User:NikosFelekis/sandbox

Distorted Force is a progressive/heavy metal band from Thessaloniki, Greece, formed in 2008.

The band was founded by guitarist Nikos Felekis, drummer Euripides Syrganidis, and guitarist Alexandros Stroumtsas. Known for their intricate song structures and technical proficiency, Distorted Force has established a distinctive presence in the metal genre. The band's lineup, as of the latest update, includes founder Nikos Felekis (lead guitar), Spiros Emmanouilidis (vocals), John Thanopoulos (bass), Marios Ioannidis (keyboard), and Markos Diamantopoulos (drums).

The band gained notable recognition with their sixth and seventh albums, "Curves of Sidereal Cosmos" (2018) and "Angelic Bloodshed" (2023), which were well-received by the metal press and critics internationally.

2008–2011: Formation, Early Years, and First Era
Distorted Force was formed in Thessaloniki, Greece, in September 2008 by guitarist Nikos Felekis. To find fellow musicians, Felekis posted flyers at the International Hellenic University and various conservatories in Kalamaria, seeking individuals influenced by bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Firewind. The flyers, calling for a "Drummer Wanted" and a "Guitarist Wanted," successfully attracted drummer Euripides Syrganidis and, a few months later, guitarist Alexandros Stroumtsas, establishing the band's initial formation.

The name Distorted Force originated from a suggestion by Nikos Hatjigogos, a friend and future guitarist of the band. He proposed "Distorted" as a straightforward and impactful name. This proposal came during a brainstorming session held in a winery after one of their rehearsals. Guitarist Alexandros Stroumtsas added to the idea, advocating for the inclusion of "Force" to convey a sense of power and intensity. The band members unanimously agreed to merge these concepts, leading to the official naming of the band as "Distorted Force."

In the spring of 2009, the band recorded their first demo track, a cover of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid". Later that year, in the autumn of 2009, the band made their debut live performance at Papagalos Rock Bar. This was followed by several performances at Funkey Bar, venues where they would eventually meet their future bassist and lead singer.

In the summer of 2010, drummer Euripides Syrganidis temporarily left Thessaloniki to attend to personal matters on his island of origin, Syros. Rather than pausing their activities, the remaining members decided to recruit a seasonal drummer, Thomas Karamihalis, to keep the band active. This period saw the band performing their first major live show at the Eightball Club Live Stage, an event that was met with positive reviews from the local press. The successful integration of Karamihalis and the chemistry he developed with the band led to a significant line-up change: the termination of their collaboration with Euripides Syrganidis and the promotion of Thomas Karamihalis to the position of full-time drummer.

In the autumn of 2010, the ensemble recorded their debut EP, a self-titled short-length album , at Revolver Studio in Thessaloniki. The album comprised three original tracks alongside three covers: Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," Danzig's "Mother," and Dio's "Holy Diver." These selections showcased the band's range and influences within the metal genre. Following the album's completion, Distorted Force entered into negotiations with Greek record label Secret Port Records. However, the discussions did not culminate in an agreement, leaving the band to continue their journey independently.

In late 2010, the lead singer relocated to Montpellier to pursue a career as a band manager. In response, the band appointed Maria Krommyda as the seasonal lead vocalist under a one-year contract. This transition period saw the band maintaining their performance schedule, including shows at the Eightball Club Live Stage and Harley Bar. Notably, on October 10th, 2010, the band made their Athens debut at Ann Live Club, further solidifying their presence in the Greek music scene. The following month, they supported the well-known Greek comedy metal band "Anorimoi" in November 2010, showcasing their versatility and expanding their audience.

In the spring of 2011, Distorted Force recorded their second album, titled A Dead Man’s Dream , which displayed influences from British rock bands Anathema and Porcupine Tree. The title track, "A Dead Man’s Dream", emerged as the band's most recognized song, maintaining its popularity among fans for several years.

