Album Review: Phantom - Tyrants Of Wrath
Reviewed by Sam Jones
You can’t beat a bit of good old speed metal, which is why we’re craning our necks towards Mexico and their band Phantom, here with their second full length album: Tyrants Of Wrath. Formed out of Guadalajara in 2021, initial appearances suggest the band are here to deliver straight up speed/thrash metal akin to the retro years, and it certainly looks like these guys have heaps of passion behind them for their early years are littered with Demos, Splits and, later, Singles that ran right up to the release of their first album, Handed To Execution. With an EP the following year titled Transylvanian Nightmare as well as a Compilation, the band were far from slowing down, in fact they were ramping up for just two years after their debut record Phantom are here with their second opus: Tyrants Of Wrath. Slated for an April 25th release date through High Roller Records, here is Phantom’s chance to show us, and a wider audience, what they’re made of.
If you were hoping to feel an old school aesthetic then you’re in luck. Phantom’s approach to speed metal is to fully engross you in a retro atmosphere that wouldn’t feel amiss in the late 80s. With that said I appreciate how they haven’t gone so hard on the retro aesthetic that it feels like an obvious crutch, where they aren’t merely slamming the evident influence right in our faces. You can feel the grit, the coarse texture upon which this record plays on, and it feels oh so wonderful. I’ve heard other acts try too hard in conveying their love of all things old school but Phantom hit it on the head by injecting plenty of their own identity into their record. It’s evident they have their influences but Phantom’s approach to speed metal is definitely dirtier, more abrasive than most, reminding me of early Razor and Destruction. It’s the marvels of modern production whereby Phantom can instil the essence of late 80s production whilst sporting modern mixing processes that enable guitar tracks to rip and flow without sounding overly muddy, where the vocals blend into the general chaos of it all yet can still be followed along.
Phantom’s go to energy is breakneck, and lots of it. There is hardly a moment on record here where the band decide to cut us some slack and introduce some calmer songwriting our way; like thrash and speed metal bands of old Phantom aren’t here looking to show mercy, but should their tempo relax periodically then it’s always with the track in mind. Even when the pace relaxes temporarily you’ll never feel like the band are slowing things down because they’ve always got this reserve momentum behind them pushing things forth, forever reminding us they always have the end in mind. In that regard, though speed is the key to Phantom’s performance I like how it isn’t totally devoted to speed entirely, still giving us the odd break, though briefly, before pressing on with all haste. Curiously there are very few solos herein though what guitar work does break off from the main track is surprisingly melodic, bridging the various sections of riff and drumming.
You’ve got to love Phantom’s clear adoration of straightforward songwriting. Other than sporadic instances where their guitar work and drumming takes on more complex life, Phantom keep things grounded and far from complicated. This is the one style of heavy metal where you can get away with songwriting that doesn’t aspire to be overtly complex, but you’ve still got to ensure your writing is quality enough to keep people invested and on board for the full record. In that case Phantom win again and again since listening to them play feels as natural as breathing and though speed is key to the experience, it never becomes grating to continue listening to them as Tyrants Of Wrath carries on. I think that’s ultimately down to the interesting variety of tracks on display; there are the expected old school tracks where the vocals are high in pitch and the band are out for blood but then you have pieces where the vocals attain this more baritone quality and the riffs are under greater control. The drumming too can be the honest assault expected in such a speed metal record but they can also be surprisingly nuanced at times, delivering the right strikes at the right time pending on what the track atmospheres are requiring. Yet, you also have songs that carry this blackened aesthetic wholly removed from the rest of the track running. Phantom might have their preferences but we mustn’t think that’s all there is to them.
One detriment I’ve often identified in modern speed metal bands is you’ll hear the adrenaline the band are trying to pour into their performance, but we can’t feel it. That’s where Phantom flourish however, for there isn’t a moment where we aren’t on the receiving end of some vicious, swirling vortex of violence established by their guitar attack. Instead of slicing through us, Phantom use our faces as springboards whereby their assault bounces back at us time and again and given the speed they play with it only makes their performance feel all the more volatile since we know they’re hardly going to slow down for anything. But since the riffs feel so pronounced and outlined for our attention it means we’ll remember them with greater fervency than other speed metal acts frankly will achieve this year. This in turn will bring us back to Tyrants Of Wrath numerous times over since fans will remember the adrenaline, the excitement, of such a record, rewarding us with every track we return to. It is an excellently entertaining album that knows exactly what it’s trying to do, and it’s great in acknowledging it’s doing it splendidly.
In conclusion, Phantom are a band I wish I’d switched on to earlier, perhaps with their last EP release, because this is easily some of the best sounding speed metal I’ve heard in a long time. I personally can be a little finicky with speed metal since I e heard so many bands play this style to lacklustre effect, but Phantom really do have a knack for this. Tyrants Of Wrath is the closest right now you’ll get to 1988 without having lived it in the first place; it’s atmosphere feels so genuine to the time it’s paying homage too but the band’s identity is always seeping through. But there will be occasions that will take you by surprise, especially one moment towards the end I won’t spoil here though it was a fantastic addition to the diverse array of elements the band are willing to use in speed metal, a style often associated with only a small number of assets at their disposal. This was a quality time had and I am so glad I finally tuned in to Phantom for they’re a band who are always going to be on my radar going forward. It’s clear Mexico needs more eyes turned towards it if this is the talent on display. High Roller Records are onto a sublime win with Tyrants Of Wrath. God this record was a blast.
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