captivating, while Dimos Konstantinidis on drums delivered thunderous precision, reminiscent of… artillery fire. The entire performance was dedicated to the memory of Giorgos Karagiannis, with a banner on the wall serving as a tribute.
Tracks like “Dragonlakes,” “The Battlefield Calling My Name,” and “Invaders” aren’t written every day and have become gems in the band’s catalog, and in the Greek metal scene overall.
Setlist: Tears From The Sky, Hold Me In The Light, Hawks Of War, The Battlefield Calling My Name, Crown Of Innocence, Beneath The Veils Of Winter, The Fields Of Screaming Souls, The Voyage, Invaders, Streets Of Despair, Dragonlakes.
At precisely 10:30 PM, with Swiss-clock precision, the intro tape featuring roaring motorcycles and sirens echoed through the venue. The crowd’s reaction was immediate and deafening. With no backstage access, the band had to pass through the audience to reach the stage, greeted like heroes. “Hail To The Warriors” was a fitting opener as the band was trying to find their spots on the tight Andromeda stage. I guess that might have been the case during their early career days playing in similar-sized clubs in NY—a fact that Mark, Guy, and Lou, who are no longer with us, to tell us the story…
Despite the small stage and insufficient lighting, Riot played as if there was no tomorrow—just as they always do. With full throttle, they bulldozed through a dream setlist featuring gems from every era of their career, including three tracks from their latest album “Mean Streets”: “Hail To The Warriors,” “Feel The Fire,” and “Love Beyond The Grave,” which the crowd knew by heart and sang along to.
The setlist was similar to their other performances during this magical five-day Greek tour, showcasing material from all eras and vocalists. While Todd’s style might seem totally different from that of Rhett Forester, he could handle songs from that era effortlessly. The “mandatory” classics like “Thundersteel” and “Warrior” were played, but the real chaos erupted during “Magic Maker,” where the entire venue shook. Even newer tracks like “Take Me Back” from “Unleash The Fire” sent the crowd into a frenzy, proving that recent songs have the potential to become classics. The audience’s enthusiastic response to the deep cuts surprised even Riot V, proving once again that their arsenal of anthems is endless.
The replacement members, Johnnathan Reinheimer and Jesse Duda, filling in for Nick Lee (due to health issues) and Frank Gilchriest (absent for professional reasons), performed so well that their absence was barely noticed. Jesse, in particular, pounded the drums relentlessly for nearly two hours, drenched in sweat with his shirt coming off early in the set. At one point, he knocked over a tom and nearly broke the snare—and they hadn’t even played half the set yet!
Todd Michael Hall, as usual, delivered flawless vocals, hitting every high note with ease. He didn’t hold back on the grittier songs from Guy’s era and raised his sword high during “Swords and Tequila.” His voice electrified the crowd, and his performance was at times spine-chilling. He even joined the audience at the end, saying, “I saw you were having a good time down here, so I thought I’d join you.”
Meanwhile, Donnie Van Stavern and Mike Flyntz, the two “flag bearers,” dominated opposite ends of the stage. Donnie roamed as much as possible, drinking tequila and sharing it with the crowd, clearly enjoying himself. Mike delivered flawless guitar solos, handing out smiles and guitar picks without missing a note.
In front of the stage, the scene resembled a battlefield with bodies crowd-surfing, fists and beers raised in the air, hair flying, and heads banging non-stop. The 250-strong crowd was a mix of younger and older fans, decked out in denim and leather, surrendering themselves to Riot’s music with an infectious concert energy. They sang along to every song, shouting the choruses. What more could a band ask for?
The concert was a resounding success, a milestone for the city and its rock/metal community that will be remembered for years to come. The Andromeda venue, with its stone walls, provided a unique and atmospheric setting. Although smaller and less equipped than venues in Athens or Thessaloniki, it delivered excellent sound quality for both bands. Sure, the stage was shorter than usual, making it difficult for those at the back to see, and there was a delay with the beer supply due to only one keg being available. Still, these minor issues were easily overlooked.
Special praise goes to Christos and the team who organized the event. Pulling off a concert like this outside of Greece’s major cities is no easy task. The local infrastructure isn’t the same, but the audience’s thirst for live rock and metal is undeniable. Events like this are crucial for the younger generation to experience top-tier live performances from international acts.
As Riot’s mini-Greek tour ended triumphantly under the relentless rain in Trikala, fans left with smiles, stories, and one promise: the band will be back.
Hail To The Warriors, Fight Or Fall, Victory, On Your Knees, Feel The Fire, Road Racin’, Warrior, Bring The Hammer Down, Johnny’s Back, Restless Breed, Bloodstreets, Love Beyond The Grave, Flight Of The Warrior, Swords And Tequila, Thundersteel
Encore: Take Me Back, Magic Maker, Sign Of The Crimson Storm, Outlaw, Fire Down Under
Yiannis Dolas
