Naxatras: Naxatras I 2015

Naxatras is a Greek rock band formed in 2012 in Thessaloniki, by Giannis Vagenas and Giannis

Kostandelias, fellow students in the Film Department of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University. Their music moves in the field of psychedelic rock. "" Naxatras "is a variation of the Nakshatra of Indian astrology that refers to the 27 or 28 phases of the Moon," explains Giannis Vagenas.
                                                                                                              

You never know beforehand when the time for change will come. Only when it happens.

The Greek psychedelic rock band Naxatras have been well into the first decade of their existence and a significant number of milestones has been accomplished. After 3 full length albums that established them in the global underground as a force to be reckoned with, a new approach emerged in the most natural way.
                                                                               

Even before the ‘III’ album, some of the ideas at the time didn’t fit with the vibe or the place the band

was at and were left out, but safely kept. The Naxatras identity as a predominant jam band came to be challenged from within and a few of these traces of tunes finally found their way back into the game.
                                                              

Combined with the maturity and artistic savviness that time and extensive touring brings, the new

music clicked with some of that old material and shaped the way this new era sounds like. The focus right now is on the actual song, on the solid build-up of musicianship and composition, that draws magic from the classic 70’s prog rock and the master songwriters of history.
                                                          

The new album had gaps that a keyboard would fill, so a new member was welcomed into the clan. The

soundscapes felt explorable, so a broader set of percussion was indispensable. The guitar work is clear and precise, the vocals have a direct story to tell, the whole game has now stepped up and demands a different modus operandi.
                                                     

Even further, the jamming attitude had to give way for some direct and intended performance. The so

far trademark analog sound of Naxatras shifted to serve the straightforward material, the orchestration is multileveled and surgical, so the songs are powerful and memorable. The new production scheme out of the Magnanimous Studios of Thessaloniki GR, provided the multitracking approach, combining warmth and crystal.
                                                  

So it all comes down to this.

An album that showcases a band at its creative peak; with all the experience being put to use, with all available tools ready, blending together the acquired knowledge, the imprinted influences and the adventurous disposition of this  group of young musicians ready to take on the world.
                                                   

ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ ΣΤΟ ROCK ROOSTER

Συνέντευξη Naxatras: «Η ψυχεδέλεια είναι μια αντίθεση στο mainstream rock των εταιρειών»
                                          

Η μουσική των Naxatras συνίσταται από δυναμικά ρυθμικά μοτίβα, ονειρικές μελωδίες, βαριά riffs και

trippy κιθαριστικά σόλο, όλα με έντονη την ατμόσφαιρα και αισθητική των ’70s.
Ιδρύθηκαν το 2012 και καλλιέργησαν τον ήχο τους μέχρι το 2015 που κυκλοφόρησαν τον πρώτο τους ομώνυμο δίσκο, ηχογραφημένο εξολοκλήρου αναλογικά και live.
Η μπάντα χρησιμοποιεί στοιχεία από psych/progressive rock, blues, funk, stoner και ανατολίτικη μουσική σε συνδυασμό με ένα ψυχεδελικό video show για πλήρη διέγερση των αισθήσεων.
                                             

Είναι πραγματικά πολύ ωραίο συναίσθημα να βλέπει κανείς νέους καλλιτέχνες σε μια χώρα που διανύει

την χειρότερη περίοδο να βάζουν μεράκι, ταλέντο και όρεξη δημιουργώντας μικρά αριστουργήματα στην μουσική, σαν το album ‘Naxatras’ που κυκλοφόρησε το 2015.
                                               

Όταν οι Naxatras κυκλοφόρησαν το πρώτο τους άλμπουμ, ονομάζοντάς το απλώς «Ι», δεν περίμεναν ότι θα συγκέντρωνε γύρω στα 4 εκατομμύρια views στο YouTube.
                                          

«Το "Naxatras" είναι μια παραλλαγή του Nakshatra της ινδικής αστρολογίας που αναφέρεται στις 27 ή 28 φάσεις της Σελήνης» εξηγεί ο Γιάννης Βαγενάς.

LIFO - MUSIC

ALBUMS

(2015) Naxatras I
(2016) II
(2018) III
(2018) Live Rituals At Gagarin 205

EPs

(2016) EP

Naxatras – Naxatras I
Label: Not On Label (Naxatras Self-released) – none
Format:    CD, Album, Limited Edition
Country: Greece
Released: Apr 26, 2015
Genre: Rock
Style: Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

 

01. I Am The Beyonder    10:34
02. Sun Is Burning    5:17
03. Space Tunnel    6:05
04. Shiva's Dance    7:34
05. Downer    6:17
06. Waves (Organ – Sabine)  7:15
07. The West    7:06
08. Ent    9:48

Credits

Artwork, Design – Christopher Toumazatos
Bass, Vocals – John Vagenas
Drums – Kostas Harizanis
Engineer – Jesus Agnew
Guitar – John Delias

Notes 

                                                         

No Digital devices were used in the performance, recording, mixing and mastering stages of the production of this audio-related artifact. The high-quality digital conversion was done as a last step in the process of making the CD and digital download version of this album.
Every song on this record was performed and recorded entirely live during the period of one day.
Special thanks to Jesus and Sabine for their huge help.
                                         

Full analog recording and mastering at Magnetic Fidelity studio.
Artwork/design by Christopher Toumazatos aka Chris RW.

Flac [24-48] Size: 710 MB