No Frets for Father Tampakis 2026-08-21 by John Marinakis CONTRIBUTOR | 1 Comments | Father Dionysios Tabakis, an Orthodox priest based in Nafplio, Greece, has become an unlikely international sensation through his experimental debut album, Paradise Metal.
Originally limited to 150 cassettes by the Greek labels Heat Crimes and Elhellel, the release sold out within hours. Its growing audience has since prompted a vinyl edition and upcoming performances in London and at Philadelphia's Making Time festival.
Recorded at home around Tabakis' church and community duties, Paradise Metal combines Byzantine hymns and traditional Eastern Mediterranean instruments with drone metal, techno, rap and electronic experimentation.
Tabakis began studying Byzantine music during his youth and later taught himself guitar. His first electric instrument was an inexpensive Harley Benton, purchased after encouragement from his granddaughter. Wondering how church hymns would sound on electric guitar, he eventually progressed to an eight-string model and removed its frets.
The modification allows him to reproduce the microtonal intervals found in Byzantine music more accurately. Tabakis compared frets to a child's walking aid: useful while learning, but potentially restrictive once a musician develops further.
Despite the album's unexpected success, Tabakis said he never anticipated that music recorded in his home would travel around the world.
Source: https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/fr-dionysios-tabakis-paradise-metal
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Tagged: F. Dionysios Tampakis
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I learned about this guy purely by accident
his interviews are pretty interesting, his views on life and whatnot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5fuVvDJfM&list=RD8Z5fuVvDJfM&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIqqZT1gg30
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