(written by Islander)
Transcending Obscurity Records is helping get this new year off to a hard-charging start, with new records by Mors Verum, Decipher, Apolaustic, and Phasma now set for release in the coming few months and songs from each of them now out in the world for streaming. Three of those bands are new to the label, and one of those is Phasma, a Greek group who have drawn upon a wide range of metal influences to create their forthcoming third full-length, Purgatory.
As a sign of the breadth of influences Phasma have drawn upon, T.O. recommends the album for fans of Mgła, Dying Fetus, Crypts of Despair, Kriegsmaschine, and Psycroptic. And if that lists leaves you wondering how (and how well) these Greeks have interworked such disparate styles, we have a concrete example for you today in our premiere of Purgatory’s startling closing track, “VI” (all the songs are simply and solely identified with Roman numerals).
Phasma launch the song with a phase of very unsettling black metal, discharging furious blast-beats and suffocating listeners with guitars that generate a high whine which is dissonant, dense, and dismal, simultaneously feeling furious, sickened, and otherworldly. Possessed howls and screams add to the unnerving impact of the music, which shreds nerves even more intensely as the viciously vibrating chords elevate in range.
Phasma also inflict slow, punishing, low-end blows accompanied by abyssal death metal gutturals, and they discharge bursts of feverishly jabbing fretwork, but they also bring in vibrantly skipping drumbeats, mysteriously ringing notes, and soloing that both ecstatically quivers and miserably squirms.
Phasma change the pacing constantly and without warning. Equally without warning, they shift from dissonance to harmoniousness, especially in the haunting organ finale, which adds ingredients of funereal gothic gloom as a final shroud for listeners. And the guitar work is a constantly warping and often intricate kaleidoscope of sound, just as the vocals are a morphing cacophony of horrors.
There is really almost nothing about the song that sounds born of this world, or at least born from sane minds; all by itself it seems to manifest… purgatory. But it is also thoroughly fascinating, and not something that can be fully comprehended on just one listen. It’s a classic example of a piece that reveals new aspects with further listens, and affords an even greater appreciation for the songwriting, which is both adventurous and carefully plotted.
PHASMA LINEUP –
Jason Athanasiadis (Kawir) – Guitars and songwriting
Luis Ferre (Gravecarver) – Vocals and lyrics
Bill Nanos (Dead Congregation) – Drums
George Markantonis – Bass
The album cover for Purgatory was created by George Angelis, with merch design by CVSPE. Transcending Obscurity will release the album on February 20th, in
CD and digital formats, with lots of apparel choices also available. To pre-order, use the links below. And if you want more Phasma songs (as you should!), three more of them from Purgatory are currently available for listening at T.O.’s Bandcamp.
PRE-ORDER:
https://phasmametal.bandcamp.com/album/purgatory
http://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/
http://eu.tometal.com/