‘Techno in a monastery – are you ready?’ The Greek priest whose doom metal album is the year’s hippest record
Father Dionysios Tabakis, a 53-year-old ordained clergyman in the Greek Orthodox Church, has unexpectedly gained international recognition through music production. His self-released album Paradise Metal merges doom metal, Christmas carols, and religious dubstep. The work received a 7.6 critical score from Pitchfork—surpassing ratings the publication previously awarded to major electronic releases—and established Tabakis as a notable figure within underground music communities.
Tabakis's artistic pursuits exist in tension with Greek Orthodox Church teaching, which has historically viewed electric instruments and secular music as spiritually corrupting. Based in Nafplio whilst serving as an ordained priest with an adult family, Tabakis uses his music to advocate for the spiritual compatibility of electric instruments with Christian faith. Following the April release, he has remained largely private, granting few interviews and maintaining minimal public visibility despite substantial media interest.
- Ordained Greek Orthodox priest releases experimental album combining doom metal, Christmas carols, and religious dubstep
- Pitchfork awarded the work a higher critical score than prior albums by Aphex Twin and Daft Punk
- Priest's music publicly challenges his church's traditional stance against electric instruments as spiritually harmful