This review has more the character of a requiem than a review, as we are used to for a new album. Besides, the title of the album and in combination with the fact that Yannis Spathas is no longer with us and Antonis Tourkogiorgis’ health is particularly shaken, do not leave the slightest room for anything future. Socrates Drank The Conium (they revert to their full name since 1976 when they appeared as Socrates with the release of Phos) are in my humble opinion the greatest rock band that ever existed in Greece.
“Last Forever” is their “lost” album as it has been called in recent years, since it was known that the band was recording material in 2009-2010 but nothing had been released. The eleven tracks of the album, after being processed so that they could be released, maintain the musical character of the band while compositionally they are at a decent level, with the riffs of the late Yannis Spathas dominating and the voice of Antonis Tourkogiorgis absolutely recognizable and leave a sweet taste in the swan song of a legendary band, at least for our country. From “Last Forever” I singled out “Hood”, the instrumental ethnic “Tribes”, “Life Goes On” and “Crack In The Mirror”. “Last Forever” closes with a blues approach that is also titled “Blues”…who knows what they had in mind for later?
The album was mixed by Costas Bigalis and the drums are by Makis Gioulis, drummer of Socrates since 2002.
“Last Forever” is released on vinyl only (for now at least) in 1.000 numbered copies. And just for historical reasons, I would recommend to pure rock fans to hurry up and get it.
