SORROWFUL WINDS Members (2022)
- Mike I. (vocals)
- Thanasis Hatziagapis (rhythm & lead guitars)
- Tasos Iosifidis (bass guitar)
- Kostas Exarchakos (drums)
SORROWFUL WINDS Releases
- Dream Refuge (Demo 1994)
- Sorrowful Winds (Demo/EP 1997)
- The Imminent Arrival (Full-length 1999) Seven Records
- The Age of Dreams (Full-length 2001) NMC Records
- Non-Aligned (Full-length 2014) Self-released
- Deny Reality (Full-length 2022) Steel Gallery Records
Biography
SORROWFUL WINDS were formed in Athens in early 1991, thus being now one of the longest lasting groups of the Greek metal scene!
After a long period of constant changes in their line-up, two demo releases and several live appearances throughout the country, that created a good reputation and a solid core of fans, SORROWFUL WINDS recorded “The Imminent Arrival”, their first-ever official release (July 1999, Seven Records). In order to promote their debut, the band gave a number of live appearances highlighted by a supporting slot to a Gamma Ray show in the historic Rodon Club (Athens 21/5/2000).
In the summer of 2001 the band entered the studio once again to record their sophomore album called “The Age of Dreams”. Released in December 2001 by NMC Records, the record depicted the maturity and the constant progress of the band throughout the years, combining power/progressive metal with doom and atmospheric elements.
Once again SORROWFUL WINDS played several headlining gigs and supported Candlemass, Evergrey, Pain of Salvation, Rage, Dead Soul Tribe, Artch, Anvil, Jag Panzer and some more.
During the summer of 2009 and after several changes in SORROWFUL WINDS' line up, the idea of a new, third album, was born in the minds of the two remaining members of the band (Thanasis Hatziagapis – guitars and Kostas Rigopoulos – keys).
The process was time-consuming but with careful steps and the necessary addition of new and highly motivated members, SORROWFUL WINDS self-released (late October 2014) their third and most ambitious album up to this date, “Non-Aligned”. The album was recorded and mixed in the band's own “R” studio in Athens and mastered by Toni Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios (Symphony X, Amon Amarth, Kreator, Paradise Lost, Opeth, Hammerfall, Katatonia, Soilwork etc.) in Sweden. “Can Classic Metal Be Modern?” was its rightful motto.
Between 2015 & 2016 S.W. performed numerous local gigs, promoting their last album in various ways and realizing some important side-projects. Overall “Non-aligned” was warmly received by the fans and the critics in Greece.
In late 2017 S.W. started composing and rehearsing new material with a new drummer up to 2019 and after a 2 and a half year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they released their new 4th album "Deny Reality" on April 15th 2022, via Steel Gallery Records. The journey has just begun for this new prog-power project. The new album has already been greatly received by fans and critics in Greece and abroad and the band is planning to further promote it with live performances and a new video clip.