[schema type=”review” name=”Phantasma – The Deviant Hearts” description=”Label: Napalm Records” author=”Gamze Öyünc” pubdate=”2015-11-20″ ]
Phantasma is a brand-new, joint project by talented musicians from Europe consisting of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity – vocals), Oliver Philipps (Everon – composer, musician, vocalist) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain – vocals). The album is called “The Deviant Hearts” and it is also the name of the novella that Wessels wrote just for this project. All of the tracks are gently weaved around the novella and its theme of story-telling in a theatrical way.
While listening to the album, with the whole imagery (photography and the novella parts at the pdf section if you get a digital album pack), you get the feeling of being in an epic musical, you can choose either to be a part of the musical or just to witness as a spectator. It’s grand and extremely melodic. At times, it’s romantic and emotional. I couldn’t find a track that is weak or feeble, every track is mighty and full of spirit. “The Deviant Hearts” takes you in immediately with its atmosphere, symphonic nature and folkloric melodies scattered throughout the bridge and refrain parts of the songs. The most outstanding ones for me so far have been; “Runaway Gray”, “The Lotus and The Willow”, and “Try”.
With “The Sound of Fear” and “Let It Die” you feel the vibe of a proper musical piece. “Novaturient” could be easily a part of The Phantom of The Opera and other plays of that scale. The album also has great majestic guitar solos, musicianship and quality is at top levels. The photography is by Fabio Interra and the imagery and artwork is by the Italian artist Marco Mazzoni. The photographs take place in misty nature and as a theme, they call to mind the video clip of the legendary Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue duet “Where the Wild Roses Grow”. The touching track “Incomplete” with the pianos especially is like the continuation of the widely-known duet.
If you are a fan of European Symphonic Rock/Metal in general, this highly melodic project will definitely address to you. It would be an absolute pleasure to see this project on stage as a live concert embellished with some imagery / props, or maybe a DVD as an even better idea. Whether the band will give any concerts in the near future is not announced yet.
Line-up:
Charlotte Wessels – Vocals
Georg Neuhauser – Vocals
Oliver Philipps – Guitars/Keys/Vocals
Album guests
Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY) – Vocals
Dennis Schunke (VAN CANTO) – Vocals
Chloe Lowery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, CHAMELEON) – Vocals
Jason Gianni (DAREDEVIL SQUADRON/ NEAL MORSE BAND/ TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) – Drums
Randy George (NEAL MORSE BAND, AJALON) – Bass
Tom Buchberger (ex-SERENITY) – Guitar
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Tracklist:
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