Band – Thlipsis

Album – Thlipsis/Θλίψις EP and Servants of Apathy EP

Country of Origin – Greece

Genre – Black Metal

Release Date – January 25, 2025

Label – FYC Records

Author – Hayduke X

 

Review

 

On January 25, FYC Records released a new special edition digipak CD of the 2021 debut EP Thlipsis/Θλίψις by the then trio Thlipsis. Of this release, the band states, “This EP is a response to those who want to keep the ruins of the old world and a weapon to those who want to change it! We NIX the old, our time has come! It is also dedicated to the late Mikis Theodorakis! May he rest in power!” The aforementioned Theodorakis was a Greek composer, lyricist, and politician with ties to the Communist Party of Greece. Thus, Thlipsis establish their politics and purpose right from the start. They are interested in sending a message. Are we listening?

 

 

Musically, this three track EP is a blaze of emotional black metal, raw and vicious, indeed a weapon to those who wish to change the world. The lyrics of track two NIX start out, “Paths of rebellion desire my pace, Rage, destruction of capitalism,…” The EP is a blade, a flame, a weapon of revolution. Sharpened riffs from Felix Argus and Tumultus allow us to sharpen our own spears, while the drumbeat of revolution echoes forth from the sticks in the hands of N.D. Argus and Tumultus add howls of enraged agony over the state of the world. This debut is a raging, directed blaze. 

 

On the same date, FYC Records also unveiled the Servants of Apathy EP, the brand new call to arms by the now quartet of musicians. The band states: “This EP is dedicated to the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian People, who despite decades of continuous Displacement, Impoverishment, Genocide and War Crimes Concealment, continue to resist and fight for Freedom and Independence…To the thousands of innocent women, children and armless men that have and continue being murdered by the IDF in Gaza and West Bank.” 

 

While this EP shows a maturity earned by years of writing and playing together, it is not at all toned down. If anything, Servants of Apathy is angrier, because the world hasn’t changed for the better. We have collectively moved farther down the path of fascism in several areas. Oppression continues and worsens. The original trio continue their established roles, with the addition of Reactive, who takes over the bass duties originally handled by Argus, giving both a more free hand to create sonic weapons of revolution. Achilleas Kalantzis also guests on keys on the EP. This EP is one more consciously sharpened spear in the war against oppression.

 

Keep reading below the music for an interview with the band!

 

 

 

Interview

 

Hayduke X: Congratulations on the recent release of the Servants of Apathy EP and thanks for taking time to answer some questions. How are you feeling about the EP now that it’s out?

Thlipsis: Thank you so much for your kind words and for having us. Honestly, we’re thrilled with how well the EP has been received. Releasing new music always comes with a bit of anxiety, but now that it’s out and resonating with listeners, we can finally take a breath and fully appreciate the moment.

HX: The Servants of Apathy EP has been released by FYC Records, who also released a new CD version of your self-titled debut EP. How did you come to work with this label and how are they a good fit for you?

Thlipsis: FYC Records is the perfect home for Thlipsis. First and foremost, it’s a great honor to work with Wrath from Dødsferd, an artist whose music we grew up listening to and deeply respect. Beyond that, FYC and Thlipsis share a common vision of what Black Metal should be, making this collaboration feel natural and inevitable. From the very beginning, we could sense their genuine passion and dedication to our work, which only strengthened our belief that this was the right label to bring Servants of Apathy to life.

 

 

HX: Thlipsis originally formed in 2021. How and why did this project begin?

Thlipsis: It all began when Felix Argus and Tumultus crossed paths while studying at the same university. Our shared passion for Black Metal and creative vision naturally evolved into writing music together. As our ideas took shape, the mighty ND joined the band, breathing life into our riffs with his incredible drumming, ultimately leading to the creation of our debut self-titled EP, Θλίψις. Later, during the recording of Dawn of Defiance, Reactive came on board, delivering a killer bass performance and solidifying the lineup by filling a crucial role the band had been missing.

HX: Servants of Apathy is “dedicated to the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian People, who despite decades of continuous Displacement, Impoverishment, Genocide and War Crimes Concealment, continue to resist and fight for Freedom and Independence…To the thousands of innocent women, children and armless men that have and continue being murdered by the IDF in Gaza and West Bank.” Tell me more about why you made this dedication, why it’s important to a band from Greece, and why it remains important even with a tentative ceasefire deal in place.

