Rock Overdose Black Winter Live Review (3rd January 2026 @ Skyland Larissa, Supporting Yoth Iria)

The night of January 3rd did not begin at Skyland, but several kilometers further south. With the wolf supermoon lighting the road and the journey from Lamia to Larisa feeling more like a pilgrimage than a simple drive, anticipation had already begun to shape the atmosphere. Friends, conversations about records and concerts, old and new listening habits, laughter blending with the monotonous roadway noise — everything formed the perfect prelude to a night that promised far more than just another live show.

Arriving in Larisa, it was clear that something special was about to unfold. Skyland Live Music Venue felt like a meeting point for people united by the same passion, the same need for intensity, darkness, and catharsis through sound. Under the light of the Full Moon, three bands with distinct identities and different paths would join forces, transforming the night into a collective experience that began on the road and would ultimately end on stage — and finally, in all of our memories.

[…]

The moment had come for Black Winter’s live return, and on home ground no less. With a refreshed lineup, they took their positions on stage on a night charged with memory and intensity, delivering with maturity the icy, melodic black metal sound that had defined them from their earliest steps, while seamlessly connecting past and present.

They opened with Virtual Vortex, from the self-titled EP released a decade ago — a track also included in the unforgettable split with Human Serpent, through which many of us first discovered them. The rest of their set focused on their newer compositions, centered on dark atmosphere, more stripped-down yet heavier and more ritualistic in nature. Combined with their tight performance and strong interaction with the audience, it gave us a clear sense of what to expect from their upcoming releases. We did miss Hellenic War, truth be told, but even without it, the joy of this unexpected — perhaps even for the band themselves — appearance in the city where it all began certainly whetted our appetite.

Black Winter’s performance made it abundantly clear that their return is not rooted in nostalgia, but in a conscious continuation, with their gaze firmly set on the next creative step — one we await with great anticipation.