Depression

An odd choice of band name for a European Power Metal act, right? Well, while DEPRESSION would go on to make a name for themselves in the Progressive-oriented Power Metal field, they did in fact begin their career playing a blend of Heavy/Death-Doom Metal, which fit quite well with their moniker.

DEPRESSION was founded in Athens in October 1992 by members Bill Katsikis (guitars), Chris Moustakakis (guitars) and Jim X (bass). In the following months, the trio was expanded to a sextet with the arrival of Alex Efentakis (keyboards) along with Jimmy (drums) and Pantelis (vocals). We are not quite sure about the status of the vocalist, Pantelis (perhaps a session member), but he did appear on the band’s very first recording, a one-track demo/promo entitled “The Ditch” (1993). A far cry from their later sound, “The Ditch” presents a rather gloomy brand of Death-Doom with growled vocals and Heavy Metal-ized riffing in the vein of other Greek bands of the early-1990s. This style would be further pursued on the band’s first demo proper, “Following the Solitude” (1994), although the vocals were now handled by bassist Jim X.

However, when DEPRESSION entered the studio for the third time around October/November 1994 to record the “Second Birth” (1994) demo tape, some pretty thorough changes had taken place on several levels. Firstly, the lineup had seen an overhaul, with the new singer John Tsagari supplying a more classic yet characteristic “Voice of Heavy/Power Metal”, while the excellent drummer (nowadays a renowned film critic) Akis “Lethe” Kapranos (CHAOSTAR, ORDER OF THE EBON HAND, SEPTIC FLESH, etc.) brought a higher level of technicality to the band. Moreover, the style was changed drastically towards Power Metal. Yet, DEPRESSION’s sound was still a far cry from the typical “happy-go-lucky” tunefulness that had started to gain ground in Europe at the time. Rather, “Second Birth” ducks from the “straightforward 16th-note standard template”, offering instead quite complex compositions with intricate rhythmic patterns, well-balanced lead guitars and an almost 1970s progressive rock approach to songwriting. As such, DEPRESSION definitely stood out among similar bands and “Second Birth” remains as one of Greece’s most distinct demos in the 1990s Power Metal department.

To be continued…

Compilation appearances: