Some bands arrive with fanfare. Others, like BRAVERIDE, carve their path with quiet determination, building a world of sound slowly—stone by stone, riff by riff. Not with noise, but with vision.
Behind the name lies a journey that spans nearly two decades. Back then, BRAVERIDE were more of a solo project led by founder Marios Christakis, who launched the band in 2004 with a clear mission: to compose epic/power tracks in the spirit of the classics, while blending orchestral elements and a modern sound. Those were the days when bands like BATTLEROAR and DARK NIGHTMARE were also releasing their early works, in what would become a golden age for the Greek scene.
Thus came “Heroic Deeds”, a debut fierce and shadowy, drawing from the wells of BLIND GUARDIAN’s storytelling and BATHORY’s solemn weight. But Braveride would not stay rooted in one sound. With time, the project grew bolder. In 2012, “Rise of the Dragonrider” emerged—not just as an album, but as a turning point. Expansive, richly arranged, and cinematic in scope, it redefined what BRAVERIDE stood for. The music grew wings—soaring, layered, and meticulously built.
Six years ago, they returned with “…of Heroes and Innerfire”, pushing the boundaries even further. The tone was heavier, the textures darker, the compositions more adventurous. It was clear: this was not a band content with repetition. They had matured, sharpened their tools, and learned to paint in deeper hues.
Though they remain selective with their releases, each one marks a new chapter—never rushed, never careless. BRAVERIDE offer a sound that stays with you. Not ephemeral, but enduring. Their story continues, carved in melodies and battle hymns. And if you listen closely, you’ll hear it: a call to adventure echoing in the distance…
So no, BRAVERIDE are far from a yesterday’s band.
On the contrary! Their mark is already present—clear-cut, well-formed, and unmistakable.
And thus, we arrive at 2025 and “The Great Awakening”—the band’s most ambitious album to date. For mastermind Marios Christakis, this is a deeply personal challenge, a creative oath: to craft the best record he could as a musician. And let it be said without hesitation—he did it!
“The Great Awakening” is by far BRAVERIDE’s finest offering to date—and the leap forward is undeniable.
This fourth, monumental chapter in the band’s saga, with a spectacular new line-up, multi-layered compositions, commanding guitar work, and a top-tier production by Fotis Benardo at Devasoundz Studios, offers a cinematic, immersive epic/power experience, saturated with magnificent symphonic textures.
“The gate has to be closed.
A great deed but it is the only hope to send evil back to its own dimension…
This is The Great Awakening,
let’s hope that we will win this final confrontation…”
Marios Christakis handles guitars, composition, arrangements, and lyrics, with lyrical contributions by Marcello Viera (INVISIBLE HORIZON, ATLAND, AUVERNIA) — a seasoned and versatile vocalist whose performance behind the mic breathes new life into the re-forged BRAVERIDE. On drums, Antonis Gerogiorgos, and on bass, Wolf De Iuliis from CHRYSALÏD create a solid rhythm section while the renowned German soprano Gaby Koss graces the album with a stunning guest appearance.
Complexity and immediacy—two key elements for truly feeling both the tension and the depth of a fantasy world. And “The Great Awakening” has them in spades, revealing them through a vast and breathtaking sonic palette.
The first single, “Executioner”, previously featured here, is a relentless epic/power anthem, capturing the album’s spirit and vision in full force.
“Force awakening, nowhere to hide
Ancient spirit is divine
Executioner, now it’s your time
Wield your sword with care
Chant your rhymes and fight”
As with all the bands’ works, this is a concept album—one that brings closure to the sweeping fantasy tale woven through every previous release. These interconnected stories unfold in a richly imagined world, offering continuity and depth that rewards the loyal listener.
And while the album stands strong as a cohesive whole, each track holds its own, proving BRAVERIDE‘s ability to balance thematic storytelling with individual musical impact.
From the beautiful acoustic intro of “Twilight” to the stormy emergence of “Executioner”, we’re led into the majestic yet deeply lyrical “Nightmares Are Real”, a piece that carries the moving spirit of 90s US prog, crowned by a towering chorus and intricate build-up—one of my personal favorites on the album.
“We saw the signs, we closed our eyes
Deadly premonitions appear in the sky
A sun full eclipse spread fear to all
We’ve been so blind, we lost our hope”
The tone shifts with “Souls Are Marching”, a rhythmic, shadowed yet uplifting track, full of clever orchestrations and unexpected turns. Next, “Temple of the Unholy Reign” arrives—furious, swift, and menacingly charged with raw, threatening energy. Then comes “The Gate”—an astounding song over seven and a half minutes long that whisks us away in a crescendo of classical guitar and symphonic arrangements, crowned by ghostly soprano lines to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
NO DOUBT about it—this is a serious contender for the upper ranks of the year’s best albums list.
Tracks like “Delfekor” —with its violin intro, pounding rhythmic spine, and heroic guitar stride— or “Unspoken Terror”, with its expressive dread that culminates in a gothic, neoclassical-style elegy, simply seal the deal: “The Great Awakening” is one of the finest examples of epic power metal not just from the Greek scene, but globally.
And for those still skeptical, the album’s final two songs will surely convert them; “Gionis” —a gripping folk-inspired tale of a tragic brotherly loss and nocturnal vengeance— and “The Final Confrontation”, a twelve-minute masterpiece that closes the album with thunderous might.
“Fire into the sky, blast into its core
Fight until we die, that’s how heroes born”
Inspiration and craftsmanship, experimentation and precision, swords and spells —perhaps even the raw beauty of Marios Christakis’ homeland, the mystical Kastoria with its majestic mountains and sprawling lake— all these elements fuse into BRAVERIDE’s sound.
This deep connection to epic storytelling is further reinforced by the album’s conceptual structure, where each piece is a brick in the larger narrative edifice.
With “The Great Awakening”, BRAVERIDE have forged an unforgettable symphonic epic heavy/power masterpiece —an album bound to thrill fans of RHAPSODY OF FIRE, BLIND GUARDIAN, STRATOVARIUS, EDGUY, DARK MOOR, and MANOWAR, as well as those attuned to their deeper influences like DOMINE, WARLORD, and HAMMERFALL, who remain at the core of the band’s identity.
“The Great Awakening” will be released on April 18th by Rockshots Records on CD.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre-order the CD here.