In October 2011, Distorted Force ventured outside Greece for the first time, performing at Kingston Live Stage in Limassol, Cyprus. They delivered two consecutive performances on October 8th and 9th. Following these shows, the band returned to Greece, where internal discussions prompted a reevaluation of their direction. Conflicts over working procedures and interpersonal dynamics led to significant changes in the lineup: the bassist was dismissed from the band, and the lead singer resigned. Shortly thereafter, Nikos Sfoungaros was recruited as the new lead vocalist, and Agatha Atsi joined as the bassist. This refreshed lineup was soon back on stage, marking their debut in Ioannina in December of the same year.

2012 – 2015: Second Era and Fragmentation
In the autumn of 2012, Distorted Force released their third work, a short-length album titled Depersonalization, marking the band's first foray into incorporating growl vocals. This stylistic evolution was showcased during four performances in 2012, all held at the Eightball Club Live Stage in their hometown of Thessaloniki. The addition of vocalist Kostas Jiumakas towards the end of 2012 brought a new dynamic to the band, with Jiumakas and co-vocalist Nikos Sfoungaros delivering a mix of clean and brutal vocals.

In early 2013, with the new addition of keyboardist Achilleas Adamidis, Distorted Force recorded their fourth album, Fields in Desolation. This album marked a notable shift towards progressive metal, blending it with the band's heavy metal roots. The title track, "Fields in Desolation," along with "Burning Seas," were highlighted as key tracks that illustrated the band's evolving approach to songwriting and composition.

In April 2013, the band showcased their talent at the Str8 Forward Auditions contest, where they secured second place. Throughout the remainder of the year, Distorted Force maintained an active performance schedule, delivering seven shows across various venues.

In the spring of 2014, the group amicably parted ways with bassist Agatha Atsi and welcomed Katerina Milona as her replacement. A few months later, the band faced a significant change when long-time guitarist and founding member, Alexandros Stroumtsas, was dismissed due to consistency issues.

The band continued to make their mark in competitions, securing second place once more in the Str8 Forward Auditions contest. The summer of 2014 was a period of intense activity for Distorted Force, culminating in the recording of their fifth album, Taken by Force. The title track and "Shades & Reeks" were particularly noted for their standout performances, with the latter being featured in both full-band and acoustic versions.

Following the album's recording, lead singer Kostas Jiumakas departed from the band on good terms, pursuing other opportunities. Shortly thereafter, keyboardist Achilleas Adamidis also left the band to focus on his solo career as a movie composer. Marios Ioannidis was quickly recruited to fill the keyboardist vacancy. After an extensive mixing and mastering process, Taken by Force was released in December 2014.

The final performance with this line-up took place in January 2015. In the following months, significant changes occurred within Distorted Force. Long-time drummer Thomas Karamihalis relocated to Esslingen, Germany, and lead singer Nikos Sfoungaros moved to Newcastle, UK, both seeking opportunities for professional advancement. Additionally, founding member and principal composer Nikos Felekis commenced mandatory military service in the Greek army, while bassist Katerina Milona also departed from the band. These events led to a complete fragmentation of the band's lineup.

2016 – 2020: Third Era and "Curves of Sidereal Cosmos"
In the late summer of 2016, Distorted Force underwent a significant lineup change. Nikos Felekis, the band's founding member, welcomed new members including guitarist Nick Hatjigogos, bassist Thanos Pallidis, drummer Chris Tupa, and, a few months later, lead singer Spiros Emmanouilidis. This reformed lineup debuted with a live performance in December 2016 at the Eightball Club Live Stage.

In 2017, Distorted Force performed seven shows in Thessaloniki and finalized the recordings of their album Curves of Sidereal Cosmos, which was released in May 2018. The album received positive reviews internationally. Notably, the opening track "Barrows of Doom" and "Tumulus" gained particular acclaim from the band's fanbase. Additionally, the album's final track, a musical adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," extended into a 21-minute piece, earning praise from critics.

