Phantom Sea – ‘The Witching Hour’ EP.
Phantom Sea – Blackpool, England, United Kingdom.
Riff-Blackpool-Riff.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of Metal music for the most part and when I am, it’s the more old-school styles that prick my ears. When it does come to newer styles however, it is generally the more progressive genres, such as Progressive Metal and Post-Metal that I find myself listening too.
However, after scrolling through the MF messages once more, I found a band from Blackpool that riffed their way to a review in a seductively brutal manner, all to my enjoyment. Here are some influences for an idea for what you’re about to digest visually and audibly:
‘Gojira, Strapping Young Lad, Down, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Electric Wizard, Mastodon, Pantera, Feared, Machine Head and Meshuggah’
The band released their debut EP back in January, containing six tracks of a full Metal broadside, collectively produced from across the genre’s wide spectrum. But enough of that, we better get on.
Track one of The Witching Hour is entitled ‘Mammoth’. Personally, I would have just titled it, “Mammoth Set Of Riffage”, but that is precisely the reason why I’m not allowed in bands. The somewhat of an old-school vibe with this track draws you in before the heavier, dark guitar work takes over, supplemented with a dirty Doom Metal vibe playing you out.
‘Absolution’ and ‘Brought To Ruin’ provide the next two sonic blasts. The build up on the ‘Absolution’ is slow, melodic and probably best described as atmospheric. Blast beats and furious riffage take the stage alongside hard-edged vocals that sound akin to Pantera, reinforced with a more modern set of screams.
The latter, shows off some classic guitar work atop of Sludge Metal riffs that remind me of the time I saw Black Tusk. If you get a chance to go, do.
Starting off on a more melodic structure, ‘Ghidorah’ doesn’t take long to tag in the aggression once more. On a personal level, I enjoyed this track, but the melodic intro refrains and that general sound to the band should have been the entire song. Again, this is just a personal preference, but that style of guitar work really suits Phantom Sea and this track specifically.
The title track has been selected to play us out, and with good reason. Hands down the best on the release, ‘The Witching Hour’ and it’s opening riffage is reminiscent – weirdly – of Rage Against The Machine, with its groove-funk structure. I’ve already almost head butted my desk and partook in some embarrassing air drumming. I shan’t ruin it by saying more, I just advise you all to have a listen.
The debut release by Blackpool band, Phantom Sea. Five tracks of Metal from various schools that gives today’s bands a run for their money.
Find Them:
- Social Media/Updates: Facebook.
- Music: bandcamp, Spotify.
- Photography by Charlotte Bee Photography, who can be found – Here.
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