Father Dionysios Tabakis: The Priest Who Rocks the World with Fretless Metal
In the picturesque coastal town of Nafplio, Greece, resides Father Dionysios Tabakis, an Orthodox priest whose dual life as a guitarist has captivated audiences worldwide. After fulfilling his spiritual duties, he transforms into a musical innovator, blending traditional hymns with modern metal sounds.
A Unique Musical journey
Father Tabakis’s debut album, described by Pitchfork as a fusion of “drone metal and techno Christmas carols, field recordings, and hymns,” was not initially intended to create a viral sensation. Released in a limited run of just 150 cassettes through Greek labels Heat Crimes and Elhellel, it unexpectedly caught the attention of music enthusiasts and journalists globally.
Due to overwhelming demand, the album is set to be re-released on vinyl later this summer. father Tabakis is also preparing for his first performance in the United States at Philadelphia’s Making Time festival, along with a headline show in London.
Unexpected Fame
“I never anticipated such success,” Father Tabakis shared with Guitar World. “Life’s surprises, both good and bad, come without warning, and that’s the beauty of it.” He reflects on how his music,recorded at home,has resonated with listeners around the world.
The journey began when a young fan from Thessaloniki discovered his YouTube channel. Impressed by his genre-blending Byzantine-inspired music, Nikolas Rafael, founder of Elhellel, encouraged him to release an album. Initially skeptical, Father Tabakis thought, “Not a single one will sell; the boy will waste his money!” However, the cassettes sold out within hours, leading to international acclaim.
Roots in Tradition
Father Tabakis’s connection to his heritage is profound. Growing up in a modest household in Piraeus during the tumultuous 1970s, his first guitar was a makeshift instrument crafted from a plank and nails.”In a family with limited resources, there was no money for music lessons,” he recalls.”But priests taught us Byzantine music for free,and I adapted it to my classical guitar,playing it like a bouzouki.”
His passion for music led him to build a diverse collection of instruments, including a qanun, a Greek baglamas, an oud, and even a Chinese erhu. It wasn’t until his grandchild encouraged him that he bought his first electric guitar-a Harley Benton model that sparked his creativity. “I always wondered how church hymns would sound on an electric guitar, so I began to experiment,” he explained.
Breaking Free from Tradition
Transitioning to an eight-string Harley Benton R-457, Father Tabakis removed the frets to explore the microtones of Byzantine scales. “Frets are like training wheels for a child learning to walk,” he notes. “They serve a purpose, but can limit musicians as they grow.”
His project, Paradise Metal, is a captivating blend of ancient traditions and contemporary sounds, effortlessly merging Christmas carols with techno, hymns with heavy metal, and religious chants with rap. “These genres complement each other naturally,” he asserts.”The term ‘rap’ originates from ‘rhapsody,’ which means ‘to weave odes.’ I believe ancient Greeks would have performed their poetry in rap and techno rhythms.”
A Life Dedicated to Music
Despite his rising fame, Father Tabakis remains grounded in his community, surrounded by religious icons and an array of musical instruments in Nafplio. He practices diligently at home, frequently enough driving his wife to distraction, but finds joy in his granddaughter’s admiration for his music. ”I need to practice a lot, but I’m committed to delivering lovely sounds that reflect our Eastern heritage,” he says.
He views his newfound success as both a privilege and a responsibility. “It’s a weight on my shoulders, but it’s also a chance to share the universal language of music,” he reflects. “In our free and rebellious Greece, we’ve learned to soar when we play.”
special thanks to Della Savvidou for translating from Greek.
