Final Daze is a band that didn’t come together through some grand plan. In fact, like many other artists I've featured on No Echo in recent years, the COVID nightmare played a pivotal role. “Final Daze is a pandemic project,” vocalist Apostolis tells No Echo. Formed in Athens in late 2020/early 2021, the Greek band initially began as a side project for members already active in the city’s hardcore scene, including Fotis (My Turn), Kostas (Against All Odds), and Christos (Aorati Apeili). Apostolis joined shortly after in spring 2021, rounding out a lineup rooted in years of collaboration and familiarity.
From the jump, the goal was clear. “The main force behind the formation of the band was… the urge to create a groovy, NYHC-influenced band, with Greek lyrics,” he explains. While Athens has no shortage of strong hardcore acts, that specific combination gives Final Daze a lane of their own.
The band introduced themselves with the Λαβύρινθος (Labyrinth) demo/EP at the end of 2021, later solidifying their lineup with drummer John (Runs Deep) and hitting the road across Greece starting in mid-2022. By August 2025, they returned with their latest release, the two-song 7” Τελευταία Ζάλη—released with help from World’s Appreciated Kitsch, Apostolis’ own label.
Sonically, Final Daze lock into a classic blueprint. Apostolis points to a recent write-up that nailed it: “Our sound is rooted in the classic NYHC/NJHC style,” with comparisons to Backlash, Ensign, and Crown of Thornz. Fans of ’90s Madball and early Biohazard will feel right at home—just delivered through Greek lyrics, adding a distinct identity to a familiar sound.
Recorded and mixed by Dimitris Tsakmakis at Feedback Sound Studios in Athens and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios, Τελευταία Ζάλη continues building on that foundation. Lyrically, the record leans inward while still reflecting broader realities. “It deals with topics like losing friends, getting older, and the reality of living in Greece, all filtered through a more personal lens,” Apostolis says. He doesn’t hesitate to call the two tracks “my favorite so far.”
Final Daze exists within a thriving but challenged Athens scene. “The local hardcore scene is very diverse,” Apostolis notes, shouting out bands like Malignant, Conceive, Chain Cult, Going the Distance, and Ripping Wounds, among others. At the same time, a lack of DIY spaces has made things harder in recent years, with stricter enforcement limiting shows in traditionally free venues like համալս campuses. Still, the scene persists. “With its ebbs and flows, it’s still good.”
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Final Daze on social media: Instagram
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