Interviews: Sons Of Hades

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Blackened Heavy Metal band Sons Of Hades from Greece. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. The Omen dives deep into retro occult horror territory. What sparked the idea for the video, and why was this track chosen for the visual treatment?

The whole album is heavily inspired by horror cinema, especially classic occult films, so the concept for the video came naturally. We wanted to capture that retro, ritualistic atmosphere visually and bring the song’s dark vibe to life.

We chose “The Omen” because it’s short, aggressive, and hits instantly. The energy grabs you by the throat from the first second and doesn’t let go until it ends.

2. The video feels like something plucked off a forbidden VHS shelf in 1987. How intentional was that aesthetic, and what references did you pull from?

That VHS/forbidden shelf feeling was 100% intentional. We wanted to capture the authentic retro atmosphere of ’70s and ’80s horror—the grain, the darkness, the rawness, the sense of dread that those films had. That era has a very specific texture and mood, and we wanted the video to feel like a “found footage” nightmare you discover late at night.

Concept-wise, the scenario is inspired by The Omen, but we approach it from a different perspective. The focus isn’t Damien—it’s the ones orbiting around him: the people who become obsessed with the prophecy and ultimately surrender to it, forming the Disciples of the Watch.

3. With Tombs of the Blind Dead being your debut full-length, what were the guiding principles going into the writing and recording process?

Most of the initial ideas came from Apostolis K., and by the time the band fully came together, a big part of the album was already written. From there, it became a full band effort—everyone added their own character and shaped the songs into what they eventually became.

We didn’t set strict rules on purpose. The main goal was to keep it heavy, dark, and energetic, while letting all our influences come through naturally. That’s why you’ll hear elements of black metal, traditional heavy metal, thrash, and even death metal across the record.

4. Old school black and heavy metal influences are obvious, but what about film, literature, or real-world history fed into the band’s vision?

It’s mostly film and literature that shape our vision. We’re huge fans of old-school horror, from classic Hammer Horror productions to obscure Spanish cult horror films.

On the literary side, writers like Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King are constant influences. Their worlds fit perfectly with the dark atmosphere we try to create through our music.

5. Sons of Hades formed in 2023. How did the lineup come together, and what did each member bring to the table that shaped the final sound?

Sons of Hades started in 2023 as Apostolis K.’s vision, but the lineup came together naturally because we’ve all played together in different bands over the years—Demolition Train, Nightbreed, Chainsaw, and others. We already had chemistry, shared influences, and the same obsession with heavy music, so everything clicked fast.

As for what each member brought: Vasilis added the explosive lead work, Alex locked in the foundation with a steady and crushing low end, and Vaggelis brought relentless energy and precision behind the kit, pushing the songs with powerful drum parts.

6. Can you give a track-by-track breakdown of the album for the feature? What grim tales or themes haunt each song?

The Omen: The birth of the Antichrist. A morbid prophecy is finally fulfilled, and the darkness is unleashed upon the world.

The Fall of the House of Usher: A tribute to Edgar Allan Poe’s grim tale of the cursed Usher bloodline—madness, decay, and the slow collapse of a doomed family.

The Marsten House / Salem’s Lot: Inspired by Stephen King’s vampire nightmare. The Marsten House becomes a gateway for evil as Mr. Barlow rises each night, hungry for blood and feeding on a town’s fear.

Ghost Galleon: Our first tribute to the Blind Dead films. A haunted ship drifts through the darkness, carrying the resurrected corpses of devil-worshipping Templar Knights—cursed, undead, and merciless.

La Maschera del Demonio: A tale of witchcraft and vengeance. After being executed with the Mask of Satan nailed to her face, the witch returns from beyond the grave to reclaim what was taken—and to make her executioners pay.

Phantom Carriage: A chilling legend: the last soul to die on New Year’s Eve is condemned to become Death’s driver for the coming year, collecting the damned and carrying them into the shadows.

La Noche de las Gaviotas: Our second tribute to the Blind Dead universe. A sinister cycle of ritual sacrifice—young women offered to the zombie Templar Knights every seven nights, bound to repeat across seven years of horror.

7. The band refuses modern overproduction and trend polishing. Was that a conscious rejection of the current metal landscape or simply how you believe this music should be captured?

It was definitely a conscious choice. Our music doesn’t belong in an overpolished, hyper-edited production style. For us, that kind of overproduction often kills the emotion—the performance gets flattened, and everything starts to feel the same.

We wanted the guitars and drums to stay alive and breathing, with real dynamics and impact. Not a retro copy, but a modern sound with an old-school spirit.

8. Working with director Tony Thalassinos, what creative conversations shaped the video? Was the narrative scripted, improvised, or somewhere in between?

Tony is not only a great director, but also a close friend, so working with him was a real pleasure. We sent him the track early on and let him absorb the mood so he could capture the right vibe.

Since Tony shares the same obsession with horror films and dark storytelling, everything clicked immediately. We brainstormed a lot, threw ideas back and forth, and from those conversations, he built the narrative scene by scene. It was mostly scripted, but with enough space on set for small adjustments and spontaneity.

9. The cast for the video adds theatrical energy. How did you select the roles, and what were you looking for in the performances?

