Aimoptysi

Back in the 1990s, Greek Death Metal bands had a knack for creating dark and immersive music that focused more on establishing atmosphere than pounding down the listener with knucklehead brutality (even though some did that, too). One of the more prominent bands in this field – and also one of few who managed to release a full-length album – was Athens-based AIMOPTYSI. The band was formed in 1994 by Philip “Mortifier” Bouraimis (vocals, bass – MEIS REBUS), Alexandros Bafitis (guitars – FORSAKEN WRATH) and Yiannis “Archon” Zaminos (vocals – FORSAKEN WRATH). This would remain the core trio during AIMOPTYSI’s career, with additional musicians helping out on subsequent releases – including among others Kostas Daskaleas (live percussion as well as drum programming for the band’s full-length album), Panagiotis Varvaropoulos (guitars – CAELESTIA, EVIL WITHIN) and former FLAMES member Tassos Spiliotopoulos (lead guitar).

Over the course of three demo tapes, AIMOPTYSI cultivated a particular brand of dark and doomy Death Metal that – like many of their Greek peers – displayed an underlying appreciation for classic Heavy Metal. However, it was on their debut full-length album “Searching the Myths of the Past” (1997) that the band really established their own style and sound. “Searching for Myths of the Past” can be favorably described as a concept album, dealing with the ancient Greek conception of man’s afterlife journey to the underworld kingdom. The music bears similarities to contemporary works by SEPTIC FLESH in the sense of working in the intersection between Death-, Doom- and Heavy metal, while retaining an identity of its own much thanks to the strong links between concept, lyrics and musical content. Moreover, the “warm”, punchy and gratifyingly bass-heavy production also helps to give the music a certain character.

Unfortunately, “Searching…” would end up as AIMOPTYSI’s swansong release and the band was laid to rest sometime in early 1999. In addition to their studio recordings, the band also played live on several occasions, for example at the “Paranoid Club” in Piraeus. Vocalist John Zaminos and guitarist Alexandros Bafitis eventually went on to form the Black/Death Metal act FORSAKEN WRATH with one demo under their belt so far.

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