Royal Altar is a European Power Metal band from Thessaloniki, Greece. Royal Altar originally formed as a young group of brothers & friends that have played Gospel, Rock, and Metal together throughout the years. ​The idea behind the band's name is "Royal" stands for Jesus King of kings & "Altar" represents his sacrifice for us.
       Royal Altar brings to the table a unique and different Power Metal sound with blazin' guitars, emotion and subtle theatrical elements setting this Greek band apart from others. Some of the band's influences include Iron Maiden, Manowar, Manilla Road, and Stryper.   

       In 2023 Royal Altar entered the studios and began work on laying down tracks for a full-length album.

       In 2025 Royal Altar released their debut full-length album titled 'Warrior's Dance' on Legions Records.
All songs were Mixed and Mastered by Stratos "Strutter" at VALVE Studios in Thessaloniki, Greece. 
The album's stunning artwork was done by Ungod. Trying to understand the band's sound on this debut release can get somewhat tricky. However, if you combine the Power Metal & vocals of Within Silence with some vocal styles from Trans-Siberian Orchestra and throw in a little Meat Loaf theater flavoring, then you will begin to understand the style and depth of Royal Altar's arrangements!

       The band had the following to say about their title cut: "Track-6 “Warrior’s Dance” is a song based in a Greek traditional rhythm that according to scholars has to do with the psychological preparation of the ancient warrior before the battle. You can also see there the preparation of Christ in the garden of olives before the Crucifixion. Deep inside every song is the theology of struggle in a real world. We don’t believe that the Christian life is a walk in the park. It confronts not only the inner self but also the condition of society. It’s the narrow path of a warrior that takes joy from endurance, victory and the touch of the Spirit of God in a hostile world.”
       It's worth noting that the band has included a Metal theme song on track-7 which hits all the marks!

       Royal Altar's songs cover everything from enslavement to Jesus' story of salvation to judgement warnings to historic war events.  Track-3 "Hot Gates" is a song about the famous historic Greek battle called The Battle of Thermopylae fought in 480 BC at Thermopylae between the Achaemenid Persian Empire under Xerxes I and an alliance of Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I.  It was one of the most prominent battles of the invasion of Greece & Persia(Iran) and lasted over the course of three days.
       Around the start of the invasion, a Greek force of approximately 7,000 men, including an estimated 300 Spartans led by Leonidas, marched north to block the pass of Thermopylae.  Some ancient noted that the size of the Persian(Iranian) army was in the millions.  They arrived at Thermopylae by late August or early September and the outnumbered Greeks held them off for seven days before their rear-guard was annihilated in one of history's most famous last stands.  During two full days of battle, the Greeks blocked the only road by which the massive Persian army could traverse the narrow pass.  This is where the terminology "Hot Gates" comes into play by the band.
       The band states: "Track-5 "Royal Altar" talks about our inner journey through tough times and good times, but in the end the sacrifice of Jesus who shed his blood for us, is our salvation." The band continues: "Track-6 "Warrior's Dance" is the dance of a warrior before the battle. We are the warriors who fight and wait for the right to come."

       Sotos "Insane" Poulidis(Ageless Wisdom) takes front and center for the band behind the mic. Sotos brings to the table a dynamic vocal delivery that can be compared to that of Martin Klein(Within Silence). He often goes from a lower register to soaring vocals then throws in some theatrical touches not unlike that of Trans-Siberian Orchestra vocalist-Tommy Farese. Sotos garners some additional help from female vocalists Alexandra Karamitsiou & Theodora Kiriklidou who both handle some lead vocals. The operatic vocals are sung by Ioanna Kiriklidou and backing vocals are managed by Anna Dranidou.

       Guitars are managed from a duo approach from shredders ​Trias Mountos & Victor Klagas. On this project, both Trias and Victor light things up with some tasty electrifying melodic guitar work! With just one spin of their debut, one can easily tell that these guys have been playing guitars for a long time.

The following are a few excerpts from the band's lyrics:

HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH
Search in your heart. Know who you are.
The treasure is high!

Hold your head high! Hold your head high!
Don’t lose hope and hold your head high!
Hold your head high!
Don’t lose heart, just carry on!
Look at the sky!


HOT GATES
They ignored the treason! The Charon awaits!
They changed the season! They rose into grace!
They fought in the passage of Hot Gates!
Remember their courage. The challenge lives on!
Fight for your freedom! Stand for The Cause!
Rise in the passage of Hot Gates!

Times are achanging. Higher the price!
The tides are changing. Hell comes alive.
Keep your Faith! Side by side we’ll stand in the passage of Hot Gates!


I AM THE ONE
I’m the One on the Cross to die
leaving my throne up in the Heavens.
I became a mortal as you are. I AM the One, I AM the One!
Alpha and Omega! Prince of Peace!
I’m of the dead, the Firstborn!
I’m the Beginning, the End of all these… I AM the One, I AM the One!

The tomb is empty. I am Alive. I’ll be forever with you!
And you shall never be walking alone!
Abide in me and I in you.


METAL
​Heavy Metal is the sound, a pounding in my heart.
It drives the sorrows far away!
Heavy Metal is the poem, a dreaming in the night,
A hope for light and truth with… Metal! Heavy Metal!
Come on, let’s rock now!


JUST FREE
Free liberal, where is your freedom?
In what are you liberal?
Free neoliberal, where is the liberty? You said you are magical…
Free neoliberal… a world without you, much more wonderful!
Free! We are just free!

Apparitions of your forefathers are coming, screaming in your ears!
Plastic spirit! Soul of rubber! Heartless beast under your skin!
Throne of judgment, warning shadows are giving you the fires of hell!
Dreams and nightmares, all together lead you to your psychopills!​


AN EAGLE WILL RISE UP
When we were kids, we thought one day the world is to take on.
Pure as it can be, our hearts were yearning just to live on,
with hearts full of beliefs and faith in God above.
But years have gone astray.
In darkness our light still fades away...

When we were strong, we thought the power is given to take on.
Fool as it can be, our souls have lost the substance of our love!
Sins of our fathers! Even the foolishness of our youth!
Unable to seek anymore, in blindness our tears still fade away…

Heaven I pray and cry, the star shall show the way!

       Royal Altar is for fans of Within Silence, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Adiastasia. With the release of 'Warrior's Dance' the band is off to a great start. This 2024 project has left this listener hungry for more. It is rumored that the band is currently working on a follow-up album. Help support the band by picking up your copy of 'Warrior's Dance' today! 

Musicians:
Sotos "Insane" Poulidis(Ageless Wisdom) - Lead Vocals, Bass
Trias Mountos - Guitars, Backing Vox
Victor Klagas - Guitars, Backing Vox
​Kostas Lazarides - Drums, Backing Vox

Additional Musicians:
Stratos "Strutter" Karagiannidis
Vaggelis - Guitars
Georgios Zaimis
Alexandra Karamitsiou
Alexios Kakoulidis
Anna Dranidou
Ioanna & Theodora Kiriklidou