HERAKLEION LIVE INTERVIEW
DEATH-THRASH FROM NEW ORLEANS.
OLD-SCHOOL BRUTALITY. NO COMPROMISES.
From the Louisiana underground to the global metal community, HERAKLEION join Altars Of Metal for an exclusive live conversation about their music, history, recordings and the road ahead.
HERAKLEION | Photograph: Charles Dye
DEATH-THRASH FROM THE DEEP
HERAKLEION live interview comes to Altars Of Metal on Friday, October 16, 2026, as we welcome the uncompromising New Orleans death-thrash trio for a special conversation about their past, present and future.
In a metal landscape increasingly dominated by digital production, edited performances and carefully manufactured perfection, HERAKLEION represent another approach: the sound of three musicians playing together, capturing the energy and unpredictability of extreme metal in its rawest form.
Rooted in the death and thrash traditions of the late 1980s and early 1990s, HERAKLEION combine aggressive riffs, relentless drumming, crushing bass and dark lyrical imagery. Their music draws upon science fiction, mythology, mortality and the unknown, building an identity that remains fiercely independent.
We will discuss how the band emerged from the Louisiana underground, why they have embraced analog recording techniques, their experiences touring alongside established metal acts, and what lies ahead as they work on their first full-length studio album.
The date also holds a special connection to their discography: October 16, 2026, marks exactly one year since the original release of their live album, Live Through Eternity.
WHO ARE HERAKLEION?
The roots of HERAKLEION go back to 2020, when drummer Speed Wilson connected with guitarist and vocalist Apollo Xydias. Bassist Christian Woerner subsequently completed the lineup, and the band took shape in New Orleans in 2021.
The trio found common ground in their admiration for classic extreme metal, particularly the Florida death metal tradition and technically demanding European thrash. Their acknowledged musical influences include Morbid Angel, Pestilence and Voivod.
Yet HERAKLEION are not interested in simply reproducing another band’s sound. Their approach emphasizes direct songwriting, frantic energy and the organic interaction between the three musicians.
A NAME WITH AN ANCIENT HISTORY. HERAKLEION takes its name from Thonis-Heracleion, the ancient Egyptian port city that disappeared beneath the Mediterranean. Despite its resemblance to Heraklion in Crete, the band name points toward a different chapter of Mediterranean history. Its imagery of lost civilizations and submerged mysteries fits naturally with the band’s fascination with mythology and the unknown.
THE BAND
APOLLO XYDIAS
Guitarist and vocalist whose aggressive riffing and commanding vocal delivery help define HERAKLEION’s musical direction. Apollo has also been associated with Exhorder as a live musician.
CHRISTIAN WOERNER
The low-end foundation of the trio, bringing weight and definition to the band’s intricate arrangements and aggressive rhythmic attack.
SPEED WILSON
The relentless rhythmic engine of HERAKLEION, helping translate the precision of old-school extreme metal into an intense live performance.
The trio’s power comes from the direct interplay of guitar, bass and drums — a stripped-down approach that lets the performance itself do the talking.
FROM CURSE OF ETERNITY TO NECROVERSE
Across their early releases, HERAKLEION have developed a remarkably consistent identity: technically forceful death-thrash driven by live energy rather than studio manipulation.
CURSE OF ETERNITY
The band’s first EP introduced five tracks of furious death-thrash, establishing the musical foundations and uncompromising identity that would characterize their subsequent work.
NECROVERSE
Recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios with producer Pete deBoer, this five-track release embraced live-to-tape analog recording and explored themes of mortality, death and the unknown.
LIVE THROUGH ETERNITY
Recorded on April 17, 2025, at Chelsea’s Live in Baton Rouge while supporting Obituary. Released on October 16, 2025, the nine-track recording preserves the performance without studio overdubs or post-production repairs.
WHY ANALOG STILL MATTERS. HERAKLEION’s decision to track music live and preserve complete performances raises an important question: when digital technology makes it possible to correct almost anything, what happens to the musical personality created by imperfections, spontaneity and genuine interaction?
We intend to explore that question with the band, particularly how their experience recording Necroverse influenced their perception of authenticity and how their approach compares with modern digital production.
SHARING THE STAGE WITH METAL LEGENDS
HERAKLEION have steadily expanded their presence beyond Louisiana, earning recognition through extensive touring and performances alongside established names in American extreme metal.
Their live history includes performances alongside Exhorder, Obituary, Cavalera and Acid Bath, exposing the trio to larger audiences and providing invaluable experience on the road.
For an independent band, the realities of touring can be as demanding as the music itself. Transport, accommodation, equipment, promotion and nightly performances all present challenges that rarely appear in a conventional album review. These are among the subjects we want to address during our conversation.
In October 2026, HERAKLEION are preparing for their announced Fall Tourture ’26, an extensive run across the eastern United States. Their itinerary is scheduled to conclude with an appearance at The Great NOLA Trendkill at UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans in November.
The festival lineup also features major names including Pantera, Down, Black Label Society, Power Trip and Corrosion of Conformity, offering another significant opportunity for HERAKLEION to perform before a broader audience.
Meanwhile, the band continue developing material for their first full-length studio album, an important next step in their artistic evolution.
WHAT WE’LL TALK ABOUT
Our conversation will explore not only the music itself, but also the experiences, influences and decisions that shaped HERAKLEION’s identity.
THE ORIGINS OF HERAKLEION
How the three musicians met, the formation of the band, the Louisiana metal scene and the intriguing story behind the band’s name.
DEATH METAL MEETS THRASH
The individual musical backgrounds of the members, formative influences and the creative balance between aggression, technical precision and memorable songwriting.
THE ANALOG REVOLUTION
Why the band chose live analog recording for Necroverse, their experience at Sonic Ranch Studios and the relationship between natural performance and modern production technology.
TOURING WITH THE GREATS
Experiences alongside Exhorder, Obituary, Cavalera and Acid Bath, unforgettable concert moments and the financial and logistical realities of independent touring.
MYTHOLOGY, DEATH & THE UNKNOWN
The fascination with ancient civilizations, cosmic horror, mythology and mortality that influences their lyrics, imagery and overall artistic direction.
THE FIRST FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
Songwriting, future recording plans, creative ambitions and what the next chapter might hold following a demanding year of touring and musical development.
We’ll also explore the independent metal underground in 2026, the changing relationship between musicians and their audiences, and whether the values that shaped classic extreme metal still carry the same meaning today.
WATCH THE HERAKLEION LIVE INTERVIEW
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026
21:00 GREECE (EEST) / 13:00 LOUISIANA (CDT)
Watch the conversation live, join the YouTube chat and bring your own questions for the band.
Join us for an uncompromising journey into the world of HERAKLEION. Whether you’re discovering their music for the first time or have followed the band since the beginning, you’re welcome to be part of the conversation.
CONNECT WITH HERAKLEION
Explore the band’s recordings, discover upcoming concerts and follow their journey through the independent metal underground.
KEEP THE UNDERGROUND ALIVE. Great metal survives through musicians willing to create it and listeners willing to discover it. Support independent bands, attend concerts, buy their releases and spread the word.
Join Altars Of Metal on Friday, October 16, 2026, for this special live interview with HERAKLEION. See you in the chat!
ALTARS OF METAL — Independent Metal Journalism, Interviews & Underground Culture.
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