Exhumation

Counting among the early exponents of classic 1990s Death Metal and later on Melodic Death Metal in Greece, EXHUMATION was founded in Thessaloniki in 1990 by John Nokteridis (vocals, bass) and Panos “Tweety” Giatzoglou (guitars) – the latter having left Salonica’s pioneering Thrash Metal band ACETIC VOICE. After completing the original lineup with Alex (guitars) and Fillys (drums), doing plenty of rehearsal-work, EXHUMATION entered Rock Sound Studios (Thessaloniki) to produce their debut demo recording “The Rebirth” (1990).

Influenced by everything from BLACK SABBATH, MERCYFUL FATE and MOTÖRHEAD to DEATH, MORGOTH and PESTILENCE, “The Rebirth” offered four tracks of raw and intense, yet well-crafted material that, while showing influence from the most extreme works of the Teutonic Thrash masters, also pointed towards what me might call “pure” Death Metal (in terms of riff characteristics, song structures and overall atmosphere). At least three shows were done during this era of the band: two in their hometown of Thessaloniki and one in Serres. Despite having gotten off with a good start, the release of “The Rebirth” was followed by a lengthy period of inactivity and lineup rotations as several members had to do their obligatory military service; causing EXHUMATION to more or less to lag behind a few years in their career.

Fortunately, a promising but not so well-distributed debut demo was not the last to be heard from EXHUMATION. About two years later, the band was back on track again and working on new material. Core members John N. (vocals, bass) and Panos G. (guitars) were joined by ex-VOYER drummer Pantelis Athanasiadis along with guitar-wiz Marios Iliopoulos, which definitely marked a new era for the band in terms of their overall sound. This “rebirth” (no pun intended) can be observed on the tape releases to follow, beginning with the one-track demo/promo “Sensation of Deadness” (1993) as well as on the pivotal demo tape “Deepest Side of Fear” (1994). At this point, EXHUMATION had developed a characteristic sound; dark and doom-laden early-1990s Death Metal, complemented/contrasted by Marios I.’s melodic, pentatonic-based lead guitar work and the addition of subtle keyboards (courtesy of session member Nick Papanastasiou). Graced with striking cover art/design of the typically colorful 1990s DM variety (pro-printed as well), received better distribution as well as very positive response from the underground. To further point at the upward rise of the band, EXHUMATION did a gig in Giannitsa in front of 800 attendants, which must count as quite a substantial audience for Death Metal at the time.

To be continued…

Compilation appearances:
* Delictum Compilation #2 [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Self-released (Delictum Zine), 1993]
* Metal Explosion Vol. 1 [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Metal Club Radio Show, 1994]
* Black Creation [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Self-released, 1995]
* Sometimes... Death Is Better Part 2, 3 & 4 [3CD, Comp: Shiver, 1995]
* Thrash Metal [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Heavy – Rock Tapes, 1995]
* Bathory Tribute – Hellas Salutes the Vikings [CD, Comp: Metal Invader, 1997]
* Necrical Ecstasy [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Self-released, ?]
* Total “Holocaust” Comp. (Vol. I) [Cass, Comp: Self-released, ?]
* Μεταλλικά Όργια [Cass, Comp: Self-released, ?]
* Μεταλλικά Όργια #3 – Stone Free… [Cass, Comp: Self-released, ?]