On April 24, 2026, the incredible Mother of Millions visited Savino Live Music Venue in Larnaca, Cyprus. Let’s say in advance that this was one of those evenings when the atmosphere and something intangible, but completely felt by the whole inner soul, reigned in Savino Live. We prepared for this concert well in advance, and of course, we have something to tell and show!

It’s amazing how one band can change your worldview and inner well-being, and on April 24th there were two!

Joakem

First on stage was the Cypriot progressive metal band Joakem. I should mention here that, unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them perform, which really disappointed me. Not that I don’t know how good they might have been—I have no doubt about that, since the reviews for them were excellent.

They’ve recently been filling Cyprus’s concert venues with their presence once again. This is no surprise, as they’re about to release a long-awaited new album. The first music video for a song “Origins” from it has already been released, and  like their music, it is incredibly beautiful.

Perhaps the most surprising thing of all, a week ago Joakem performed at the same venue as one of the participants in the Metal2theMasses competition. Today they are full winners, as they will be heading to the New Blood Stage to represent Cyprus at the The UK’s No.1 metal festival – Bloodstock.(You can read our interview).

All members of Joakem: Stelios Ioakim (vocals, keyboards), Bob Saganas (guitars), Nakis Kyriakou (drums) and Miguel Trapezaris (bass) are very technical and truly professional in creating a progressive, yet very melodic and catchy sound.

What distinguishes Joakem is not just how they sound, but how they think about composition, structure, and expression. Their music takes the intensity and weight of metal and merges it with the ambition and exploratory nature of progressive rock, resulting in music that feels expansive, unpredictable, and intellectually engaging.

You know how people sometimes call progressive metal – music for musicians. Well, there’s a grain of humor and a grain of truth in that. But with Joakem, you’ll always be completely engrossed in their songs, as their music balances technicality, heaviness, melody, and atmosphere.

Mother of Millions

The lights dimmed slowly with a kind of deliberate patience – as if the venue itself was being prepared for something more immersive than a typical concert. When Mother of Millions finally took the stage, the shift wasn’t explosive. It was gradual, almost cinematic. This cinematic effect continued throughout the entire set. Everything in Savino Live was conducive not just to the performance or entertainment but to be fully absorbed in what is happening.

It seemed like every musician on stage was on their own wavelength; you could clearly see how they were immersed in themselves, in the music they were playing, but at the same time there was no feeling of detachment from the audience. I don’t know how they managed it, but George Prokopiou (vocals), Kostas Konstantinidis (guitars), Panos Priftis (bass), and Ektoras Tsolakis (drums) managed to captivate the audience with their playing and vocals, completely transporting the fans’ emotions and feelings to a new level – one that can only be achieved by listening to the music of Mother of Millions.

Mother Of MIllion’s music sits in a fascinating space within progressive rock and metal. Time signature changes and rhythmic shifts are woven seamlessly into the flow, never interrupting the emotional arc of a song. It is necessary to say something about the vocals separately because the vocals contribute significantly to this atmosphere. Even though George Prokopiou’s movements are smooth and unhurried, you always want to watch him. He delivers his vocal with clarity and emotional nuance, even fragile at times. This creates a compelling contrast with the complexity of the instrumentation, making the overall sound feel intimate despite its technical depth.

But when Kostas Konstantinidis picked up a bow and started playing the guitar, it was a definite wow effect that didn’t seem at all forced or contrived, but fit perfectly into the overall atmosphere and the Mother Of Million ‘s set.

The mood throughout the performance leaned toward self-reflection. Rather than energizing the crowd in a conventional sense, the band seemed to pull everyone inward.

There was a quiet intensity in the venue, a shared focus that replaced the usual concert chaos. It felt like being guided through a series of emotional states – melancholy, tension, brief moments of release, and a lingering sense of unresolved beauty.

Many in Savino were either quietly humming songs or had their eyes closed so tightly they weren’t even there. After the concert ended, it was hard to just leave as if people needed a moment to return from wherever the music had taken them.

Afternoiz Team thanks Savino Live and Mother of Millions for this amazing experience and looks forward to more band’s announcements.

Photos: Kateryna Anokhina
Link: https://www.instagram.com/kati.lime/