Artist: Phantom
Country: Mexico
Label: High Roller Records
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2025
Phantom’s debut record, ‘Handed To Execution’, was one of the absolute highlights of 2023 and consequently ended up in my personal top 5 of that year. The fresh and youthful sounding blend of Speed- and Thrash Metal with flairs of classic Heavy Metal and furious Black/Thrash Metal made Phantom an absolute promise for True Metal’s future. The subsequent ‘Transylvanian Nightmare’, that was released on vinyl by Doomentia Records last year felt a little less intense. As a whole, that EP sounded a lot more calculated that seemed to have come at the expense of the spontaneity that was so delightfully enticing on the debut.
Now we have the band’s sophomore album, ‘Tyrants Of Wrath’, released through the esteemed and much larger High Roller Records. In the review of ‘Transylvanian Nightmare’ I already commented that the much better artwork already gave away a bit of the progression the band made in terms of overall professionalism. This time the album’s cover art is downright old school again, but on the other hand this album was preceded by three of those mandatory online singles and even a music video. Does that mean the band took their craft to yet another level?
The answer on that question is a simple “yes”. Phantom didn’t change much to its core business of catchy and captivating Blackened Speed/Thrash Metal, but objectively it is inevitable to conclude that things are even less rough around the edges. The video and preview singles, that might come with signing to a bigger label, are not the only signs of a more professional approach. The production is clearly more smooth and the actual musicianship on ‘Tyrants Of Wrath’ is an obvious step up from the earlier material. As a whole the music also sounds more diverse, not only by the addition of a bit more musical elements, but there’s some “clean” singing, acoustic guitars, classical piano, sh*t loads of melodies and the overall dynamics in pace are a testament of a maturing band.
Of course I am not judging any of Phantom’s musical choices. Nor the ones made on the more business, cosmetical or aesthetical side. But I have already mentioned that the ‘Transylvanian Nightmare’-EP already took something away from what Phantom used to be, and after hearing ‘Tyrants Of Wrath’ a good couple of times, it is safe to say that “the old” Phantom is gone for good. If you okay with that musical (r)evolution and still feel much for these catchy Heavy/Thrashy tunes, then ‘Tyrants Of Wrath’ is an album that you should definitely check out. Yet, I can also well imagine that purists have sort of lost faith and that the great promise has not quite been fulfilled.
Objectively, there is little to complain about, as the band just follows the course chosen before. The rather clean and crisp sound and performance is basically a matter of what fits your personal taste. Personally I have enjoyed listening to ‘Tyrants Of Wrath’, but it can in no way live up to the great debut album and I am not feeling a glimpse of the same enthusiasm as when first hearing ‘Handed To Execution’. In fact, I can’t even come up with this new album’s best song or any other highlight. Maybe that says enough.
