Xylina Spathia / Wooden Swords - Pera apo tis poleis tis asfaltou (1995)
Tracklist front / back album art covers
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 – Pera apo tis poleis tis asfaltou (1995)
Pera apo tis poleis tis asfaltou (Greek: Πέρα από τις πόλεις της ασφάλτου, meaning “Beyond the Cities of Asphalt”) is the second studio album by Greek alternative rock band Xylina Spathia, released in 1995.
The album expanded the band’s sound beyond the raw style of their debut Ksessaloniki, introducing more melodic songwriting, atmospheric guitars, and introspective lyrics.
Recorded during the peak of the Greek alternative rock movement of the 1990s, the album strengthened the band’s reputation as one of the most important rock acts emerging from Thessaloniki.
📀 Album Tracklist
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Αδρεναλίνη (Adrenaline)
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Πέρα από τις πόλεις της ασφάλτου
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Ο Βασιλιάς της Σκόνης (King of Dust)
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Άγγελος (Angel)
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Το Τρένο της Νύχτας (The Night Train)
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Μέρες Αργίας (Days of Idleness)
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Λευκές Σκιές (White Shadows)
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Νοέμβρης Ξανά (November Again)
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Σαν τον Άνεμο (Like the Wind)
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Τελευταία Στροφή (Last Turn)
(Track titles may appear slightly different depending on the release version.)
📝 Album Credits
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Artist: Xylina Spathia
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Album: Pera apo tis poleis tis asfaltou
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Release Year: 1995
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Genre: Alternative Rock, Greek Rock, Post-punk
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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 (session and collaboration references in some recordings)
🎨 Cover Art
The cover artwork reflects the album’s themes of urban isolation and escape from city life.
Minimalistic imagery and muted colors emphasize the feeling of wandering beyond the concrete landscapes of modern cities, which aligns with the poetic lyrical style of Pavlos Pavlidis.
💰 Commercial Performance & Reception
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The album helped expand the band’s audience beyond the underground scene.
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Received strong praise from Greek rock critics for its lyrical depth and atmospheric guitar work.
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Modern fan ratings typically place the album around 8 / 10 among Greek alternative rock classics.
Although not a mainstream commercial hit, the album became highly influential in the Greek indie and alternative rock community.
🌟 Popular Album Tracks
Αδρεναλίνη (Adrenaline)
A high-energy alternative rock track with strong guitar riffs and emotionally charged lyrics.
Πέρα από τις πόλεις της ασφάλτου
The album’s title track captures the mood of urban escape and existential reflection.
Άγγελος (Angel)
A more melodic and atmospheric song highlighting the band’s evolving musical direction.
🎉 Fun Facts
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The album title reflects themes of escaping the monotony of city life.
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Many fans consider this record a creative bridge between the band’s early raw sound and their later polished style.
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Songs from the album became fan favorites during the band’s live performances in the mid-1990s.
🕵️ Did You Know?
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Xylina Spathia were one of the key bands in the 1990s Thessaloniki alternative rock movement.
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The band’s poetic lyrics often explored themes like urban alienation, youth, and freedom.
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After the band eventually disbanded, Pavlos Pavlidis continued with a successful solo career.
🔑 Trivia
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The album solidified the band’s reputation as one of Greece’s most influential alternative rock groups.
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Many younger Greek indie musicians cite the band as an inspiration.
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The album helped establish Thessaloniki as a central hub for Greek rock culture.
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