NOW!+mirror by Govor
I'm a long time of Texas metal band Phantom-X. If for any reason is that they're honest about their music. Vocalist Kevin Goocher has noted on their website that their music reflects their chief influences: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Dio. It's not that they sound like them but, rather, it's there frame of reference. It's all good.
Here's what you need to know about their fourth album The Opera of the Phantom: it's a concept album that attempts to finish what they began over the last three albums. Previous albums included 'chapters' of a concept (whatever that may be is anyone's guess) that finishes here. Therefore, the first 10 songs here are re-recordings of those previous songs. The album rounds out with six songs, with one, Your Majesty, being a tribute to Ronnie James Dio.
Confused? Don't be.
The re-recordings are nice, sounding fresh and enthusiastic. The new tunes are, well, simply Phantom-X being Phantom-X, but maybe even a little heavier. Cloning the Christ, Holy Hell, and 1000 Quatrains are heavy and epic, brisk and unrelenting. The compliment the 'chapters' that laid their foundation. As for the Dio tribute song, Your Majesty, it's good too, but I was expecting something that focused more on the vocal arrangements.
Phantom-X's The Opera of the Phantom is both pure Phantom-X and classic melodic heavy and power metal, straight out of the Eighties. Good stuff and well recommended.
PHANTOM-X – THE OPERA OF THE PHANTOM 2012
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