Doomed Confessionary: Yiannis Pousios (DreamLongDead)
DreamLongDead is a doom/death metal band from Athens, Greece.
DreamLongDead delivers raw, ultra heavy, uncompromising metal, featuring dual brutal lead vocals, lots of doom elements, of monstrous proportions, song oriented, maintaining an organic, straightforward approach, and creating a sonic landscape which is crushing and captivating.
After a six-year of slumber, DreamLongDead arise again with their new album, »Derelict«, out on November 1st, 2024. »Derelict« introduces an invigorated line-up for DreamLongDead, infusing new energy and creativity into the band.
Manos Giakoumakis (Universe217, ex-Infidel) brings his dynamic drumming into the mix, while Achilles Charmpilas (Bastard Sword, 2 By Bukowski) adds layers of guitars, synthesizers, and keyboards. They join the stalwart founding members Tassos Palaiologos (ex-Thee Holy Strangers, ex-Down & Out, ex-The 700 Machines) on vocals and guitars, Yiannis Pousios (ex-Infidel) on vocals, and Leonidas Vranas (Under The Sun, ex-Invocation) on bass, forming a new team of actually old pals.
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are DreamLongDead, a bunch of old, grumpy noisemongers from Athens, Greece. We describe our music as “…the soundtrack of a George Romero directed grainy super 8 shot, black and white zombie exploitation flick, about a meta-apocalyptic world where only cannibals and junkies survive”, but you can call it “doom metal of death”, or “death metal of doom” if you like. The band was formed in 2011, and we’ve just released our fourth album, entitled »Derelict«, where we tried to incorporate some different elements to our doom/death metal sonic foundation, like synthesizers or prog rock influences for example, and I think we went one step further in bringing a feeling of cinematic grandeur to our music. The album was recorded and mixed in AUX Studio, Athens, using analog gear and an analog sound-desk, whereas the mastering was done by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering in Austin, Texas, USA. We’re really happy with »Derelict«, we had a great time recording it, and we hope that you’ll have a good time listening to it.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Living in Greece during the last fifteen years has been quite a fucking challenge by itself!
What can you be most proud of so far?
Being a completely independent and D.I.Y. band up to now, we’re proud of creating exactly the music we want in the best way we possibly can, without any compromises or “advices” coming from labels, managers etc. I guess we’re too old for this shit.
What was your biggest regret?
I know that the biggest regret always comes the morning after a night of heavy drinking, but you’ll have already forgotten about it the next time you go out to a bar. That’s why I don’t remember having any regrets at all.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
During the Covid lockdown in 2020, when all gigs had been postponed, we hung a poster-photo of the band on the wall of our rehearsal studio, announcing our “No Touring Tour”. Best tour we ever had!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
There’s rarely anything in today’s music scene that can really surprise an old bastard like me. However, as an exception to that rule, recently I found out about a band called Sleepwalker and their new album »Delirium Pathomutageno Adductum« which features a unique blend of progressive elements, noise rock, black metal and classic heavy metal. Now, this is something I’ve never heard before, truly experimental stuff. Still haven’t decided if I love it or hate it.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
The new albums by Crypt Sermon, Early Moods, Oranssi Pazuzu, Ulcerate, Mitochondrion, Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice, Zeal and Ardor, Folterkammer, Necrot, Nile, Doedsmaghird… to name a few. I like to keep an eye and ear on new releases that are coming out from different metal genres, but there’s always the occasional Sabbath, Zeppelin, Motörhead, Cathedral or Morbid Angel album in my playlist.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Don’t quit your day job, if you have any.
What are your guilty pleasures?
The absolute, universal, one-and-only truth is that everyone likes smelling his or her own farts.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Athens / Greece?
The Greek metal scene has been constantly growing since the ’90s, and some bands became international acts, namely Rotting Christ, Septicflesh, or Dead Congregation. The same goes, more or less, for the Greek so-called stoner scene with bands like Nightstalker, 1000mods, V.I.C. etc. However, there’s some really interesting music coming out of the underground in all kinds of genres, and as far as the doom/down-tempo stuff is concerned, do yourself a favour, check out bands like Agnes Vein, Universe217, BastardSword, Under The Sun, Automaton, Catapult The Sun, and thank me later! 😀
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We’re going to do some gigs in Greece in the next year, but nothing is confirmed yet. We have no plans of playing or touring outside Greece at the moment, however we are open to invitations.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Survival, and to create more music in the coming years.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Let’s get high, get wasted!
How can people best support your band?
As I mentioned earlier, DreamLongDead is a totally independent band, and buying our music or merch is the best way to support us, so if you’re interested you can visit our Bandcamp page for it. You can also check our social media accounts (links below) to stream our music, contact the band for any inquiry, and show us some love!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Patience is a virtue, obey the riff.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well