The saga of INNERWISH began in the heart of Athens, Greece, in 1995, and over nearly three decades, they’ve not only become a cornerstone of the Greek metal scene but have also carved out a revered spot in the European melodic metal landscape. Their journey kicked off with in 1998, when they unleashed their debut album „Waiting For The Dawn,“ setting the stage for what would become a legendary career. Just a few years later, in 2001, they teamed up with their friends Reflection for the split CD „Realms Of The Night,“ solidifying their place in the metal world.
The momentum only grew from there. In 2004, INNERWISH dropped their second full-length album, „Silent Faces,“ under the prestigious German label Limb Music. Two years later, their third album, „Inner Strength,“ followed, and both records received a wave of enthusiasm from fans across Europe and Japan. Sharing stages with titans like Judas Priest, Helloween, U.D.O., Therion, and many more, INNERWISH quickly became a name synonymous with power, melody, and unrelenting energy.
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Mehr InformationenBy 2008, INNERWISH was ready to take things up a notch. They entered Devasoundz Studios in Athens to craft their fourth album, „No Turning Back,“ a record that would mark a significant evolution in their sound. With Fredrik Nordstrom and Henrik Udd at the mixing helm in Sweden’s Studio Fredman, and Mika Jussila mastering the album at Finnvox Studios in Finland, INNERWISH reached new heights. Their signing with Swedish label Ulterium Records led to the 2010 release of „No Turning Back,“ an album that shattered expectations and opened up even more horizons for the band.
Just as INNERWISH seemed poised for perfection, two key members departed, forcing the band to regroup. Yet, in true metal fashion, adversity only made them stronger. The addition of George Eikosipentakis on vocals and Fragiskos Samoilis on drums injected fresh energy and widened the band’s musical landscape. In 2016, INNERWISH roared back with their self-titled fifth album, a monumental release that catapulted them to new levels of success. Trusting again in the dynamic duo of Nordstrom and Udd for mixing, and enlisting Peter In De Betou for mastering, the band crafted an album that was nothing short of a masterpiece. The artwork, a visual feast created by Felipe Machado Franco and designed by Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Design, perfectly encapsulated the album’s powerful spirit.
Despite the setbacks, the obstacles, and the global challenges INNERWISH stands tall in 2024, ready to ignite the metal world with their sixth album, „Ash Of Eternal Flame.“ This new chapter finds them partnered with Reigning Phoenix Music, a label that recognized their relentless pursuit of melodic metal excellence.
The creative fire that drives INNERWISH remains as fierce as ever. “Whenever we write music, we just feel free to express ourselves they way our hearts demand at the time. Either it’s an aggressive song, a fast-paced song, a more atmospheric or an epic one, a slower song, all of our music comes straight from the heart. And by having six members with different musical backgrounds it’s a blessing for the final outcome” says Franki, drummer of the band.
INNERWISH lives by the credo, „If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.“ As Franki elaborates, „Our songwriting and production process is a well-oiled machine. Thimios and Manolis usually kick things off with a song idea, which we then refine through each member’s individual perspective until we achieve a result that satisfies all six of us. Thimios, being a seasoned producer and mixer, usually has the final say on production. As for lyrics, I’ve been taking the lead since I joined, but anyone in the band is welcome to contribute. The themes we tackle? They range from social and global issues to personal struggles, mythology, and even fantasy. There are no boundaries—just pure, unfiltered expression.“
For the first time in their storied career, INNERWISH has included a cover song on their album—Blackfoot’s classic „Send Me An Angel.“ „We love covers, and we love music,“ Franki explains. „When the idea of adding a cover came up, it wasn’t hard to choose. Most of us are fans of that era of melodic hard rock, and Blackfoot is a band we all respect. ‚Send Me An Angel‘ is a perfect fit for us, a song that resonated through the metal bars and clubs of Athens in the ’90s and 2000s. We believe we’ve done it justice, and it absolutely deserves its place on our new album.“
But that’s not all—this time, INNERWISH has a surprise for their fans: a special guest appearance by none other than Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian fame. „I’ve been a HUGE Blind Guardian fan since my teenage years, and so is our singer, George,“ Franki reveals. „Having Hansi Kürsch lend his voice to one of our songs was a childhood dream come true. Thanks to my best friend, Sakis Fragos from Rock Hard Greece, we were able to make it happen. When Hansi sent us his recordings, it was a surreal moment—I was moved to tears. That voice, that presence… we are beyond honored to have him on our album.“
To ensure their latest album reached its full potential, INNERWISH once again turned to Henrik Udd for mixing and mastering, and he delivered with precision and power. For the album’s cover art, the band chose to „go full Greek,“ enlisting the rising star Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design. Fittingly, Nakos’ first-ever work was for INNERWISH’s split release with Reflection back in 2001, making this collaboration a full-circle moment that culminated in an outstanding visual representation of their new album.
