Blizzard

Another excellent Athenian-based (Pattisia, to be more precise) Heavy Metal act from the mid/late-1990s, BLIZZARD released at least two demos before disbanding (there are sources who claim there were additional tapes as well). Except for the keyboardist position, the band’s lineup appears to have stayed consistent with a core quartet consisting of Panagiotis Papageorgiou (vocals – PARTHIAN SHOT, ACID BABY), Anestis Psaradakos (guitars – BIOTECH), Pashalis Antoniou (bass – PARTHIAN SHOT) and Spyros Theodoratos (drums). As for the keyboards, we have Nikos Stefanis featured on the debut “Spirit of Ice” (1997) followed by Panos Karabelas on the band’s second demo tape “Mind Games” (1998).

Stylewise, BLIZZARD was – as their choice of artists to cover suggests – rooted in 1980s Heavy Metal, but also had one foot steadily set in earlier, 1970s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Along with the usual influential suspects (IRON MAIDEN, OZZY OSBOURNE, HELLOWEEN, etc.), listening to their demos – which both received fair reviews back in the days, with some complaints directed at the vocal performance – you will also be able to pick up on a lot of old school heaviness à la DEEP PURPLE, UFO, WISHBONE ASH and even STATUS QUO. That didn’t stop BLIZZARD from also delivering a handful of mind-blowing Speed Metal scorchers such as the would-be-classic title-track of their second demo “Mind Games”.

Some of the band members went on with other musical projects in later years. Anestis Psaradakos joined the progressive/experimental Rock band BIOTECH, while Pashalis Antoniou and Panagiotis Papageorgiou went on to form the Progressive Metal band PARTHIAN SHOT – although Paschalis appears to have left the group before the release of the debut album “Promises” (2020).

Compilation appearances: