The first thing you’ll notice listening to this album is the band is from Denmark. Danish rock bands have ‘that special’ sound, even more if they are inspired by the country’s classic bands from the ’80s / 90s.
You have to love it when a studio calls itself Popshit and more so when a band called SILVER PHANTOM uses it to put together their debut album, ”Crimson Cabaret”. An album of heavy rock combined with a lump of metal with a guitar work reminiscent of D.A.D. and an Alice Cooper-ish theatrical background both musically and lyrically.
With an experienced line-up of Martin Helgren on vocals & bass (who is also responsible for the rather good cover artwork), Morten Madsen (ex Svartsot, Prevail) and Mads Møller on guitar and Kim Kvist on drums (all session musicians as well) you are assured of some quality rock.
This is apparent from the first chords of the title track, after the music box tinkle, the riff kicks in with a Cooper-ish touch in the structure and lyrical storyline of a horror-styled show. There’s plenty of room for some subtle guitar theatrics too.
‘Black Lady’ keeps the quality up with a Priest meets Tygers feel. ‘Shapeshifter’ is heavier as the style moves a little more metallic but with some neat wah guitar expanding on, and adding to, the main riff.
‘Circle of the Serpent’ has a very clever metal fused pop sound, it makes me think of how Billy Idol would sound with a ’90s metal backing. ‘Undying Gods’ shifts to some Sabbath style riffing but with that Alice Cooper theatricalism again shining through.
‘Thrill Thrashing Light’ is not thrash but instead just six minutes of rock with light, shade and time signature changes to keep you guessing and entertained. The final track, ‘We Sing Along’ after the (relatively) gentle vocal intro, keeps the heavy and adds the chance to, you guessed it, sing along.
With refreshing riffs, nice melodies and very cool twists here and there, SILVER PHANTOM is very fine new band from Scandinavia. Their debut ”Crimson Cabaret” is an exceptionally well-played collection of songs, stays cliche free and is a damn fine heavy rock album that won’t disappoint.
1. Crimson Cabaret
2. Foreshadowed
3. Black Lady
4. Shapeshifter
5. Circle Of The Serpent
6. Undying Gods
7. Thrill Thrashing Light
8. Parasite Spirit
9. We Sing Along
SILVER PHANTOM – Crimson Cabaret 2022
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