Thlipsis: We firmly believe that genocide, war, and resistance are issues that concern all of humanity, not just those directly affected. The Palestinian genocide has been ongoing since 1948, it didn’t begin last year, and it certainly hasn’t ended now. Turning a blind eye to such oppression is not an option.

Many bands draw inspiration from war and historical conflicts, using them as themes in their music and lyrics, whether from World War II or other significant moments in history. But what’s happening in Palestine is not history, it’s unfolding right now. As artists and as human beings, we have a duty to speak out against injustice, especially when the world is watching yet doing little to stop it.

A ceasefire deal is not enough. True freedom will only come when Palestine is fully liberated from occupation and its people can reclaim their land, dignity, and future. Until that day comes, silence is not an option.

HX: What is the new EP about lyrically?

Thlipsis: The EP delves into the inhumane apathy that plagues humanity today—the growing indifference toward suffering, injustice, and the world’s descent into chaos. From turning a blind eye to a struggling neighbor to ignoring poverty, war, and inequality, this apathy transforms us into lifeless beings, consumed by our own misery. We deceive ourselves into thinking these issues are not our concern, but they continue to escalate, and sooner or later, no one will be able to escape their consequences.

Beyond that, the EP also explores themes of war and deeply personal struggles. We poured our rawest emotions, darkest thoughts, and unfiltered wrath into these lyrics, making this record not just a reflection of the world’s decay, but also an expression of our own internal battles.

HX: Tell me about the writing and recording process for the band?

Thlipsis: Our writing and recording process evolves each year, but the core approach remains collaborative. It usually begins with Tumultus and Felix exchanging riff ideas, refining and combining them into structured compositions. Once the ideas take shape, we send them to ND, who not only records the drums but also suggests possible changes, whether adjusting riffs, altering playing styles, or enhancing transitions.

Once the drum parts are finalized, the songs go to Reactive, who brings his own creative approach to the bass, adding depth and texture. At the same time, we brainstorm lyrical themes, ensuring that each song’s message aligns with the overall vision of the release. Finally, we record the vocals, bringing everything together.

What makes this process special is that every member actively contributes at every stage. It’s not just a matter of writing a song, handing out parts, and recording, it’s a constant exchange of ideas, shaping each track into something we all approve of. It’s not just a process of “here’s the songs, record drums, record bass, we’re done” and I think that’s what makes this whole process special.

HX: Thlipsis plays black metal, a genre long plagued by fascists, but you call your style Red Attack Black Metal. Tell me more about that label. Is it connected to the RABM scene that has cropped up in recent years?


Thlipsis: As Thlipsis, we strive to carve out our own identity rather than simply aligning with existing movements. Our stance is clear: you can’t fight fascism without fighting capitalism, because capitalism is what breeds and sustains it. Fascism isn’t just a problem within the Black Metal scene, it’s rooted deeply in our society. Black Metal, like all art, is a reflection of the world we live in, and the reactionary elements within it are just a symptom of a much larger disease.

Fascism is rooted in the system and thrives in the decay of society. The only way to defeat it is by fighting the system itself and pushing for real change.

HX: Does the band play live? If so, what is a live Thlipsis show like?

Thlipsis: We haven’t had the chance to play live yet, but we definitely want to. The main challenge is the distance between the band members, which makes it difficult to perform. However, we’re hopeful that one day we’ll be able to bring a live Thlipsis show to the stage!

 

HX: What’s next for the band? Will you be working on new music right away?

Thlipsis: Absolutely! We’ve already started brainstorming ideas for new riffs and concepts. We’ll be diving into new material soon, but we can’t promise a specific release date just yet. Stay tuned!

HX: Is there anything else we need to know? Anything I didn’t think to ask about?

Thlipsis: I think we’ve covered everything! You can check out our latest EP Servants of Apathy on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. Also, feel free to visit our Bandcamp for merch, including CDs and T-shirts!

 

Biography:  Hayduke X has been writing for MoshPitNation since June of 2016. He is also a contributor to The Metal Wanderlust. Prior to joining the MoshPitNation team, Hayduke published reviews on his own blog Rage and Frustration. In addition, he has DJ’ed an online metal radio show of the same name as his blog, written for TOmetal.com, done interviews for Metal Rules, and collaborated with The Art of B Productions to create video interviews with a wide variety of bands.

 

 

 

 

 

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