┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│■ ■│
│ .-/ .-. │
│ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │
│ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │
│ / || (:/:| \ │
│ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │
│ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │
│ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │
│ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │
│ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │
│ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │
│ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │
│ \:-~ ~-:/ │
│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
│ │
│ + Phantasma - The Deviant Hearts + │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jan-22-2016 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2015 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......The_Patriarch Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url.facebook.com/PhantasmaProject ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Phantasma Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : The Deviant Hearts Label : Napalm ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ When you consider the clientele involved in this ║ │
│║ record, IÆm genuinely surprised that thereÆs not ║ │
│║ been more of a buzz about æThe Deviant HeartsÆ ║ │
│║ by Phantasma in rock/metal circles. Ok, so it ║ │
│║ may have been voted by readers of Loudwire.com ║ │
│║ as the release of November 2015 but aside from ║ │
│║ this, a smattering of reviews and a few mentions ║ │
│║ across various forums, it seems to have flown ║ │
│║ under the radar somewhat. But why is this ║ │
│║ surprising, exactly? ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Phantasma is the brainchild of Serenity vocalist ║ │
│║ Georg Neuhauser and Everon multi-instrumentalist ║ │
│║ Oliver Philipps. Neuhauser has always been ║ │
│║ interested in historical-based themes as is ║ │
│║ consistently borne out by the lyrical content of ║ │
│║ Serenity. However, partnered by Philipps, he has ║ │
│║ been granted the opportunity to create a more ║ │
│║ story-based concept album. With the addition of ║ │
│║ DelainÆs Charlotte Wessels as the third ║ │
│║ principal member of Phantasma, perhaps my ║ │
│║ surprise begins to make some sense. These are ║ │
│║ three well-known and respected musicians within ║ │
│║ the rock/metal world and would, IÆd have ║ │
│║ thought, created a bigger stir than they have to ║ │
│║ date by coming together in such a way. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ When you factor in the cast of guest musicians, ║ │
│║ the consternation only grows. Joining Neuhauser, ║ │
│║ Philips and Wessels is none other than ║ │
│║ EvergreyÆs Tom Englund, Dennis Schunke (Van ║ │
│║ Canto) and Cloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian ║ │
│║ Orchestra) on vocals as well as drummer Jason ║ │
│║ Gianni (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Neal Morse ║ │
│║ Band), Randy George (Neal Morse Band) on bass ║ │
│║ and guitarist Tom Buchberger (ex-Serenity). As ║ │
│║ line-ups go, itÆs a pretty heavyweight affair ║ │
│║ and one that, on paper, promises much. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As I downloaded the promo, I wondered whether it ║ │
│║ may have something to do with a lack of quality ║ │
│║ within the music itself. I therefore pressed ║ │
│║ play with slight trepidation. Within the space ║ │
│║ of a few songs however, this hypothesis was ║ │
│║ blown out of the water; the music is of a ║ │
│║ standard youÆd readily expect from the personnel ║ │
│║ involved and has provided me with much enjoyment ║ │
│║ to put it mildly. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æThe Deviant HeartsÆ is a slick and professional ║ │
│║ 12-track album thatÆs grandiose, ambitious and ║ │
│║ suitably varied throughout. Those familiar with ║ │
│║ the artists involved will immediately notice ║ │
│║ strong accents of their day jobs within the ║ │
│║ album. The big key/guitar walls of sound that ║ │
│║ dominate EveronÆs output make several ║ │
│║ appearances as do the familiar chord ║ │
│║ progressions and PhilippsÆ thickly accented ║ │
│║ vocals. The melodic power metal sensibilities of ║ │
│║ Serenity play an active role, as do NeuhauserÆs ║ │
│║ unique and powerful vocals, whilst WesselÆs ║ │
│║ contribution will have Delain fans purring ║ │
│║ thanks to another strong and committed ║ │
│║ performance. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ However, for all the echoes and similarities, ║ │
│║ Phantasma offers something different to all ║ │
