Naxatras Post “Pulsar 4000” Video
Posted in Bootleg Theater on February 7th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
We — you and I — have seen over the last couple years the rising of the Greek heavy underground. From the fuzz-fueled riffs of 1000mods to Bus‘ heavy blues to the there’s-something-special-happening-here jams proffered by Thessaloniki trio Naxatras, not only is it a boom of bands coming out, but one distinguished in quality and variety. Some are new, some have been around a while, but as Greece becomes more of a hotbed for heavy rock — it has its own Desertfest, which just by way of an example the US does not — it has thus far been able to sustain a multi-faceted thrust to sate different kinds of listeners; essential for any scene, large or small, to survive.
As regards Naxatras, whose first official video, “Pulsar 4000,” you can see below — it might as well come with a hand-written invitation to space the hell out for its seven minutes — the psychedelic explorers, as noted, have set themselves on a path of capturing something special. Europe has a long tradition of progressive jamming, and indeed, the three-piece of bassist/vocalist John Vagenas, guitarist John Delias and drummer Kostas Harizanis would seem to have learned some crucial lessons from their northern stylistic forebears in outfits like Causa Sui, Electric Moon and Colour Haze, but their live-recorded, analog-tracked material has managed to resonate with listeners in and out of their home country precisely because of the individuality of its tones and the personal aspects of its presentation — the natural chemistry between the three players, the easy flow they conjure up in their songs, etc.
“Pulsar 4000” comes from their 2016 EP (discussed here), which followed their 2015 self-titled debut full-length and was a precursor to last year’s II (review here). Quick as their ascent to the fore of Greece’s representative exports has seemed, I think this track sums up a lot of what has allowed them to take such firm hold of their audience’s imagination — a process they seem to acknowledge directly in the video, as it happens — and even with the drastic sonic turn it takes circa the five-minute mark, Naxatras have conjured such an open vibe that they’ve basically given themselves permission to wander where they please. We — you and I — can only hope they continue to do so.
Video credits and a couple tour dates follow the clip below.
Please enjoy:
Naxatras, “Pulsar 4000” official video
Taken from our 2016 “EP”, recorded at Magnetic Fidelity.
Directed by Elena Kontela
Director Of Photograpy: Anastasis Kontostergios
Camera Operation: Alex Vilaras
Animated by Haris Kountouris
Edited by Nikolas Kanellopoulos
Producer: Aris Antivachis
Starring Fay Vevi
www.midnightpictures.eu
Artwork design by Skitsos and Chris RW.
Naxatras Spring Break!!
30.3 – Cafe Santan , Volos
31.3 – Stage Club , Larissa
1.4 – Eightball Club , Thessaloniki
More to be announced soon….
Naxatras is:
John Delias – Guitar
Kostas Harizanis – Drums
John Vagenas – Bass & Vocals
