Xylina Spathia (Greek: Τα Ξύλινα Σπαθιά, English: The Wooden Swords) were one of the most popular Greek bands, coming from Thessaloniki, that were distinguished for their special and personal sound, which was unprecedented for the Greek music of the era. Along with Trypes, they are considered to be the most popular band in Greece, which became very popular in the 90's.
Their music combines elements from pop, rock and electronic music, maintaining a Greek melodic "colour" at the same time. The personal and experimental lyrics of Pavlos Pavlidis are distinguished for their poetry and the pictures that they give. Generally the band's songs develop an emotional atmosphere, that is sometimes expressed with extroversion and bold rhythms and else with a calm innerness.
From 1993 until their break-up, in 2003, the band released 5 albums (4 studio, 1 live) and 1 CD single. Although they had a big commercial success from early on, the group avoided media exposure and maintained their artistic autonomy, seeking to develop their sound from album to album and during their live performances, where they used to experiment and improvise with their songs.
The original line-up of the group consisted of: Pavlos Pavlidis (vocals, guitar), Vasilis Gountaroulis (keyboards, samplers), Christos Tsaprazis (bass) and Panos Tolios (drums, percussion 1993-1997). Members of the band had also been: Stavros Rossopoulos (guitar 1993-1994), Takis Kanellos (drums 1997), Giannis Mitsis (drums 1998-2003), Kostas Pantelis (guitar 2000-2003) and Nikos Kyriakopoulos (percussion, backing vocals 2001-2003). Session musicians that appeared in the band's albums are: Dimos Gountaroulis (cello), Giorgos Tolios (percussion), Giorgos Papazoglou (percussion), Rita Hatzinikoli (percussion), Fotis Siotas (violin) and Aristeidis Hatzistavrou (classical guitar).
Xylina Spathia are one of the best-selling Greek bands, along with Pyx Lax and Trypes.
🎵 Xylina Spathia / Wooden Swords – Mia Matia San Vroxi (1997)
Mia Matia San Vroxi (Greek: Μια Ματιά Σαν Βροχή, meaning “A Glance Like Rain”) is the third studio album by Greek alternative rock band Xylina Spathia, released in 1997.
The album represents one of the most mature moments in the band’s discography, combining alternative rock energy with atmospheric melodies and poetic songwriting. It followed the success of Pera apo tis poleis tis asfaltou (1995) and further strengthened the group’s influence in the Greek rock scene.
Recorded during a period when Thessaloniki was producing some of the country’s most interesting rock music, the album showed a more refined and introspective musical direction.
📀 Album Tracklist
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Μια Ματιά Σαν Βροχή
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Ο Βασιλιάς της Σκόνης
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Φωτιά Στο Λιμάνι
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Αστέρι Του Βορρά
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Τα Φώτα Σβήνουν
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Σαν Να Μην Πέρασε Μια Μέρα
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Το Παιχνίδι Της Σιωπής
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Νυχτερινή Διαδρομή
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Μακριά Από Εδώ
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Τελευταία Ματιά
(Track listings may vary slightly between different pressings.)
📝 Album Credits
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Artist: Xylina Spathia
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Album: Mia Matia San Vroxi
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Release Year: 1997
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Genre: Alternative Rock, Greek Rock, Indie Rock
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Country: Greece
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Label: Hitch-Hyke Records
Band Line-up
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Pavlos Pavlidis – vocals, guitar
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Giannis Mylonas – guitar
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Kostas Papanastasiou – bass
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Filippos Pliatsikas – drums
🎨 Cover Art
The cover artwork of Mia Matia San Vroxi uses a moody and atmospheric visual style, reflecting the album’s emotional tone.
The imagery mirrors the lyrical themes of reflection, longing, and fleeting moments, which are central to the songwriting of Pavlos Pavlidis.
💰 Commercial Performance & Reception
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The album was well received by Greek rock audiences and critics.
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Helped expand the band’s fanbase beyond the underground scene.
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Modern listener ratings often place it around 8 / 10 among classic Greek alternative rock albums.
While it never became a mainstream pop hit, it reinforced the band’s reputation as a leading force in Greek alternative music.
🌟 Popular Album Tracks
Μια Ματιά Σαν Βροχή
The title track stands out for its emotional melody and poetic lyrics.
Φωτιά Στο Λιμάνι
A dynamic alternative rock song with strong guitar work and vivid imagery.
Αστέρι Του Βορρά
A more atmospheric track highlighting the band’s melodic side.
🎉 Fun Facts
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The album shows a clear evolution toward more melodic songwriting compared with the band’s earlier work.
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Many fans consider it one of the band’s most emotionally expressive albums.
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Songs from the record became highlights of the band’s late-90s concerts.
🕵️ Did You Know?
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Xylina Spathia played a major role in defining the 1990s Greek alternative rock movement.
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Their music blended Western alternative influences with distinctly Greek poetic lyricism.
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After the band disbanded in the early 2000s, Pavlos Pavlidis continued a successful solo career.
🔑 Trivia
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The album further solidified Thessaloniki as a major center of Greek rock music.
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Many of the band’s songs became cult favorites among fans of Greek alternative rock.
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The band would release one more studio album before eventually disbanding.
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