Mithraic Magazine

There’s something truly unique about Greek black metal. From the ancient, sun-baked earth of the mainland to the countless scattered islands, Greece has always been a crucible of history, mythology, and culture. With a population that, while relatively small, has birthed a civilization that laid the groundwork for so much of the Western world’s philosophy, democracy, and art, it’s a land with an unmistakable spirit of resistance and fierce identity.

It’s no surprise, then, that this rich heritage has found its way into extreme metal. Or, that extreme metal tapped into the veins of this rich heritage. The Hellenic black metal sound, pioneered by titans like Rotting Christ, Varathron, and Necromantia, has always stood apart. While the genre’s Norwegian counterparts walked through frozen misanthropy of their forests, the Greek sound developed a more epic, melodic, and almost warm atmosphere, a sound that, even in its grimness, feels tied to the echoes of ancient battles and the whispers of old gods. And i fucking love it! 

Inner Dominion are a band that carry this torch with reverence and their own unique fire. Their music is a testament to this enduring movement. With the recent release of their live album, Live Dominion, they’ve captured the raw, unbridled energy of a Hellenic black metal event. Recorded live in Trikala, Thessaly, this album isn’t just a recording of a live show, it comes across as a a showcase of the band’s genuine power on stage

Zero got a chat with George to discuss Live Dominion, their creative process, and the essence of the Hellenic sound.

Congratulations on the release of “Live Dominion”! What was the motivation behind putting out a live album at this point in Inner Dominion’s career? How do you feel it captures the band’s essence compared to studio recordings?

Good evening, thank you very much for the invitation. The release of the live album was made because it was a historic live for us, in a province with pure Black Metal bands. The headliners were Yothiria, led by Jim Mutilator, one of the pioneers of the Greek Black Metal scene, so it had special meaning for us. I think the songs were captured quite well live and we haven’t got problems on stage.

“Bringer of the Eternal Light” was released last year, How has the reception been? What were the most significant creative or thematic evolutions for the band on that album compared to “Mountains of Death

People liked it a lot. The CD version is sold out and it’s doing very well on online platforms. Our company Hellenic Metal World also contributed a lot to this, as it promotes us very well. Compared to our previous work, the songs are less epic and more black with clearly faster parts. Also, the theme has changed from epic to more Occult…

Looking back at “Mountains of Death,” your first EP, how do you view that foundational release now? What elements from it have remained core to Inner Dominion’s sound, and what has evolved?

The heavy element has definitely remained, as well as some epic references. Besides, we are influenced by bands like Bathory, Venom, Rotting Christ, Manowar, Necromantia…

Inner Dominion has been active for several years. Can you walk us through the band’s journey so far, highlighting any pivotal moments or challenges you’ve faced?

We started out as a group of old friends and reconnected after years. I think what brought us together was our shared beliefs and love for music.

You clearly operate within the broader spectrum of Hellenic Black Metal. What, to you, defines the “Hellenic sound” in black metal, and how do you feel Inner Dominion contributes to or interprets this movement? (i’d really like to get your opinions and ideas on this subject, i’ve tried to keep the question quite open)

Greek black metal began as is well known from bands like Rotting Christ, Varathron, Necromantia. The hallmark of this particular sound is the many melodies between fast rhythms, lead guitars, mid tempo rhythms and many heavy elements taken from classic heavy metal. All these elements in combination with the hoarse vocals we have as a band.

Based purely on track titles alone, it’s clear to see that you take inspiration from ancient history and mythology. How do you translate these ancient narratives into a black metal context? Are there particular figures or events that resonate most with you? Are there any of these themes that you’d like to explore, that you haven’t yet? 

I think that black metal fits perfectly with the ancient world. Deities from ancient Greece like Prometheus are a source of inspiration for us and we have included him on the album. Also other deities from the ancient world like Tiamat, Absu have a prominent place for us. In the new album we have in mind to deal with later personalities who were fought in the Middle Ages…

By looking at some of these cultures, their folklore and customs for inspiration, it’s hard to ignore the transcendence into more occult and esoteric themes. Can you elaborate on any specific aspects of the occult or esoteric that inform your lyrical content and overall band philosophy?

We deal with this issue a lot by reading books and studying many historical books. It is something that we honor with our music and we oppose modern religion which has violated many rights of ancient religions and in some cases eliminated them by force…

Given the rich history and distinct characteristics of Hellenic Black Metal, do you see Inner Dominion as carrying a torch for the traditional sound, or are you aiming to push its boundaries into new territories?

It influences us a lot, it is the religion of our ancestors and we consider that there was a historical disrespect towards them with the establishment of Christianity by force (as in other parts of the world). It is a huge injustice and we fight with our music to restore the truth by highlighting the ancient religion and various heroic figures who resisted

We definitely want to expand this sound into new territories…

What is your creative process like when it comes to writing music, especially with such dense thematic material? Do you approach the music first, or do the lyrical themes inspire the compositions?

The ideas are created from the beginning with a discussion about the style that the compositions will follow. Then the music composition begins and then the lyrics…

What is your creative process like when it comes to writing music, especially with such dense thematic material? Do you approach the music first, or do the lyrical themes inspire the compositions?

We are currently recording our second album which will be released in 2026. We have proposals for various live performances. In general, we are very active!

And lastly, I ask everyone but what should we all be checking out? Other bands, artists, games, books, movies, places of interest. 

In general, people should listen to music. It’s a way to escape from the problems of everyday life. We listen to a lot of metal of all kinds but we base our sound on the good old Greek Black Metal. Rotting Christ, Varathron, Necromantia but also more modern underground bands like Yothiria, Lunar Spells, Melan Selas, Sad…

Thank you to Inner Dominion for this insights on their journey, the Hellenic black metal scene, and the future of Inner Dominion. It’s obvious here that while they honor the traditions laid down by their predecessors, they are also forging their own path, pushing the sound forward into new and exciting territories. With a new album on the horizon, scheduled for 2026, and more live performances being planned, the future looks bright for the band. We eagerly await their next release and the continued evolution of their unique and powerful sound.

Grab Live Dominion at

https://askio-productions.bandcamp.com/album/inner-dominion-live-dominion

For previous releases as well as a whole host of other bands check out

https://hellenicmetalworld.bandcamp.com/

-Z