Varathron

Hellenic Shadows in Eternal Ascent

Few bands in extreme Metal can claim to have shaped the identity of an entire subgenre. Formed in Ioannina, Greece, in 1988, Varathron stands as one of the sacred trinities of Hellenic Black Metal, alongside Rotting Christ and Necromantia. With their seminal 1993 full-length “His Majesty at the Swamp”, Varathron established a mythic soundscape: one that fused ancient atmospheres, melodic dissonance, and ritualistic grandeur.

Over three decades later, the band continues to evolve, musically and thematically, without ever severing their roots in mysticism, folklore, and the esoteric spirit of their homeland. With albums like “Patriarchs of Evil” and “The Crimson Temple”, Varathron has reaffirmed their relevance in an era often divorced from the mystical essence that birthed Black Metal. This interview seeks to illuminate the arc of their journey, to revisit the origins of their blackened gospel, and to explore the philosophical intentions that still drive them through shadowed realms.

In the late 1980s, Greece was not yet known for Black Metal. What inspired the formation of Varathron in such an isolated scene, and how did the local and international underground respond to your earliest releases?

It was 1988 when I, Mutilator, and Spyros, gathered to rehearse and decided to create a new kind of band that would be darker, heavier and more evil than any other band in Greece back then! It was the days of heavy-thrash sound, and our sound was something so unexpected. We want something different than the usual Metal sound. I’m proud not only because Varathron is the first Black Metal band coming from Greece, but also of my passion and dedication to the band, sacrificing everything to keep the name alive through difficult times and countless lineup changes. We received the best reviews from all the magazines and bands we sent it to. Besides our first works are total cult, ever!

The album “His Majesty at the Swamp” is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Hellenic Black Metal. When creating that record, were you consciously crafting a new regional identity for the genre, or was it more instinctive and personal?

Black Metal in Greece was born through the first releases of the three great bands VARATHRON, ROTTING CHRIST and NECROMANTIA. Our first album is the ultimate Greek Black Metal; this eerie black melody mixed with heavy Metal riffs. It was something that came out instinctively through our passion for Metal music. Even we did not believe at the time that it would become the reason for a genre that is recognized worldwide, Greek Black Metal.

How did the Greek “landscape” (mythology, religious dualities, and socio-political climate) incorporate into the atmosphere and themes of your early work?

Our music is a blend of Middle Eastern and Greek elements. We use these elements to create a ritualistic and mystical atmosphere. Traditional rhythms mixed with ancient traditions and beliefs in a storm of classic Metal riffs. Our ancient history and traditional culture influence us and whether we like it or not, these kinds of influences have always been and will continue to be present in our music.

Sonically, Varathron’s early material displays a melodic yet murky character distinct from Scandinavian Black Metal. What elements did you deliberately embrace or reject in shaping this sound?

As I mentioned in my previous answer, Greek Black Metal is the ultimate blend of eerie atmosphere with classic heavy Metal riffs. All of this came about as a brainstorming exercise driven by our passion for this music. There was never any purpose or comparison of elements with Scandinavian Black Metal.

Your later albums, especially “Untrodden Corridors of Hades” and “Patriarchs of Evil”, reflect a refined, epic, and atmospheric approach. How do you view the evolution of Varathron’s sound without compromising its original spirit?

The sound of VARATHRON had and has its own identity with passion for our music and consistency. Of course, each album has its own uniqueness and its own different sonic "touches". The sound of VARATHRON evolves without ever losing its primary purpose. Is this: the absolute obedience to the unsurpassed Dark God.

In “The Crimson Temple”, there seems to be a sense of ceremonial grandeur and layered composition. What narrative or symbolic intent guided this record?

THE CRIMSON TEMPLE tells the story of the primal and abominable sacrifice of newborn children to the Dark God. It is highly ritualistic and at the same time symbolic. I am truly very happy that our painter GERALDI succeeded in transforming the unholy and morbid thought I had in my mind into an image.

You’ve managed to maintain a relatively stable line-up in recent years. How has this stability influenced your creative process compared to the turbulence of earlier periods?

I believe that a stable lineup in a band leads it to high creative levels. From the beginning of the creation of VARATHRON, there were many problems with the stability of the members. These changes in the band's members led to long-time gaps between albums and a lack of live shows. Since 2011, we have been a very close-knit band with stable members, and this has led to our name growing worldwide.

To what extent does spirituality, be it occult, mythological, or philosophical, continue to drive the conceptual dimension of your music? Has that relationship changed over time?

During my years living in Athens as a student, I started reading many books of philosophical, occult, and historical nature. This helped me a lot in creating the occult character of my band. I have never stopped searching and discovering new paths that VARATHRON's future works will follow.

Varathron has often been framed as part of the “Hellenic Triumvirate” alongside Rotting Christ and Necromantia. In your view, what defines the Hellenic Black Metal identity, and how has it matured since the 1990s?

As I mentioned above, the Greek triumvirate is the one that defined the identity of Greek Black Metal from the late 80s until today. Along the way, other bands have been created which, with their worthy works, have put their little stone in the edifice called Greek Black Metal.

With renewed global interest in atmospheric and traditional Black Metal, do you see younger Greek bands continuing this lineage authentically? Any acts you would highlight as spiritual successors?

There are many new worthy bands who also offer their best to continue the rise of the Greek Black Metal scene. We see quite good releases, impressive performances and a passion for Metal.

In an age dominated by digital saturation and hyper-commercialization, how does Varathron maintain artistic sincerity and ritualistic depth?

VARATHRON was born with the pure spirit of Metal. Back then, when everything was spread through tape trading, flyers and fanzines. So today, in 2025, VARATHRON has remained partly in the old tradition and partly in the evolution of today. Our style and identity will never be affected by any technological development. Real music is created by human minds, not computers.

Looking back over a career spanning more than three decades, what do you consider Varathron’s most significant contribution to extreme music, not only musically, but culturally or ideologically?

The most important contribution of VARATHRON is this special sound that we created, and on it now exists one of the most important global Black Metal scenes, the Greek one. VARATHRON started in 1988 with a huge passion for this Metal music. The years have passed but this passion has remained alive, and this can be seen in our brand-new release. Despite the adverse circumstances we have faced all these years with changes in band members, changes in labels and other situations, we continue and remain strong and top, walking towards the dreams we had created when we first started.

Conclusion

Varathron’s journey is one of myth and resolve, of shadows transmuted into song. Through the decades, they have neither stagnated in nostalgia nor abandoned the arcane forces that first summoned them. They are, in many ways, the eternal guardians of a tradition that refuses to be diluted, an order bound not by orthodoxy, but by vision. In bearing witness to the legacy of Varathron, one encounters not just a band, but an evolving doctrine of Hellenic darkness that continues to echo through time.