Balothizer (GR)
Thursday 28 July / 21:30 / Field Stage / #Fengaros
Balothizer are a power trio who describe their renditions of Crete’s traditional music as “post-Cretan”. Their following however came up with a tagline that defines their concoction of thrash metal with acid-blotted Cretan folk… Cretan Music From Hell! A tagline that became the title of their debut album. With their fusion of Cretan music and poetry traditions with heavy bass lines and thunderous drumming, Balothizer released their sophomore album, Cretan Smash - a whole new level of unabashed Cretan spirit mixed by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier. The result is something that sounds like a coupling of Psarantonis and a 1980s punk gathering in a grimy basement full of moshing weirdos.
Balothizer’s beginnings lie in London just as the metropolitan city was experiencing a “world music” and jazz renaissance with immigrant musicians embracing their own traditions from beyond the western European world. The Greek rock scene was simultaneously turning into a phenomenon across the European and especially Balkan stoner and metal underground - it’s no surprise that Balothizer’s Greek folk-meets-metal came about. The pandemic brought a time of change and reorganization for the planet, humanity and for the band - they moved to Crete plus had a lineup change. On lute is Stelios Mylonakis and on drums is Michalis Saganis who join vocalist and bassist Pavlos ‘Pav Mav’ Mavromatakis who together bring their curiosity for the punk music of Crete to generate a new sound for Balothizer, called PunKretan Sessions out in 2022.
