Rock Monsters Romania

Starting in 2012 as a thrash metal band, Warhammer is a black/death metal band from Athens, Greece. On April 13, they played in Quantic (Bucharest) while on tour with the Polish black metal band Batushka. After listening to Warhammer live, I was impressed so I asked them for an interview which they gladly accepted. While discussing with them, I found out that it wasn’t their first time playing in Romania. In 2015 they played in Underworld, Bucharest and at the Rites of the Black Mass Festival, second edition, in 2017. Having said that, here are their answers to our questions:

Where does the band’s name come from?

Hercules Giotis: First of all, I would like to thank you for this interview, it’s always a pleasure for me and for my band mates to discuss about our band with young people from abroad. According to your first question, the name of the band was one of the fastest and easiest options we ever had during these years, I mean from 2012 until now. When I started the band together with Jim and our ex- drummer George, we were searching for a ‘’strong’’ and powerful name, a name which will indicate the resistance. We believed that Warhammer fits very well and here we are and of course NO we don’t have any relationship with the game Warhammer. Just to mention that we started as a thrash metal band, now we are on black-death metal paths.

How did you meet?

Hercules Giotis: We went to the same school with Jim. He is one year younger than me, but we’ve been together since we started.

Vasilis Nanos: I met Dimitris and Hercules in July of 2021, they reached out to me through the social media in order to work together. I toured with them supporting Belphegor and Batushka this past November. When we returned back to Greece, the guys wanted me to become a full-time member of the band, I accepted, the rest is history.

Dimitris Peppas: Me and Hercules went to the same high school. We’ve known each other for almost 15 years. We started playing guitar almost together. When he told me about the project he was working on (He had recorded a demo), I found it a good idea and joined.

Manos Valchos: I’m the newest member of the band. My good friend Thanos, our saxophone player and backup singer, introduced me to the guys while they were re-recording their first album “Mass Burial” in his home studio. When in November 2021 they were in need of a bass player, they asked me to join them in the Spring tour supporting Batushka and I gladly accepted.

What are your goals and plans for 2022?

Hercules Giotis: We are working on some live shows abroad and of course we are preparing a big tour in order to celebrate our 10 years of existence

Vasilis Nanos: We are planning to do some special shows and couple of tours, as well as hitting the studio to record new material that will probably be released in 2023.

Dimitris Peppas: We are planning a tour promoting our latest release and we are also working on new tracks.

Manos Valchos: We have many things planned for 2022 and not only that we will announce later this summer.

You’ve released a new album in 2021. How hard was it to record considering the lockdown and the pandemic?

Hercules Giotis: Yes, it’s true, “Ashes and Cinders” was born during the pandemic period. Of course, it was very difficult because of the lockdowns and the general situation, but on the other hand, for me, it was a chance to write music, new riffs and under the right decisions of our producer George Bokos we made this very good album. An album that I can call experiment because it was the first step in order to switch from thrash to black-death metal.

Dimitris Peppas: We had difficulties, especially with the recordings and communication. However, we found time to work on the concept of the album and its elements.

How does it feel to tour again?

Hercules Giotis: The feeling of touring is always amazing. I love touring and I love the road, but you know it’s always difficult, on the other hand when you are touring you can meet new people, make new friends, spread your music all over the world. I think its my favorite “obligation”.

Vasilis Nanos: Well for me, it was my second time touring in my life, so I was really looking forward to it! It felt great honestly, I already love touring and this one was as good as it could get!

Dimitris Peppas: It’s a sigh of relief after two years of absolute uncertainty.

Manos Valchos: It feels great touring with the guys. Really looking forward to our next tour!

You’ve had concerts in Romania. Why did you choose our country? What about the cities?

Hercules Giotis: It was the 3rd time that we visited Romania. It’s always pleasure for us. The First shows were in 2015 in Craiova and Bucharest, then we played at Rites of the Black Mass festival and now together with Batushka in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest again. Romanian fans are just amazing, we love all of you for your amazing support and of course Romania will be always part of our European tours.

Vasilis Nanos: Visiting Romania was part of the tour planning, so it was up to the agency, but it surely was a pleasure visiting your country.

Dimitris Peppas: Romania was part of the schedule. However, we were excited to be back at Quantic Club, 5 years after the “Rites of the Black Mass Festival”.

How can you describe the atmosphere made by your Romanian fans?

Hercules Giotis: As I said above, Romanian fans are awesome. We had great support in all our shows in your country. Of course, I can’t forget the show in Bucharest. These memories are still remaining in my head.

Vasilis Nanos: What can I say about the Romanian fans… Such great people, the energy and the hospitality of you guys was unreal! It was so nice chatting with a couple of people after the show as well. We thank each and every one of them for coming to see our show, it means the world to us!

Dimitris Peppas: Hands down, the most successful gigs of both tours for us.

Manos Valchos: The Romanian fans were the best and most kind of all of our audience. They made us feel at home and very appreciated.
We thank them for their positivity and their support.

Do you have any message for the Romanian fans? But for the ones who are going to read this interview?

Hercules Giotis: Thank you for your support during these years. We will be back soon, we love you.

Vasilis Nanos: You guys rule! We will come back to Romania soon! Thank you for reading this interview and thank you Andreea for this opportunity and being such a cool person!

Dimitris Peppas: Romania will always be part of our tours in Europe – Balkans!

Manos Valchos: Romanian fans, thank you for being so cool. We really made new friends while in Bucharest.

Interview by Andreea Ionescu