Monday, August 29, 2022

Verbal Delirium: So Close And Yet So Far Away 2010 + From The Small Hours Of Weakness 2013

 

It's surprising that such a small country like Greece has such a rich and big Rock scene with so many amazing bands from all Rock genres. One such band is VERBAL DELIRIUM, one of the best European New Progressive acts, who play without imitating the influences of the past, but honoring their predecessors, they lead the music even further forward on new paths.
(KOSTAS)
                                         


Neo-Prog Band from Athens (Greece), founded summer 1999 by Mastermind John „Jargon“ Kosmidis (Keyboards, Lead-Vocals, Composer, Lyrics) and Nik Michailidis Νίκος Μιχαηλίδης (Bass). Musical

experimentation with progressive and psychedelic rock sounds of the 60/70´s.leads to the demo album 2006, but it has never been released. The Story of Verbal Delirium begins back in the summer of 1999 when keyboard player and vocalist Jargon (John Kosmidis) went to form a band along with bass player Nik Michailidis .Though starting with an obvious commitment to the progressive rock and psychedelic sound of the 60's n' 70's , the band came soon to realize that the addition of more modern elements was something more than a necessity.
                                                           

However, the presence of numerous changes in the lineup delayed the band's plan for an album. After trying many different people, things finally seamed to fit at 2005 with guitarist Giorgos Maniatis and

drummer Lazaros Papanastasiou. Conclusion of this effort was the recording and distribution of a demo album under the title of "The imprisoned words of fear" witch took place in 2007. At that time the album still reflected the band's admiration for the progressive and psychedelic sound of the 70's with big arrangements and complex chord progressions, but also presenting some metal and jazz elements .Still , one of the key elements in Verbal delirium sound was and still is their commitment to the presence of very distinct melodic patterns which bear a heavy role in their songs .
                                                 

After that, the band moved on to a more alternative rock style, though still preserving much of the progressive elements. Another change in the lineup went on, introducing Nikitas Kissonas on guitars.

and drummer Tolis Liapis. As a result, first official album entitled "So close and yet so far away" was introduced. Recording sessions took place between January and March 2009 and after numerous successful performances throughout Greece it went out public, distribution of Musea records , in November 2010. The album also showed some premature signs of the band's aspiration and intention to experiment with orchestration, leaving behind in many cases the standard output of a rock sound , for the sake of a broader musical outcome.
                                             

Till now the "So close..." album has met an overall cordial correspondence by the critics and this has played a major role in the band's eagerness to continue its effort. So, things are moving fast forward ,

towards the recording of a second album. An album that takes us this time on the path to a more alternative - art rock feel , implementing the sound of some new instruments through the appearance of a number of guest musicians. As soon as the recordings ended the band found itself once more with the need of a change in line-up, as drummer Tolis Liapis dropped his place due to personal issues. Hopefully the wait didn't last long and drummer Enthralling Kernel G (Gregory Pavlakos), was added to fill up the space. As of March 2011, Anastasis Hamilakis (Keyboards - Theremin) has been added to the band's workforce and is now considered to be a full time member.
                                     

The band is in the process of extending its horizons, experimenting with new forms of arrangement, seeing the music as a hole and not as distinctive genres.
                                                 

In this almost 10 years they have a lot of changes with Band members. But Verbal Delirium played many Gigs and Festivals during that time. Long-Time members: George ''La Trappe'' Pagidas (Bass),

George 'K' Kyriakidis (Guitars). Band members (2016): Jargon (7), George "La Trappe", George Kyriakidis, Nikolaos Terzis (Piano), Nikolas Nikolopoulos (Flute, Saxophone, Mellotron), Stelios "Primordial" (Drums). Other contributing musicians: Nikitas Kissonas Νικήτας Κίσσονας (Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin), Leonidas Petropoulos Λεωνίδας Πετρόπουλος (Bass), Labros Matopoulos (Trumpet), Anastasis Hamilakis (Organ, Synthesizer), Enthraling Kernel G (Drums).
                                  

The band has finished recording and producing its fourth album with the title "Conundrum" which is going to be released at the end of 2022.
Verbal Delirium: Music is an "exorcism" of all that is negative or ugly in us or around us...
                                      

Verbal Delirium: Η μουσική είναι ένας «εξορκισμός» ό,τι αρνητικού ή άσχημου υπάρχει μέσα μας ή γύρω μας...
                                 

