Balothizer

Balothizer are a power trio who describe their renditions of Crete’s traditional music as “post-Cretan”. Their following however came up with a tagline that defines their concoction of thrash metal with acid-blotted Cretan folk… <a href="spotify:album:2Uc4Zpi9dO5Srb2AbgAPul" data-name="Cretan Music from Hell">Cretan Music from Hell</a>! A tagline that became the title of their debut album. With their fusion of Cretan music with heavy bass lines and thunderous drumming, Balothizer released their sophomore album, <a href="spotify:album:2s343GPbrldtu30ijbCpii" data-name="Cretan Smash">Cretan Smash</a> - a whole new level of unabashed Cretan spirit mixed by <a href="spotify:artist:7AZwAitWq1KcFoIJhRWb6V" data-name="Deerhoof">Deerhoof</a>&#39;s Greg Saunier. The result is something that sounds like a coupling of Psarantonis and a 1980s punk gathering in a grimy basement full of moshing weirdos.

Balothizer’s beginnings lie in London just as the metropolitan city was experiencing a “world music” and jazz renaissance with immigrant musicians embracing their own traditions from beyond the western European world. The Greek rock scene was also turning into a phenomenon in the Balkan stoner and metal underground - it’s no surprise that Balothizer’s Greek folk-meets-metal came about.

The pandemic brought a time of change and reorganization for the planet, humanity and for the band - they moved to Crete plus had a lineup change. On lute is Stelios Mylonakis and on drums is Michalis Saganis who join vocalist and bassist Pavlos ‘Pav Mav’ Mavromatakis (of <a href="spotify:artist:00NKPo48eMgIfYuvc8SwjO" data-name="Electric Litany">Electric Litany</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:00TWdTQnOXqe6ylEr4AytB" data-name="The Turbans">The Turbans</a>) who together bring their curiosity for Crete&#39;s punk music to generate a new sound for Balothizer, called PunKretan Sessions out in 2022.