Curves of Sidereal Cosmos marked the band's first foray into concept albums weaving a narrative reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's and H.P. Lovecraft's survival stories and drawing heavily from the horror fiction literature genre.

In early 2018, drummer Chris Tupa left Distorted Force, with Markos Diamantopoulos stepping in to fill the vacancy. Throughout the year, the band maintained an active performance schedule, delivering six shows. Highlights included their debut in Volos, a special ten-year anniversary concert, and participating in the Metal Gates Festival in Bucharest, Romania, where they supported the band Draconian.

The band's final performance took place in Berlin, Germany, in 2019. Subsequent to this, bassist Thanos Pallidis departed from the band in late 2019, and guitarist Nick Hatjigogos followed suit, leaving in early 2020.

2021 – present: "Angelic Bloodshed" and Soman Records
In early 2022, the remaining members of Distorted Force finalized the recordings of their new album, Angelic Bloodshed. The mixing and mastering process extended over several months, during which K.S Artist Promotion assumed responsibility for the band's promotional activities. By the early summer of 2023, the band had entered into an agreement with French label Soman Records, which undertook the production of the album.

Angelic Bloodshed was released in May 2023 under Soman Records, earning worldwide praise for its technical complexity and innovative approach to composition. Differing from their previous album, Curves of Sidereal Cosmos, which followed a singular narrative, Angelic Bloodshed adopted a thematic approach with each track presenting a unique story. Tracks such as "Desert," "Machine,"  and "Approaching Event Horizon"  were particularly noted for their standout qualities, receiving warm reception from the band's fanbase.

In an interview with Greek National Radio, Nikos Felekis, the guitarist of Distorted Force, announced that the band plans to commence work on their next album in autumn of 2024.

Style and Lyrical Themes
Distorted Force is known for blending elements of heavy metal and progressive metal. The band cites influences from a wide array of artists including Iron Maiden, Metallica, Anathema, Death, Nevermore, Iced Earth, Black Sabbath, Cruachan, Dio, Danzig, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, and Paradise Lost.

In the early phase of their career, Distorted Force's sound was predominantly heavy metal , as showcased in their self-titled debut album Distorted Force. Their second album saw a shift towards more atmospheric influences, drawing heavily from Anathema's Alternative 4.

Over the years, the band has increasingly incorporated death metal and progressive metal into their music, experimenting with a mix of fast and mid-range tempos within individual tracks. Their compositions are noted for their complex structures and the dynamic shifts in atmosphere.

Lyrically, Distorted Force's themes are diverse, drawing inspiration from the works of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Donald Tyson, reflecting a range of literary influences across their discography.

Current members

 * Nikos Felekis – lead guitar (2008–present)


 * Marios Ioannidis – keyboard (2014–present)


 * Spiros Emmanouilidis – lead vocals (2017–present)


 * Markos Diamantopoulos – drums (2018–present)


 * John Thanopoulos – bass (2023–present)

Former members

 * Euripides Syrganidis – drums (2008–2010)


 * Alexandros Stroumtsas – rhythm guitar (2008–2014)


 * Tasos Papadopoulos – bass (2009–2011)


 * Thomas Karamihalis – drums (2010–2015)


 * Nikos Sfoungaros – lead vocals (2011–2015)


 * Agathi Atsi – bass (2011–2014)


 * Kostas Jiumakas – lead vocals (2012–2014)


 * Achilleas Adamidis – keyboard (2013–2014)


 * Katerina Milona – bass (2014–2015)


 * Nick Hatjigogos – rhythm guitar (2016–2020)


 * Thanos Pallidis – bass (2016–2019)


 * Chris Tupa – drums (2016–2018)

Discography

 * Distorted Force (2008)


 * A Dead Man’s Dream (2011)


 * Depersonalization (2012)


 * Fields in Desolation (2013)


 * Taken by Force (2014)


 * Curves of Sidereal Cosmos (2018)


 * Angelic Bloodshed (2023)