Είναι περίεργο που μια τόσο μικρή χώρα όπως η Ελλάδα έχει μια τόσο πλούσια και εκπληκτική Ροκ

σκηνή με τόσες καταπληκτικές μπάντες από όλα τα είδη της Ροκ. Μια τέτοια μπάντα είναι και οι VERBAL DELIRIUM, ένα από τα καλύτερα Ευρωπαικά σχήματα του New Progressive, οι οποίοι παίζουν δίχως να μιμούνται τις επιρροές του παρελθόντος, αλλά τιμώντας τους προκατόχους τους οδηγούν τη μουσική ακόμα πιο μπροστά σε νέα μονοπάτια.
(ΚOSTAS)
                        

Η ιστορία των Verbal Delirium ξεκινά το καλοκαίρι του 1999 , όταν ο Jargon (φωνή , πλήκτρα , σύνθεση) αποφασίζει να δημιουργήσει το προσωπικό του μουσικό project. Τα πρώτα χρόνια κύλησαν με την μπάντα να πειραματίζεται στο studio ψάχνοντας την μουσική της ταυτότητα με μια εμφανή κλήση αρχικά στον ήχο του progressive και psychedelic rock των 70’s. Περνώντας μέσα απο διαρκείς

εναλλαγές μελών. Δέκα χρόνια μετά για πρώτη φορά η μπάντα παίρνει σταθερή μορφή και ηχογραφείται το πρώτο επίσημο άλμπουμ με τίτλο “So close and yet so far away”. Η ηχογράφηση διαρκεί μεταξύ Ιανουαρίου και Μαρτίου του 2009 και μετά από μια σειρά επιτυχημένων εμφανίσεων το album κυκλοφορεί από τη Γαλλική Musea records , εταιρία από την οποία και διανέμεται από το Νοέμβριο του 2010 αποκομίζοντας εξαιρετικές κριτικές από εγχώριο και διεθνές μουσικό τύπο , sites και blogs.  Το εν λόγω άλμπουμ έδειξε , εκτός των άλλων , και την πρόθεση της μπάντας να εντρυφήσει σε στοιχεία κλασσικών ορχηστρικών ακουσμάτων , χρησιμοποιώντας όργανα όπως το τσέλο και την προσπάθεια της να ξεφύγει πλέον από συγκεκριμένες μουσικές ταμπέλες.
                                         

Στις αρχές του 2012 το line up αλλάζει εντελώς. Σταδιακά αντικαταστάθηκαν όλοι οι μουσικοί που συμμετείχαν στον πρώτο δίσκο εκτός του Jargon φυσικά.
To Noέμβρη του 2012οι Verbal Delirium εμφανίστηκαν με επιτυχία στο Βερολίνο στο διαγωνισμό του EurockMarathon όπου πήραν την 4η θέση και πολλά θετικά σχόλια. 17 Φεβρουαρίου του 2013

κυκλοφορεί ηλεκτρονικά το δεύτερο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος με τίτλο “From the small hours of weakness”  και λίγο αργότερα γίνεται μια περιορισμένη κοπή cd/self release. Ακολούθησαν περιορισμένες όμως ιδιαιτέρως επιτυχημένες live εμφανίσεις της μπάντας καθώς και η επίσημη παρουσίαση του δίσκου στο κατάμεστο Stage 25, παράλληλα με μια σειρά από πολύ καλές κριτικές για το νέο δίσκο. Στις 5 Οκτώβρη του 2013 οι Verbal Delirium επιλέγονται να εμφανισθούν στο PROG POWER EUROPE που έγινε στην Ολλανδία. Η υποδοχή του κοινού ήταν ενθουσιώδης και κάτι περισσότερο από θερμή. Τα σχόλια εξαιρετικά καθώς και οι κριτικές Στην ίδια σκηνή εμφανίστηκαν οι Shadow Gallery, οι Fates Warning , οι Ocean, Haken και πολλά άλλα συγκροτήματα.
                           
                                                                                     
Το 2014 βρίσκει τους Verbal Delirium στο studio να ξεκινούν την προετοιμασία του τρίτου δίσκου. Στις 28 Σεπτεμβρίου οι Verbal Delirium εμφανίζονται στο Summer’s End Festival στην Αγγλία. Η θερμή υποδοχή του Βρετανικού κοινού σε ένα τόσο εξειδικευμένο (prog) festival καθώς και τα σχόλια που την ακολούθησαν δίνουν πλέον πολλές ελπίδες στη μπάντα για μια ευρύτερη αναγνώριση. Στις 8 Νοέμβρη 2014  εμφανίστηκαν  στο Gagarin ως support στη συναυλία των God Is An Astronaut όπου έλαβαν ενθουσιώδης κριτικές από τον τύπο. Αυτό τον καιρό ολοκληρώνεται η ηχογράφηση του τέταρτου album "Conundrum", ενώ τα σχέδια για live εμφανίσεις πληθαίνουν.