A big part of the casting came naturally because the video was built around people close to us. Vasilis Necrodriver and Marios Galatis are longtime friends and supporters of the band, and they actually volunteered to be part of the project. Since we know their personalities well, it was easy to match them with roles that fit.

Nikos Chronis is an actor and a friend of Tony’s, and he absolutely nailed his part. Tony guided everyone through the performances, so even the more theatrical moments still felt focused and believable.

A lot of our friends also helped behind the scenes, building the sets, so the whole shoot felt like a real team effort—hard work, but also a great time.

10. The album’s sonic palette brings together speed, menace, and cold melody. How difficult was it balancing those elements without letting one devour the others?

Honestly, it wasn’t difficult. It happened naturally. Those elements—speed, menace, and cold melody—are exactly what we love, so the balance came from instinct rather than overthinking it.

We were in a really inspired period while writing, and everything just clicked in a way that felt effortless.

11. Tombs of the Blind Dead references a classic Spanish horror film series. What parallels do you see between that cinematic universe and the world the album builds?

We usually write the music first and let the lyrics follow, and the atmosphere the riffs create naturally led us there. The album carries those dark, occult, horror vibes, so it felt like the perfect soundtrack for the Blind Dead universe—ritualistic, cursed, and cinematic.

12. The cover art by Dimitar Nikolov sets the mood before a note is heard. What direction or vision did you communicate to him, and what symbolism is contained in the final piece?

Dimitar is an incredible artist, and we already had great chemistry with him from the two Demolition Train albums. For this cover, we simply shared the core concept—the album title and the Blind Dead references—and gave him full freedom to interpret it. The entire final artwork was his vision, from the sketches and characters to the color palette. The symbolism captures exactly what the album represents: occult horror, cinematic dread, and that feeling of a cursed story coming to life. Once again, he left us speechless.

13. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Ignite Studios—why was that the right environment, and what did engineer Giorgos Christoforidis unlock sonically for the band?

Vaggelis had already worked a lot with Giorgos Christoforidis at Ignite Studios and recommended him to us. We started by recording three songs as a test session, and the results immediately felt right, so we committed to recording, mixing, and mastering the full album there. We explained our vision for the Sons of Hades sound, and Giorgos helped shape it with great ideas and attention to detail. We experimented with many different approaches until everything landed exactly where we wanted it—powerful, clear, and still raw

14. Athens has a rich underground scene. How has the city shaped Sons of Hades, and where do you see yourselves fitting within the local and national metal ecosystem?

Absolutely—the Athens scene, and the Greek underground in general, is thriving right now. There’s a constant wave of great new bands emerging across every subgenre, and that energy keeps the whole community moving forward.

Since we’ve been active musicians for years, we already feel like part of that ecosystem. With Sons of Hades, we’re bringing our own identity by combining black metal intensity with traditional heavy metal, thrash, and death metal heaviness. Almost like a bridge between different worlds of extreme and classic metal.

15. If you could tour Tombs of the Blind Dead with any three bands from any era, who would make the ideal lineup and why?

Our dream lineup would be Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost, and Mayhem. These bands shaped the way we hear and write metal, and their influence runs deep—whether it’s the sinister heavy metal edge, the crushing darkness, or the raw black metal intensity.

They’re not just bands we love—they’re part of the DNA of Tombs of the Blind Dead. Touring with them would be the ultimate honour.

16. What lyrical themes dominate the album? Are these rooted in mythology, real-world evil, occult philosophy, horror fiction, or a blend?

Horror fiction, 100%. That’s the core of the album—dark cinema and grim literature brought into metal form.

17. The old black/heavy crossover sound is resurging worldwide. Why do you think listeners are gravitating back toward the rawer forms of extreme metal?

I think it’s the old-school attitude people miss. Back then, bands wanted to shock the world and push things to the edge—it felt dangerous and real. A lot of listeners are craving that again: raw emotion, pure aggression, and music that doesn’t feel safe or calculated.

18. How have fans responded so far to The Omen video and the album rollout? Any reactions you didn’t expect?

The response has been really strong so far—people seem to love the video. I’ve already seen it shared in a lot of profiles and groups, and that genuinely means a lot to us.

One reaction we didn’t expect was about the vocals. Quite a few listeners said they remind them of Mille and early Kreator, which is honestly a huge compliment. That wasn’t even in my head when I recorded them, so it was a surprising—and very flattering—comparison.

19. Sons of Hades walks a line between theatrics and sincerity. How do you keep the atmosphere serious without drifting into parody?

The theatrics are there to enhance the atmosphere, not to replace it. Legends like Mercyful Fate / King Diamond and Alice Cooper showed that theatrical performance can still feel dangerous and authentic when it’s backed by real songwriting and conviction. For us, sincerity is the anchor. We treat the music and the mood seriously, and we never approach it with irony. When the songs hit with genuine intensity, the theatrical elements don’t feel like parody—they feel like part of the same world.

20. What’s next for the band following the album and video release—more videos, touring, or a new chapter already brewing?

Right now, the main focus is pushing the album as far as it can go. We’ve already booked a few shows, and more are in the works. We’re also preparing one more video release—and it’s going to be a very interesting one. So yeah… stay tuned.