WAIL OF THE BANSHEES VOL. 1

November 29, 2025 | Gazarte Ground Stage

In the heart of autumn, Athens welcomes a brand new music event. Wail of the Banshees Vol. 1 makes its debut on November 29 at the Gazarte Ground Stage, giving space and voice to the modern heavy and alternative scene — with female presence at its core.

Five bands, each with different sonic directions but a shared force on stage, come together for a night full of energy, emotional intensity, and authenticity. Here, the female voice doesn’t complement — it defines.

Inspired by the mythical banshee of Celtic folklore — a symbol of transition and transformation — the festival brings together bands who turn anger, sensitivity, and the need for expression into raw, living sound.

Wail of the Banshees kicks off this year with the ambition of becoming a meeting point for those who see music as a space of freedom, connection, and genuine creativity.

BREAKEVEN

Five members from bands with diverse musical backgrounds — rooted in punk rock and metal — join forces to create a fresh blend of fast-paced music with female vocals, signature riffs, and explosive drums.

They’ve just released their debut 6-track EP “War in My Mind”, along with two official video clips for the singles “Can’t See Straight” and “Life in Submission”.

NINKASI

Fusing grunge with punk rock — a mix they dub grunge n’ roll — Ninkasi’s sound draws inspiration from bands like Nirvana, The Distillers, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop, and the Ramones.

Following their EP “30Something”, they now present their debut full-length album. Recorded at Feedback Studios, mixed by Dime St, and mastered by Haris Zourelidis, the album features artwork and design by Matina Chatzi.

CHURCH OF THE SEA

Formed in 2017, Church of the Sea blend doom with dark electronic rock, creating a signature sound with fuzzy tones, distorted beats, and hypnotic vocals.

Their debut EP “Anywhere but Desert” was released on October 2, 2018, recorded at Artracks Studios and Suono Studios with production by Alex Bolpasis (Whereswilder, Noise Figures, Cyanna Mercury) and the band. Mixing and mastering were handled by Chris Common (Chelsea Wolfe, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Emma Ruth Rundle).
It was released on cassette by A Man out of A Man Records (Feb 2019) and later on vinyl by Smash Records (April 2019).

Their debut full-length album “Odalisque” was released on April 8, 2022, recorded at Suono Studios with production and mixing by Bolpasis, and mastered by Nick Townsend at Infrasonic Mastering.

In February 2025, they released a video clip for the single “Eva” — from their self-titled album launched on April 11 via These Hands Melt.

“Eva” offers a reimagined take on the Genesis story, portraying Eve not as a sinner seeking forbidden knowledge, but as a rebel embracing what society deems “off-limits”.

ALLOCHIRIA

Allochiria formed in Athens in 2008 and have released three full-length albums — “Omonoia” (2014), “Throes” (Art of Propaganda, 2017), and “Commotion” (Venerate Industries, 2023) — plus a self-titled EP in 2010. They’re currently working on their fourth album, with several new songs set to debut live at An Club.

With an extensive list of live performances and festival appearances, including six European tours, Allochiria have successfully blended elements of hardcore, black metal, progressive metal, post-metal, and doom.

Their lyrical themes focus on humans as social beings, corruption, daily struggle, and the impact of our actions on the world around us.

UNIVERSE217

With nearly two decades of history, the experimental doom act Universe217 has become one of the most important names in the Greek heavy music scene. The band has forged a distinctly personal style, constantly challenging themselves creatively.

Their discography includes four full-length albums — Universe217 (2007), Familiar Places (2011), Never (2013), and Change (2016) — along with two EPs (II, 2009 / Ease, 2014) and a live album (Live, 2017).

Over the years, they’ve performed extensively in Greece and abroad, either headlining or as special guests, always pushing their musical boundaries.