Hello! I’m Alexander and I am the drummer of Hellpass. First of all we would like to thank you for this interview and for the opportunity you are giving us for a wider audience to get to know us better. In June 2022, having met Aggelos (guitar) we made the decision to form Hellpass because Aggelos and I share the same love for extreme sound and the desire to dedicate our lives to it. So, it is definitely a dream that came true and not just a jam.
This is how Hellpass came about and shortly after their establishment, Vassilis joined the band. We started as a three-piece and within a few months we had our first album called "Gates of War" and in the late summer of '22 we entered the recording studio. In the meantime, we were looking for a bass player so Vassilis could focus more on vocals. At the beginning of autumn 2022, Nikos joined the band and started learning our songs and coming to our rehearsals. Since then we have released several video clips. The latest is the self-titled track of our first record “Gates of War” which you can find on our YouTube channel (https://linktr.ee/hellpass).
We have also performed many live performances in many urban centers of the country (Thessaloniki, Athens, Volos, Larisa) and in August we will play, on the 26th of the month, at the Over The Wall Festival organized in Heraklion, Crete. Then, in November we have planned a tour with Arallu and our brothers from Athens, Among Ruins, in three countries in Eastern Europe.
What's the Line-Up?
Hellpass are Aggelos on guitars, Nick on bass, Vasilis on vocals and me (Alexander) on drums.
How do you sound like?
I would describe our sound as heavy metal music with doom and thrash elements. Apart from this, we are an ever-growing band, every member carries his own influences and the final product is a blend of all the personalities that are involved in the composition process.
Your Discography?
Currently we have released only our debut album titled “Gates of War” and we feel excited about that! Gates of War is our first born child! I don’t think that we would change anything. The album represents who we were at the time of its’ making and changing anything would make it a “fake” release.
Influences?
We love the whole spectrum of metal music. I will only write three discs as an indication.
Savatage - The Hall of the Mountain King
Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
What do you write about?
War, social and personal issues.
Your favourite live performance so far?
It was in a club where our singer divided the audience in half and made one half to scream “Hell” and the other half “Pass”. That’s an unforgettable moment.
Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage
We were in our rehearsal studio once and Aggelos (our guitar player) was trying to explain to me what to play via air drumming. Generally it is very funny when string player try to communicate with percussionists.
Your favourite records?
Therion – Lepaca Qliffoth
Any Marduk record
Cult of Fire – Ascetic Meditation of Death
A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
Some say that it’s better to never meet your idols, so let’s leave everyone alone. My influences have already inspired me so much, they need not do anything else.
What will you ask backstage if you were the most important band on earth?
Nothing out of the usual. I wouldn’t abuse my status.