│║ three. From all-out metallic bombast to subtle ║ │
│║ ballads, to more modern touches, æThe Deviant ║ │
│║ HeartsÆ features it all whilst managing to ║ │
│║ maintain the feeling that this is a proper rock ║ │
│║ opera with all the pomp and circumstance that ║ │
│║ accompanies such a thing. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album kicks off with æIncompleteÆ a piano ║ │
│║ and vocal ballad featuring Philipps and Wessels ║ │
│║ behind the mic. If IÆm honest, it isnÆt the ║ │
│║ strongest of beginnings but I understand its ║ │
│║ inclusion in terms of the concept. Following hot ║ │
│║ on its heels however, is the title track and ║ │
│║ itÆs here that the magic begins. The keys create ║ │
│║ a hugely opulent introduction before the drums ║ │
│║ and guitars add a sense of drama. It all drops ║ │
│║ away and an acoustic guitar is joined by the ║ │
│║ soulful and utterly beguiling vocals of Tom ║ │
│║ Englund as he makes the first of two guest ║ │
│║ appearances on the record. And then thereÆs the ║ │
│║ chorus which is, frankly, enormous and hook- ║ │
│║ laden. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æRunaway GrayÆ produces another bombastic chorus ║ │
│║ within a quieter, more ballad-like number ║ │
│║ dominated by WesselsÆ heartfelt vocals. æTryÆ is ║ │
│║ another ballad that features Cloe Lowery on lead ║ │
│║ vocals and is one of my favourites on the ║ │
│║ record. I love the way it grows and in true ║ │
│║ Everon style packs a huge melodic punch, ║ │
│║ although LoweryÆs voice at the beginning and end ║ │
│║ of the song is what draws me I for repeated ║ │
│║ listens, such is her fragile and absolutely ║ │
│║ beautiful delivery. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ My all-time favourite metal voice returns in the ║ │
│║ more openly bombastic and up-tempo æEnter ║ │
│║ DreamscapeÆ but Tom EnglundÆs wonderfully unique ║ │
│║ tones are this time joined by NeuhauserÆs ║ │
│║ equally familiar timbre. ItÆs not a bad ║ │
│║ combination as IÆm sure youÆll agree. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æThe Lotus And The WillowÆ slows the pace again ║ │
│║ with absolutely beautiful results, mainly thanks ║ │
│║ to the excellent songwriting and another ║ │
│║ commanding performance by Wessels in particular. ║ │
│║ æCrimson CourseÆ has more of a Serenity stamp ║ │
│║ all over it, albeit with added rock opera pomp ║ │
│║ and some well-placed modern synth effects. It is ║ │
│║ here that Neuhauser reminds me forcefully why I ║ │
│║ consider Serenity to be one of my all-time ║ │
│║ favourite melodic metal bands. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æCarry Me HomeÆ is a slightly quirkier, modern- ║ │
│║ sounding track that benefits greatly from Randy ║ │
│║ GeorgeÆs elegant bass playing and SchunkeÆs rich ║ │
│║ timbre. Again, that satisfying Everon wall of ║ │
│║ sound re-enters the fray helping to build ║ │
│║ momentum into the composition. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ For me though, one of the best moments on æThe ║ │
│║ Deviant HeartsÆ is reserved for the final act, ║ │
│║ in the shape of æLet It DieÆ. Arguably the most ║ │
│║ grandiose and over-the-top of all the ║ │
│║ compositions, it is a delight. Wessels shares ║ │
│║ the mic with Philipps principally with great ║ │
│║ results but it is the chorus that sends shivers ║ │
│║ down my spine as itÆs irresistibly melodic and ║ │
│║ as a big Everon fan, its overt bombast and epic ║ │
│║ overtones strikes a real chord with me. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ So there you have it. This is a very solid and ║ │
│║ nicely put-together record with some real ║ │
│║ knock-out moments, meaning that overall, thereÆs ║ │
│║ very little not to like about æThe Deviant ║ │
│║ HeartsÆ; strong songwriting, heartfelt ║ │
│║ performances and a slick production from an ║ │
│║ impressive group of musicians means that ║ │
│║ Phantasma have delivered a grand melodic rock ║ │
│║ opera that offers a very high level of enjoyment ║ │
│║ time and time again. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Incomplete [02:45] │
│ 02 - The Deviant Hearts (Give Us A Story) [05:26] │
│ 03 - Runaway Grey [04:25] │
│ 04 - Try [04:40] │
│ 05 - Enter Dreamscape [04:18] │
│ 06 - Miserable Me [04:39] │
│ 07 - The Lotus and the Willow [04:41] │
│ 08 - Crimson Course [05:58] │
│ 09 - Carry Me Home [05:28] │
│ 10 - The Sound of Fear [05:16] │
│ 11 - Novaturient [05:24] │
│ 12 - Let it Die [05:50] │
│ 13 - Symphony of Light [04:17] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [63:07 minn │
│ │
│ │
│ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