Phantom exploded onto the Toronto metal
scene in 2013 with the release of “The Powers That Be”. That EP easily ranks among the greatest traditional heavy metal
Toronto has put forth (which is a bold statement given the scene’s current
selection of bands). About a year and a half later, the band is releasing their
first full-length record “…of Gods and Men”, and it shows some serious
development from their first release.
The album opens with a short instrumental entitled
“Megalith”. This song is unlike anything the band has done before, as it is so
incredibly heavy and crushing that one might mistake this for a death metal
record. Though there aren’t any blast beats, the drumming is spacious and makes
excellent use of cymbals to create an ominous mood that is enhanced by some
wah-affected bass playing. This bass sound is the biggest difference between
Phantom’s first and second releases; on the EP it was so high up in the mix
that it made Steve Harris sound quiet. By contrast, on this album, the bass is
mixed quite a bit lower, though is still easy to pick out (particularly when it
is playing one of its many solos).
The key to any great traditional heavy
metal record is to be filled with fist-pumping anthems. Phantom wastes no time
delivering these, as the first full-length song, “Children of the Stars”,
proves to be a charging, energetic affair that will get some necks moving. Additionally,
the chorus is easy to sing along to, and is sure to be stuck in your head after
a single listen. It isn’t long, however, before the band one-ups this song with
something even more potent. “Blood & Iron” is the lead single from this
album, and it’s easy to see why. The chorus of this song is dangerously catchy,
to the point where it will probably be the first thing that many people
associate with this album. It’s worth pointing out that Phantom’s hooks are not
huge power metal-styled choruses. Sure, lead vocalist D.D. Murley is a great singer,
but his vocal lines are a bit rougher and less soaring than one would hear from
a singer such as Michael Kiske. Much of the album continues to display this
inherent ability of the band to write songs that are incredibly memorable
without being overly complex, or too simple. Other highlights in this fashion
include the title track and “The Devil In Me”.
The most interesting song on “…of Gods and
Men” is the near 8 and a half minute instrumental “The Kings Road”. This song
shows Phantom picking up on the subtleties of classic Iron Maiden tunes and
Metallica instrumentals. As you may have guessed, this song is driven by Necro
Hippie’s stellar bass playing. The track weaves its way in and out of various
riffs and sections, but is highlighted by some great bass melodies, as well as
a bass solo (a recurring theme on this record). Additionally, the song gets a
bit more laid back at times and lets Murley take the lead with his guitar
playing. Ultimately, this track is a huge highlight because it shows the band’s
ability to create something a little bit outside the norm for traditional heavy
metal.
It is hard to find fault with “…of Gods and
Men”. This is an album that should please fans of all of the classic ‘80s
groups, as well as fans of the newer ones. One thing I wouldn’t mind is incorporating
more guitar solos. Murley is a talented shredder (as evidenced by his solo on “Children
of the Stars”), and it would be great for him to showcase this more often. It’s
clear that Phantom’s guitar playing isn’t meant to be flashy in the same way
that fellow Toronto bands like Skull Fist and Axxion are, but on the other
hand, a band like Cauldron shows how you can incorporate several guitar solos
into a song without it sounding over the top or absurd. Nevertheless, this is a
minor complaint on an otherwise stellar album. “…of Gods and Men” is a must-buy
for fans of old-school traditional heavy metal!
Highlights
"Children of the Stars"
"Blood & Iron"
"The Kings Road"
"Of Gods and Men
Final Rating
4.6/5 or 92%.
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