Doomed Confessionary: Irene, Alex & Vangelis (Church Of The Sea)
Photo credit: Peg Leg Green
Church Of The Sea is a doom/darkwave/shoegaze trio hailing from Athens, Greece. The band consists of Irene (vocals), Vangelis (guitars) and Alex (synths, samples).
Formed in 2017, Church Of The Sea have carved a distinct niche for themselves, balancing the crushing weight of doom with the ethereal beauty of dark electronic rock. Their signature sound blends fuzzed guitars, heavy distorted beats, and Irene’s captivating, chant-like vocals, creating an atmosphere that is both heavy and dreamlike, with hints of shoegaze and noise-rock intensity.
Throughout their career, Church Of The Sea have graced the stages of numerous festivals and shared the bill with notable acts such as Antimatter, The Murder Capital, Messa and Dool, including two sold-out performances at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Athens.
Church Of The Sea is currently gearing up to release their second full-length album »Eva« on April 11th, 2025 via These Hands Melt. »Eva« reimagines the biblical story of Eve, challenging the traditional narrative and celebrating her defiance. The band explains, “»Eva« is a twist in the story from the Book of Genesis, where the female is not seen as the sinner for seeking knowledge, but as the rebel that embraces what others consider ‘forbidden’.”
Can you say a few words about your band?
Alex: We are a doomgaze band from Athens, Greece. We blend doom with dark, electronic elements, fuzzy guitars and dreamy vocals.
Irene: To create our music, we draw inspiration from symbols, myths, and timeless philosophical questions, transforming them into sonic imagery through our music and lyrics.
Vang: We finished the recording of our second album »Eva«, which is to be released on 11 April 2025. You can find the self-titled single on YouTube and all streaming platforms.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Alex: It may be a cliché, but we really did try to blend many different elements when forming the band. Our background includes alternative, metal, darkwave etc. and we wanted to be as unique as possible, combining a heavy sound with an ethereal, shoegaze atmosphere.
Irene: One of the biggest challenges for the band is finding a balance between creating music, maintaining artistic inspiration, and managing everyday responsibilities, as each requires its own time and energy.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Alex: That we have seamlessly combined electronic elements and samples with a heavy doom sound, even in a live setting, and only a handful have suggested that we use real drums.
Irene: We are proud of many things – the way the audience has responded to our music so far, the fact that with this second album we have pushed our creative boundaries even further, and our collaborations with all these amazing artists, both on and behind the stage.
Vang: I am too very proud of our latest record. I believe that we have taken things to a higher level. We have included additional elements in the recording with new samples, new sounds and textures that add more depth and helped evolved our sound.
Photo credit: Danai Simou
What was your biggest regret?
Alex: Now that’s a heavy word. Not regret per se, but it took us a bit longer than necessary to get confident about our craft.
Irene: No regrets. Everything happens for a reason. A good friend of mine always says, ‘Trust the process,’ and I couldn’t agree more.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Alex: Opening for Messa on January 26th, 2023 was a good one. We have been following those guys and girl since their debut, and it was cool to share the stage and get to hang out with them afterwards.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Irene: The biggest surprise for us is perhaps the speed at which new music genres are evolving, as well as the fusion of different styles that, under normal circumstances, would seem impossible to coexist.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Irene: The new album by Wyatt E., which has been in my rotation non-stop for the past few months.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Vang: “Have fun”.
Irene: “Don’t think, just do it.”
What are your guilty pleasures?
Vang: There are no guilty pleasures in music. In any case, Oasis is my provocative choice. Their reunion hits a sensitive adolescent string.
Irene: No guilt, just pleasures.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Athens?
Irene: Athens is a city with a rich and diverse music scene. Especially in the heavy sound (and beyond), you’ll come across many excellent bands. If you find yourself in the city, it’s definitely worth experiencing it to truly understand what’s happening right now.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Irene: A few days ago, we had the opportunity to perform at An Club as the opening act for Wolvenest and Λάμδα. Our next gig is with our dear friends Hypnotic Nausea sometime in May.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Irene: To take a step beyond our comfort zone, improving and finding new ways to express ourselves.
How can people best support your band?
Follow our socials and Bandcamp.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Irene: Stay cool and listen to music.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well