Xylina Spathia

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Xylina Spathia
Landscape = no


Img_capt = 'Giati o dromos einai alithia, hilia ki ena paramythia, einai to spiti mas, den ehei telos ...'
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|Greece Thessaloniki, Greece
Genre = Greek rock
Alternative rock
Electronic rock
Years_active = 1993 - 2003
Label = Ano Kato
Virgin Records
EMI

Xylina Spathia (Greek: Ξύλινα Σπαθιά, English: Wooden Swords) is a Greek rock band founded in 1993.

History

Xylina Spathia were formed in 1993 in Thessaloniki, Greece by Paulos Paulidis (vocals) - former member of the band Mora sti Fotia (Greek: Μωρά στη Φωτιά, English: Babies on Fire) - Vasilis Gountaroulis (synthesizer), Panos Tolios (drums) and Christos Tsaprazis (bass). Following the footsteps of Trypes, they started a new wave of Greek rock music for that era, building on the traditional forms of contemporary rock.

Their first album 'Ξεσσαλονίκη' (Xessaloniki (1993)) made a really notable appearance, bringing alternative rock in greek music.

With their second album 'Πέρα Από τις Πόλεις της Ασφάλτου' (Pera apo tis Poleis tis Asfaltou, Beyond the Cities of Asphalt (1995)) - which was re-released because of some problems the band had with their previous label - Xylina Spathia startled many with the maturity of their songs. The song 'Λιωμένο Παγωτό' (Liomenio Pagoto, Melted ice-cream) makes a never before success for a rock song in Greece overcoming the audience it was originally referred to and the style it represented.

The songs 'Λιωμένο Παγωτό' and 'Ο Βασιλιάς της Σκόνης' (O Vasilias Tis Skonis, The Κing of Dust) became youth hymns and until today are considered to be two of the most notable classic Greek rock songs.

A lot of concerts all over Greece followed, with their public growing bigger and bigger until their next album 'Μια Ματιά σαν Βροχή' (Mia Matia san Vrohi, A Glimpse like Rain (1997)) which, with changes in sound and composition, added new dynamic to their profile. The public reception pushed sales very high, making them a respectable band. More particularly, their third album earned them gold and their second platinum. Their successful appearances that summer in 'Festival of Vyronas' in Athens - where a record of 8,000 audience was gathered - and Nicosia, Cyprus, proofed their reception.

The same year, after an invitation from MTV, the band appeared in H.Q. Club in London, after replacing Panos Tolios at drums with Takis Kannelos of Mode Plagal. Concerts were played in four cities of England.

Because of the busy concert schedule, another change appeared in the formation of Xylina Spathia, now with Giannis Mitsis taking the place of Takis Kannelos as drummer.

The highlights of their career were thought to be their concert at the Rockwave Festival (1998), their support appearance at a Rolling Stones concert in Athens in September 1998 and their sold-out concerts in Rodon, Athens and Mylo, Thessaloniki, also in 1998.

Their last work, 'Ένας Κύκλος στον Αέρα' (Enas Kyklos ston Aera, A Circle in the Air (2000)) added new, electronic elements to their style and is actually another classic and representative album of the band.

After that, the band left the scene for reasons unknown. Only Paulos Paulidis continues with his personal solo career. Despite that, the influence of their songs with the catchy melodies and the lyrical depth can still be noticed. Not only because their songs are still sung by people and played on the radio, but also because they encouraged other bands to continue what they started. Public reception and sales make Xylina Spathia within reason the most successful Greek band after Trypes.

Discography

Ξεσσαλονίκη (Xessaloniki)

*Label: Ano Kato
*Format: 1 CD
*Release Date: 1994

Tracklist

*Αφού σου το πα (Afou Sou To Pa, I told you so)
*Ερώτηση Κλειδί (Erotisi Kleidi, Key Question)
*Ξεσσαλονίκη (Xessaloniki)
*Ο Καβαλάρης του Τρόμου (O Kavalaris Tou Tromou, The Rider of Fear)
*Το Νερό που Κυλάει (To Nero Pou Kylaei, The Water that flows)
*Πουλιά (Poulia, Birds)
*Ο Βασιλιάς της Σκόνης (O Vasilias Tis Skonis, The King of Dust)
*Αδρεναλίνη (Adrenalini, Adrenaline)
*Τρένο Φάντασμα (Treno Fantasma, Phantom Train)
*Σιωπή (Siopi, Silence)
*Ρόδες (Rodes, Wheels)
*Λόλα (Lola)

Πέρα Από τις Πόλεις της Ασφάλτου (Pera Apo Tis Poleis Tis Asfaltou, Beyond the Cities of Asphalt)

