New album, “Purgatory”, out on February 20th!
Phasma are attempting to meld influences ranging from black metal to brutal death metal and everything in between. The music effortlessly oscillates from sharp black metal riffs to pummelling death metal blasts with matching vocal styles, and even toss in a breakdown or two in the middle. It’s something that doesn’t seem to work on paper and yet they manage to make it sound cohesive and convincing enough, with songwriting that’s elaborate and well thought out to warrant songs lasting beyond mere novelty quick-listen length. Every song seems like an extension if not an improvisation over the previous one, as the band unfurls dimensions within the sound that they have concocted. Bands playing a mix of styles isn’t uncommon but to intermingle influences of such disparate, almost contrasting styles is fascinating and remarkable especially when they have high replay value and lasting appeal. Like it or not, Phasma are here to stay.
