Acid Death
Greece’s Pioneers of Progressive Death Metal Who Refused to Conform
Few bands in Greece’s metal underground ever shook the scene like ACID DEATH. Formed in 1989, they didn’t just push boundaries—they kicked them down. Over the course of 12 blistering years, they earned a reputation as one of the most controversial and subversive forces in Greek extreme music, often labeled “heretical” for fusing Thrash and Death Metal with progressive ambition.
At a time when the word “discography” barely echoed through the Greek underground, ACID DEATH were already recording. They drew both praise and fire: lauded by the global metal press, yet often misunderstood,or outright attacked,on their home turf.
Starting as a classic Thrash Metal act, the band evolved into what many consider the sole Greek representative of Progressive Death Metal at a European level by the early 2000s. Their style was complex, bold, and unapologetically technical—lightyears ahead of many peers. With releases like their EP “Apathy Murders Hope”, a split LP with Avulsed, and three full-length albums before disbanding in 2001, ACID DEATH left a lasting mark during a time when live shows were rare and cherished.
They shared stages with genre titans like KREATOR, THE HAUNTED, MAYHEM, CORONER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, and SIX FEET UNDER, making their presence felt well beyond the Mediterranean. Even after their disbandment, members went on to fuel other acts in the Greek metal scene.
The Resurrection and Second Wave
In 2011, a decade after fading from the spotlight, ACID DEATH returned with fresh fire. Armed with new blood and an uncompromising vision, they dropped the compilation “Total Recall”, reigniting their legacy and signaling that the band wasn’t done yet, not even close.
“Eidolon“, their fifth official release, arrived on June, 2012. It marked their first full-length album post-reunion and reestablished their place in the extreme metal echelon. In 2015, they signed a five-year deal with “7hard / 7us Media Group GmbH“, unleashing “Hall Of Mirrors” that September, an album that merged experience with evolution.
In 2017 saw a blast from the past with the release of “Balance Of Power 1992 – The Lost Album”, issued for the first time in its original form after 25 years. It was both a time capsule and a reminder of how ahead of their time ACID DEATH had always been.
Then in March 2019, the band dropped one of their most critically successful records to date: “Primal Energies.” Co-produced by Tommy Vetterli (CORONER), the album hit #11 in German Amazon’s Metal New Releases, proving that ACID DEATH weren’t just back, they were thriving.
In 2023 Greek Metal Hammer Magazine presents the “Greek Metal Owns The Land –
220 Most Important Greek Metal Albums (1972 Till Today)” documentary,
including ACID DEATH’s “Hall Of Mirrors” album of 2015.
This season ACID DEATH have finished the recordings for their 8th album, caller
“Evolution”, a thematic album with the concept of Human Evolution through the
Ages, planning to have it out in Fall – 2025.
Band Line-Up
- Savvas Betinis (bass guitar/lead vocals)
- Dennis Kostopoulos (lead & rhythm guitars, melodic vocals)
- John Anagnostou (lead & rhythm guitars)
- Kostas Alexakis (drums & percussion)
Acid Death Contact and Social Media
Don’t forget to support Acid Death through social media and merch available