*Label: Virgin Records
*Format: 1 CD
*Release date: 1999

Tracklist

*Λιωμένο Παγωτό (Liomeno Pagoto, Melted Ice-cream)
*Ρίτα (Rita)
*Ο Εξορκιστής (O Exorkistis, The Exorcist)
*Ό,τι Θες Εσύ (O,ti Thes Esy, Whatever You Want)
*Φωτιά στο Λιμάνι (Fotia Sto Limani, Fire at the Port)
*Ατλαντίς (Atlantis)
*O Κάιν (O Kain, Kain)
*Μη Ρωτάς (Mi Rotas, Don't Ask)
*Οι Συμμορίες της Ασφάλτου (Oi Symmories Tis Asfaltou, The Gangs of Asphalt)
*Μη Ρωτάς (REMIX 2)

Μια Ματιά Σαν Βροχή (Mia Matia San Vrohi, A Glimpse Like Rain)

*Label: Virgin Records
*Format: 1 CD
*Release date: 1997

Tracklist

*Ρομπότ (Robot)
*Το Καράβι (To Karavi, The Ship)
*Ζεστός Αέρας (Zestos Aeras, Hot Wind)
*Έχεις Ξανάρθει Εδώ (Eheis Xanarthei Edo, You've Been Here Before)
*Βροχοποιός (Vrohopoios, Rainmaker)
*Δεν Έχει Τέλος (Den Ehei Telos, It Has No End)
*Ένα Παράξενο Τραγούδι (Ena Paraxeno Tragoudi, A Strange Song)
*Στο Βράχο (Sto Vraho, At the Rock)
*Μόνο Αυτό (Mono Auto, Only That)
*Αλλάζει Πρόσωπα η Θλίψη (Allazei Prosopa I Thlipsi, Sorrow Changes Faces)

Η Τροφή για τα Θηρία (EP) (I Trofi gia ta Thiria, Food for the Beasts)

*Label: Virgin Records
*Format: CD S 1
*Release date: 1999

Tracklist

*Τροφή για τα Θηρία
*Διαστημόπλοια (Diastimoploia, Spaceships)
*Χάθηκα (Hathika, I'm lost)
*Τώρα Αρχίζω και Θυμάμαι (Tora Arhizo Kai Thimamai, Now I Begin To Remember)

Ένας Κύκλος στον Αέρα (Enas Kyklos Ston Aera, A Circle in the Air)

*Label: Virgin Records
*Format: 1 CD
*Release date: 2000

Tracklist

*Η Τελευταία Φορά (I Teleutaia Fora, The Last Time)
*Πάρε με Μαζί σου (Pare Me Mazi Sou, Take Me With You)
*Στο Νότο (Sto Noto, To The North)
*Τι Περιμένουν (Ti Perimenoun, What Are They Waiting For)
*Ο Ναυαγός (O Navagos)
*Κοιτάζω τα Σπίτια (Koitazo Ta Spitia, I'm Looking at the Houses)
*Σαν Εσένα (San Esena, Like You)
*Πρέπει να Έρθεις (Prepei Na Ertheis, You Should Come)
*Χάρτινος Ουρανός (Hartinos Ouranos, Paper Sky)
*Οι Δαίμονες (Oi Daimones, The Demons)

Live

*Label: Virgin Records
*Format: 1 CD
*Release date: 2003

Tracklist

*Ατλαντίς
*Ρίτα
*Ένα Παράξενο Τραγούδι
*Ρόδες
*Τι Περιμένουν
*Τα Πουλιά
*Σαν Εσένα
*Γκραντ Οτέλ (Grand Hotel)
*Στο Βράχο
*Τώρα Αρχίζω και Θυμάμαι
*Δεν Έχει Τέλος
*Τρένο Φάντασμα
*Πάρε με Μαζί σου
*Αδρεναλίνη
*Κοιτάζω τα Σπίτια

Τα Ξύλινα Σπαθιά (Ta Xylina Spathia)-The Best Of

*Label: EMI
*Format: 1 CD
*Release date: 2007

Tracklist

*Λιωμένο Παγωτό
*Ρίτα
*Φωτιά στο Λιμάνι
*Ατλαντίς
*Ο Βασιλιάς της Σκόνης
*Βροχοποιός
*Ένα Παράξενο Τραγούδι
*Κοιτάζω τα Σπίτια
*Η Τελευταία Φορά
*Γκραντ Οτέλ (LIVE)
*Πάρε με Μαζί σου
*Αλλάζει Προσωπα η Θλίψη
*Τροφή για τα Θηρία
*Διαστημόπλοια
*Σαν Εσένα
*Wooden Sword