ROCKAP.GR  https://www.rockap.gr/verbal-delirium/
                                     


VERBAL DELIRIUM - SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR AWAY 2010 

 
                 



Label: Musea – FGBG 4556
Format: CD, Album
Country: France
Released: October 26, 2010
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Prog Rock, Indie Rock

TRACKS

                                                


01. Ervelet    1:45
02. So Close & Yet So Far Away    5:16
03. Dancing Generation    5:26
04. Lullaby    7:54
05. They    3:14
06. Erased    5:14
07. Time    5:09
08. The Scene Remains    5:59
09. O.K.    6:48
10. Reprise    4:12

Jargon - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards
Nikitas Kissonas - Guitars
Nik Michailidis - Bass
Tolis Liapis - Drums
Elsa Pappeli - Cello
Recorded By [Recorded At Mi Studio By] – Labros Kritsimas, Leonidas Petropoulos
Words By, Music By – Jargon

MP3 @ 320 Size: 120 MB
Flac  Size: 345 MB
    
VERBAL DELIRIUM - FROM THE SMALL HOURS OF WEAKNESS 2013

 
                



Label: Not On Label (Verbal Delirium Self-released) – none
Format:    CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: February 17, 2013
Genre: Rock
Style: Progressive, Alternative

TRACKS

                                        


01. 10.000 Roses   5:20
02. Desire   5:21
03. Erebus   0:49
04. Dance Of The Dead   2:51
05. The Losing Game   8:54
06. Desintegration   4:57
07. Dance Of The Dead (Reprise)   0:37
08. Sudden Winter   8:24
09. Aeons   (12:44)
09.a Part 1: In The Dream Room   
09.b Part 2: Roaming In Chaos   

Jargon - Piano, Synthesizers, Monotron, Mellotron, Organ, Vocals
Nikitas Kissonas - Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin
Enthralling Kernel G - Drums
Drums for tracks 1, 6, 8 recorded at B.K studio by Bill Skouras
Drums for tracks 2, 3, 4, 5 recorded at T.A sound studio by Aris Vourlakis
La Trappe - Bass
Leonidas Petropoulos - Bass (Tracks 1,6,8)
Labros Matopoulos - Trumpet
Anastasis Hamilakis - Organ, Synthesizer (Tracks 1,6,8)
Nikos Nikolopoulos - Flute, Saxophone

This album is dedicated in memory of Jon Lord (1941-2012) R.I.P.


MP3 @ 320 Size: 118 MB
Flac  Size: 321 MB

These albums are for my friend JOSEF


6 comments:

  1. VERY NICE KOSTAS !
    I'm happy about the Greek band, which is new to me. The amazing thing is that there are always other interesting bands from Greece.
    Melodic progressive rock 60s and 70's oriented. On the 1st cd i could only listen to one track here i so focused the impression even more on the 60's. On the 2nd i could hear more electronic ala uk prog. But i think both are highly recommended. I will order soon from a supplie in Athens Maria ( Muse Vinyl) where i have often ordered.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've only now read the text of the band. I didn't write down what my assesment was and now is so much of my asssessment in the text.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whereci ordered the two Verbal Delirium another greek band was recommended to me:
    LA TULIPE NOIRE
    Do you know them and if so what is recommended ?

    ReplyDelete
  4. "It's surprising that such a small country like Greece has such a rich and big Rock scene with so many amazing bands from all Rock genres."

    I think it's surprising that there is any Rock scene at all.

    Kostas, I have never heard of this band before and was genuinely intrigued by your post. I don't have access to quality speakers right now so I am not in position to give a detailed opinion, but I checked some youtube videos and though it doesn't appear to be my cup of tea (but as I said I don't trust my current listening device), it is obvious that their effort was a feat by itself considering the general state of things.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you listened to one is no lo necessary. I don't like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you listened the song 10.000 Roses from the album "From The Small Hours Of Weakness" and nothing else, I agree with you this song is nothing special (Drum Machine and Stoner Guitars), but the rest of the album has nothing to do with this song. There is a great piano-keyboard player in this band. But what can I say? I respect your opinion.
      Someone said: "Never judge a book by its cover". Many times one song is enough for understand the sound of the band, others it's not, but you can do as you like. So, I won't tell you about " La Tulip Noir". Only that their first album is with Greek Lyrics. You have to listen to them at You Tube, if you find them (I don't know if their albums are in You Tube and there is no need for me to search for them because I know very well their music.)
      The last thing I want to tell you once more, is to download a post, then listen carefully, and if you like it you can order it and then you can delete the file from your tablet.

      Delete