CHANIA ROCKING FESTIVAL @ National Stadium, Chania Crete

Summer is the appropriate time for trips here and there inside and outside of Greece. Especially if you combine these small trips with music. I can’t think of anything better than a trip to Crete and Chania in specific to watch Chania Rock Festival, which was excellent this year in every way.
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\r\nUnfortunately due to the ship travelling we had to go through and the fact there was no direct ticket available for Chania we had to go through Iraklio first and since the festival began at 17.00 we missed the local bands, I am sorry for that as I am always eager to watch upcoming bands. I hope it won’t happen again next year.
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\r\nI would like to begin this report with a personal comment on the show of an excellent band called Piligrim which comes from Russia. Personally I wanted to watch this band on stage very much for quite some time now but I was sure that wouldn’t happen in Greece since the people who know them in Greece can’t be more than the fingers on one hand. For this reason I would like to congratulate the promoter behind Chania Rock Festival Nick Athinaios for taking the risk in bringing them as it reveals a lot and my personal estimation is that there might not be another promoter in Greece willing to take this risk.  Judging by the performance of the Russians the particular risk was rewarded in this festival as I would say it was one of the best I’ve watched. It had soul, energy, and a lot of guts!
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\r\nIt became obvious by the band’s first notes onstage that the crowd was well warmed up and even though the band spoke very little English everyone enjoyed their set. Some even were frisky enough to sing along some parts of the songs which were easier to follow without understanding what the hell they were singing as all song’s lyrics are in Russian. Piligrim had a very robust and clear sound throughout their set and their only flaw were some easily surpassed technical problems. Other than that they managed to deliver a great set and draw us in their world which is painted by Big Heavy Metal riffs, excellent , epic in some parts vocals and many groovy notes. If you haven’t listened to Piligrim, I guess it’s time you do and I hope we get a chance to see them again on stage some time.
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\r\nFollowing the socking promising Piligrim, came the time for our very own Rotting Christ. I don’t have much to say as it is well known how people love the band and Crete a part of Greece the band has visited many times. Well bonded, professional, warm with the crowd playing songs that covered almost their entire discography apart from songs we missed from their playlist such as Sorrowful Farewell, Among Two Storms, Fifth Illusion, or Under The Name Of Legion, Rotting Christ managed to fire up the crowd and almost everyone was singing along in their well known songs. The front rows were possessed by the music almost delirious and the band concluded after almost a 75 minute set. The bands appearance was well supported sound wise throughout their set.
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\r\nAnd that brings us to the festival’s headliners Anathema. One of Greece’s favorite bands. Lights switch off and the night floods with songs we will probably never get tired off. Fragile Dreams, Empty and Lost Control, all from their classic album Alternative 4. So when a set begins that inviting can’t you be sure that what follows is going to be equally as good? Of course! Having the perfect sound support the band went on with it’s familiar melancholic paths from Sleepless to Dying Wish. Even some covers on Pink Floyd, and after those songs from the albums A Natural Disaster, Judgement etc. Only thing missing was songs from their album A Fine Day To Exit. Fans were singing along in almost every single song and the set was very satisfying.
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\r\nIn conclusion I would like to say that this year’s Chania Rock Festival had it all. Something new and promising, Piligrim, something extremely loved and classic, Rotting Christ, and something melancholic but still familiar and preferred, Anathema. And all this was possible because of the people who worked really hard in achieving it. Personally I feel obligated to say a big THANK YOU for a unique night in Chania and I hope we have the chance to relive some thing equally beautiful next year.
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\r\nEfforts like these deserve all the support they can get and surely the result will be rewarding for everyone!  
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\r\nVassilis "Illdisposer" Mazaris
\r\nTranslation Elena Mihailidou\r\n