Photostory: Pantera / Trivium / Bodysnatcher

Even before last night’s show at Plateia Nerou took place, the presence of the three bands, all making their first appearance on Greek soil, suggested that something special was about to happen. By the time the final note of Pantera’s “Fucking Hostile” rang out, it was clear that expectations had been surpassed long before the night came to an end.

But let’s take things from the beginning, with Bodysnatcher’s performance. The Americans hit the stage with relentless energy, confirming from the very first minutes the reputation that precedes their live shows, as the first mosh pits erupted among the crowd who had arrived early to catch their set.

The next chapter belonged to Trivium. With Plateia Nerou now packed, the band delivered an outstanding performance filled with some of the biggest moments of their career, including songs such as “Throes of Perdition”, “Like Light to the Flies”, “The Heart From Your Hate” and, of course, “In Waves”. Frontman Matt Heafy repeatedly highlighted that their appearance at Release Athens 2026 represented one of the standout moments of their career, underlining the significance of the night for the band as well.

The stage was then set for Pantera, who more than rewarded the audience that had waited decades to see them live. If someone were to compile a list of the biggest metal moments in Release Athens’ ten-year history, the show of groove metal legends would undoubtedly rank among the very top.

And it could hardly have been any other way. Plateia Nerou was filled with metalheads ready to sing every word, and that is exactly what they did from the very first moment. “A New Level”, “I’m Broken”, “5 Minutes Alone”, “10’s” (making its first appearance in their setlist this year), and of course the timeless “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell” brought the night to a powerful conclusion, marking a moment that filled one of the biggest gaps in the history of live music in Greece.