The contemporary underground stratum is brewing with high quality performances from acts that have something to say, but ironically, are skewed over in the age of ubiquity and mindless streaming. Despite this, nu-metal quintet Countown seems not only unfazed, but stronger than ever with their newest release stacked with catchy hooks, metallic grooves and earnest lyrics about the Athenian realities they’re borne from. Producing tracks in their native Greek language, but wearing their influences on their sleeve, they stand as a vibrant bastion of the Greek underground scene that doesn’t need to “sing in English” to be heard.
Chairekakia (Gloat), their third self-produced full-length, arrives at a crossroads for the band, still reeling from the loss of their late bassist Nikolas Pappas who passed away unexpectedly. Even though the title track was released five years prior, and was met with universal acclaim, the band went on an indefinite hiatus when tragedy struck. Ex-bassist Kyriakos Inglesis was eventually reinstated with frontman George Archontoulis, lead guitarist Spyros Stavraggelos and new drummer Makis Alefragis picking up where they left off – this time, more mature and pissed off than ever before.
Album opener Kosmos Toxikos (Toxic World) reflects on a society teeming with hatred and disdain towards its fellow man, while calling for self-resilience and communal fervour as a rally against the different faces of oppression. Adding to the album’s recurring themes, the band dives in headfirst to a full-throttle onslaught of familiar alternative metal hooks, but with an exuberant enthusiasm of the Mediterranean temperament. Its syncopated riffs and sampled harmonies are accentuated by a reliant percussive backbone that keeps a palpable tension. To Lathos (The Mistake) seamlessly follows, weaving trip-hop elements into an anthemic chorus, while Lovotomy (Lobotomy) navigates between tribal stop-start rhythms and keg-smashing breakbeats – a clear nod to the raw, unfiltered energy of early Coal Chamber and Slipknot.
Centrepieces Afaneia (Obscurity) and Vaterlo (Waterloo) serve as the album’s emotional core, blending razor-sharp, polyrhythmic instrumentals with fervent, soaring vocals. Structurally, the band masterfully balances introspective restraint in the verses and interludes before launching into electrifying, high-impact climaxes. Elsewhere, Pneo ta Menea (Enraged) and single Vrikolakes (Vampires) showcase Archontoulis’ meticulous production – keen ears will pick up on the subtle pinch harmonics and fuzz-laden flourishes that add nuance and make each chorus explode into a frenzy. Asfyxia (Suffocation) turns the clock back to the early noughties, with fellow Athenian hip-hop collective Broken da Rima delivering razor-sharp verses over a pulsating staccato groove. Closer Parasita (Parasites) weaves the entire project together by namechecking each of the album’s previous highlights into its breakbeat conclusion.
Dedicated to the memory of Pappas, Countown demonstrate that resilience and raw emotion can drive both artistic and personal evolution. Chairekakia proves to be a testament to their unwavering identity and refusal to conform. As they carve their place in the Greek underground pantheon, their unrelenting energy and authenticity ensure that their voice – loud, impassioned, and distinctly their own – will continue to be heard.
8/10
Standout Tracks: Lovotomy, Vrikolakes, Pneo ta Menea
For Fans Of: Limp Bizkit, Korn, Darwin’s Waiting Room
Written by: Dimitris Vasileias
