Bloodstained


Athens (Attica)
Heavy Metal, Power Metal
Active:
2000-unknown

Arriving on the stage right in the middle of the Euro-Power Metal craze at the turn of the Millennium, BLOODSTAINED were one of few bands at the time who were waving the flag for muscular Heavy/Power Metal, in the vein of classic US and German bands such as JAG PANZER, MANOWAR and GRAVE DIGGER. The band was founded in 2000 by luminaries of the Greek underground, including Theodoros Gourlomatis (vocals – INERTIA/SECRET SHOW), Giorgos Kalavrezos (guitars – INERTIA/SECRET SHOW), Stavros Aivaliotis (bass – BATTLEROAR, FADING REALITY, MYSTERY) and Angelos Tsoukalas (drums – KERNO, PHANTOM LORD, POWER CRUE, etc.) Since then, many musicians have passed through the BLOODSTAINED ranks, but this was the lineup that recorded the band’s only album to date, “Greetings from Hell” (2004) – named after the first song the band penned as a collective unit.

Suitably released on what is arguably Greece’s number one “True Metal” label, Cult Metal Classics, “Greetings from Hell” – despite not exactly breaking any new grounds musically – felt like a breath of fresh air at a time when Europe seemed caught in a “flower metal” hysteria. The rough’n’rowdy riffing, masculine vocals and a pounding rhythm section that makes out the core of “Greetings to Hell” really brought back some fine memories at the time. Interestingly, prior to the album’s release, BLOODSTAINED had already made a name for themselves outside of Greece through a celebrated live appearance at the first rendition of the German Keep it True festival (2003), sharing the stage with BROCAS HELM and OMEN, along with then-upcoming bands like DOOMSWORD and MALEDICTION. They also received the honor of being the opening act for JAG PANZER in Greece – a good match, indeed.

Although the current status of BLOODSTAINED remains unknown, there are surely many fans who are waiting for a follow-up to “Greetings of Hell”.

Compilation appearances:
* Keep it True 2003 [DVD, Comp: Steelpride, 2003]
* Metal Crusade Vol. VII [CD, Comp: Heavy, 2003]
* Hellenic Forces Compilation Vol. 1 [CDr, Comp: Self-released (Hellenic Forces Fanzine), 2004]

d i s c o g r a p h y :

Greetings from Hell - Album (CD) 2004 - Cult Metal Classics (CultMetal 015)
(Wave Studios (Athens))
Details: Digipak, bonus video clip.

Reissues:
TRACKLIST:
Smash Your Heads
Die by My Sword
Prisoners of Time
Burn the Sky
Bloodstain
Greetings from Hell
Sacrifice
Related to Danger
The Fugitive
Son of the Damned
LINE-UP:
Theodoros Gourlomatis (vocals)
Giorgos Kalavrezos (guitars)
Stavros Aivaliotis (bass)
Angelos Tsoukalas (drums)
Yet to be reviewed.




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