SOUTH OF NO NORTH - Fell Frozen 1986

South Of No North was one of the first true darkwave bands to emerge in Greece and consisted of Andreas (vocals), Michalis (guitars), George (bass), Fivos (drums), George (keyboard) and when Charles Bukowski wrote South Of No North, he didn’t know that an Athenian dark wave band would use his title as their band name in November 1983. They had their first gig at Grava’s High School in 1984 with the bands Metro Decay, Villa 21, Yell-O-Yell and Art Of Parties, all label-mates in Creep Records. Mostly influenced by bands such as Japan, Bauhaus and Joy Division, they covered a dark music spectre which was made obvious by their only video shot in their rehearsing studio (check “Baby Steps To A New Era, Vol.II”).

 Their gigs were very rare, considering the existing live clubs of those years, but this didn’t stop Creep Records from signing them up to release the first Greek dark wave album in history. “Lacrimae Christi”, their debut, was recorded during September 1984 and was released April 1985. New wave and dark wave took over in the Greek underground. It was easy to attend to some small gig and see the Headleaders in a bar called “Blue Note” (later called “Masswell”) near Kipseli Square, which was territorial South Of No North’s area. This bar had one of the first VCRs in Athens, playing music vids of foreign new wave bands. Punks like the band Ex-Humans were also hanging around. Actually, Fivos, Ex-Human’s drummer, was also playing with South Of No North, as well. The band used Edgar Alan Poe’s poem “Anabell Lee” for one of their songs in their second album, “Fell Frozen” (which was the last release of Creep Records). During the following years there were a few changes in their line up as two keyboard players were added, which pushed their style away from the guitar-oriented sound. In 1989 they opened for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Rodon Club and released the album “South Of No North” reaching the peak of their career with their most successful song, “Sha La La”. One year later they parted ways after a concert with Last Drive and Villa 21. Their last album, a compilation called “Rajah”, was released in 1992 featuring material taken from their past albums. Rumor has it that the band had a new album recorded, which was never released. Later, some of them formed the band Rock Xerox. In 2003 they had a reunion show for the Elfentanz Festival, in Gagarin 205 Club.

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V/A - Διατάραξη Κοινής Ησυχίας 1984

When I got this file I was totally happy because a) I love this record and b) I had a terrible rip - Jetzt Nicht Mehr! From almost all bands is at least one slab in the blog. Musically an interesting mix between punk, new wave & solid rock (Hardcore, as discogs writes, none). But I like to quote the following words: Fantastic Greek compilation, compiled by the founder of Enigma Records, originally released in September 20th, 1984. It contains versions of songs by six Greek bands, with two tracks each, that remained unreleased and unavailable anywhere else. It had huge influence on the scene and today it is considered a classic of that era. For the majority of the participating bands it was their first step in recording, something of great importance, because punk of that era was mostly DIY and remained un-recorded in a considerable amount. Great music from a beautiful country steeped in history.

1.Nightmare - ADIEXODO

2.Isolation - ADIEXODO

3.Cutting Light - EX-HUMANS

4.Slow Suicide - EX-HUMANS

5.Epileptic Snoring - CHAOS GENERATION

6.Bastardocracy - CHAOS GENERATION

7.In This City - GROVER

8.Monotonia - GROVER

9.Greeks - PANX ROMANA

10.Athena - PANX ROMANA

11.Right To Live - STRESS

12.Anxiety - STRESS

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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CHAOS GENERATION -s/t LP 1986

Now it's not hard to guess where I'm going this year and in four hours I'm in the plane so I leave you with this fantastic band and here is the full bio: In April 1982 in Athens, three friends: Thodoris (Drums), Nikos (Bass) and his cousin also Nikos (Guitar & Vocals) formed a band named Anti-Culture influenced by Punk/New Wave with political lyrics. In winter 1983 Nikos left the band. Then Costas (Guitar/Vocals) and Mars (Vocals) joined. The band renamed to Chaos Generation and became part of the early Punk scene in Athens. 

On 7.4.1983 they gave a live performance @ Sofita Club in Plaka with Ex-Humans & in October they also performed live @ Anemoni Cinema in Agia Paraskeui with Adiexodo atthat time the changed their name to CHAOS GENERATION. Before the end of the year they released along with Adiexodo the split tape "Dead End & Chaos Generation Wish You Good Appetite!" In 1984 Nikos and Mars left the band, Akis (Bass & Vocals) and Dimitris (Vocals) accordingly took their place. In Spring they got singed by Enigma Records and in July they recorded two tracks and participated to the first Greek Punk compilation, the legendary: "Disturbing The Peace" 1985 they performed a live @ Chevrolet Pub in Ioannina and in the same year with Adiexodo @ Anesis Cinema in Agrinio, the second live was recorded and distributed hand to hand through bands friends, as split tape titled "Chaos Generation & Dead End Wish You Happy Easter!"

In the early 1986 Dimitris leave the band and ?ikos became front-man of the band, it was then when they signed a one year contract with the label Right Way witch later renamed to DiDi Music, by the summer they released the self-titled debut album but the 1st press was shortly removed from the market due to bad sound an replased by a 2nd press. By autumn Akis leave the band to play bass for Parkinson Square in France, Dimitris and Alexis came in and bring new influences, the second guitar gave more volume to the audible outcome, their style went off the Punk clichés with more poetic lyrics referring to inner search of human political stance. In June 22nd they played live with Moot Point, Grover and Out Of Control @ Theatro Dasous/Thessaloniki and in November they supported The Ex & The Shrubs from Holland @ the Club 22 Autokinisi/Athens. 

In winter 1987 Theodore (Drums), Alexis (Bass), Dimitris (Guitar/Vocals), Costas (Guitar/Vocals) started recording new material and in February 1988 they supported for two live shows The EX @ the Rodon Club in Athens, and finally on Feb 20th their last live performance @ 127 db Club/Eksarxeia. By the end of Februray 1989 their second and last album Requiem was released by DiDi Music and then they broke up the same year! They performed many live gigs all over Greece, drawing alternative & anti-government audiences.

The words of the front cover is written by Akis: Thirteen Days, Thirteen Nights, and Colors Become Long-Departed Figures. Out of sight, tears flowed, and cold stones built a house with no windows, a home for the mind's lonely dance. Why should I care about the winter outside of my home? But someone freezes outside my door. And I kill him all the time, cut it, cut it. But he smiles at me, shows me a fire, invites me to go with them and dance with them.....

Enjoy the music and stay decent!

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EX HUMANS - Ανώφελη Επιβίωση 1984

Saturday is my favorite weekday and in six weeks I finally have holidays, guess where I'm going? George-Havoc-Alevaras (vocals/guitar) Yannis Trumbetas (bass) and Fivos Pergaliotis (drums) formed Ex Humans in September 1982 in Athens and after a demo on Bluurg Tapes they released their only album on Enigma Records and this ten track slab is a damn h-bomb, an excellent harmonious teamwork of all three, great distorted guitar, driving bass line and variable drums, all in Greek and lyrics with a sociopolitical and anti-authoritarian verse. The Ex Humans were among the pioneers of the punk scene in Greece for their time, and along with other bands such as Stress, Panx Romana, Magic De Spell, were the causes of this scene, not accidentally considered as a band legend of the Greek punk scene, they disbanded in 1985. Awesome Stuff!

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