ALBUM REVIEW: Phantom – Tyrants Of Wrath

Mexican Speed/Thrash bangers Phantom recently unleashed one hell of an EP and have come straight back for more with their second full length album. Out via High Roller Records and Headsplit Records on April 25th.

Vintage horror ambience begins the journey with a nostalgic bit of synth work that fills their air with a creepy musk, feeling like cobwebs brushing your arm. Clearly the band want to set a cinematic mood for what lies ahead and the metallic guitars soon segue us into Speed Metal mayhem. Guitars roar along with hell-hammering drums after a short build, with soaring leads; a really strong instrumental foundation is forged. Ripping into life the aggressive onslaught of true fury is old school and maniacal with viciously screeched vocals cutting the mix like a rusted blade. Everything is balanced gorgeously and the Mexican militia spew forth a sonic assault of venomous artillery that rains upon us like hellfire. Having adored their previous works, the instantly recognisable continuity in equality and style is blatantly obvious. The violent invasion of the first few songs will have you either pounding your fists or running for the hills… So what’s it to be maniacs? Will you be continuing your journey or will you be one of the posers who get lost in the sands?

Utilising their frenzied speeding lunacy with an impeccable sense of melody and a tight performance form the entire band; it’s a pleasure to hear such a classic execution of the style while not sacrificing their souls to a modern production. This album is a monster with a suitably rough around the edges production. The odd mistake makes the cut which feels more human, giving a live feel to what they’ve presented here, something I personally appreciate a lot. In a world where convenience and modernity cuts so many corners; a truly authentic and mayhemic rager like this is a sound for sore ears… Sore ears being a side effect of cranking this thunder-beast on repeat. The fact the band has had the confidence to keep these songs on the longer side for such rabid thrashing attacks is a bold move that pays off. They keep things developing and moving in ways that kill with power and yet never dull the blade. I don’t get sick of these songs or the album as a whole, which show the lengths to be a wise move in giving everything breathing room, to truly become something rather epic and yet still immediately satisfying. A very hard balance to pull off in this genre and yet one they’ve already nailed on their second full length. Impressive!

Using some range in their music, there is a cool mix of ideas here which may stick to the template of 80s Speed and Thrash Metal but do so with passion and refreshing ideas that I never grow tired of hearing. Better to keep traditional with conviction than progress for the sake of it, eh? Songs like “Nimbus” definitely bring something unique to the table while still fitting seamlessly into the record which simply elevates the more visceral tracks with strong and epic dynamics. I am in awe of how killer the guitars sound while the drums maintain such a constant flow of creative and hard-hitting percussive performance. While the vocals tend to follow the tried and tested evil thrashing insanity, they are done with such a forceful attack and enough variation and range to keep just as exhilarating as the instruments. This is a band with enormous potential whose underground badge is worn with pride as they swear an oath in blood to the gods of steel. Once again Phantom have left me supremely impressed and teach us a lesson in violence we won’t soon forget…

Pounding their hammers of Heavy Metal on the anvil of evil; sparks of savagery fly through the air as molten mayhem solidifies on wax. The return of Phantom is sure the haunt you as these ghouls rage with infernal majesty until the very end. At 48 minutes, this is a very long record for the style but we are treated to an adrenaline overdose that keeps it exciting from start to end. Phantom are the graves of the 80s despite being born in the 2000s. This isn’t just “good for youngsters”, this is a bonafide feast of furious high octane Thrash Metal that shows the future is in safe hands. These maniacs are coming to slay posers and decimate wimps and “Tyrants of Wrath” is the perfect soundtrack for a wimp armageddon!