Phantasmal Interview

.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

- The band was formed by me and my brother Niilo back in 2010. We had played cover songs and own music, some kind of thrash metal, together already, but then we changed the musical style to old school death / doom metal and named the band Phantasmal. We recorded a couple of demo tracks the very first years but then had quite long break, mostly because we both were in another band, Oppressive, and didn't have that much spare time to other projects. Later, in 2016 or something like that, I started to write new music and decided to release it as Phantasmal.

2.In 2019 you had released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

- As I said, Phantasmal's demos were more like pure death / doom. When I started writing these new tracks, I didn't want to be limited in any specific genre. The musical style is still strongly based on death / doom, but there is more black metal elements as well as some progressive elements on this album.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the music?

- The most important subject on this album is how human beings are born in a society and a way of living that is not sustainable or good for themselves and how hard it is to get rid of all those things.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Phantasmal'?

- I think we came up with that name because it describes the atmosphere of our music.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

- Artwork is made by Niilo, there's a person in a place that doesn't seem to offer what he really would need.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

-We have never played live.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

- Not really plans, more like wishes. My brother moved to other side of Finland and haven't been playing drums for a while, so actually there's no line-up at all right now. But I'm looking for a full line-up to continue making new music and to do shows.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

- Yes, as soon as I get a line-up for a new album, or even a session drummer, I would be happy to release it with a label. I have the second Phantasmal album almost written, but without a drummer it's pretty hard to get recorded.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?

- I think the reaction has been positive and people have found the music interesting overall, even though not so many people have even heard about us because I'm not that great in marketing.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

- I'm also playing in a death metal band called Surman Suu, and we just released our second EP Kunnallisteurastamo which you can find on Spotify, Youtube etc. or: https://surmansuu.bandcamp.com/album/kunnallisteurastamo

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

- Maybe some more elements and influences from black metal and doom metal and some progressive stuff. As I said I don't like limiting myself to any genres too much, but on the other hand I want to keep this band based on death metal, so it is not getting to be too clean, produced or nice.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

- Back to when we started this band, the greatest influences came from Triptykon and Asphyx and I think they're still there. Other bands you could hear from our music would be for example Entombed, Moonsorrow, Ajattara and Kuolemanlaakso. I'm listening to many kind of music, so also bands like Metsatöll, Jethro Tull and Alamaailman Vasarat, a great Finnish instrumental band, have affected me but I don't know if you can hear that on Phantasmal's music so much.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

- I've been learning some painting and tattooing lately, so visual arts are important for me as well.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

- At the moment I just want to find a drummer, after that I can propably think of something clever to say.

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Phantasmal/Ansaan Syntyneet - Ansaan Kuolleet/2019 Full Length Review

  Phantasmal  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Ansaan  Syntyneet  -  Ansaan  Kuolleet".

  A  very  dark  and  heavy sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  introduced  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later.  Blackened  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  vocals  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  some  shamanic  and  tribal  style  drum  beats.

  All  of  the music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  fast  playing,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be heard,  one  of  the  tracks  is  also an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  darkness  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Phantasmal  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ansaan  Syntyneet "  and  "Ansaan  Kuolleet".  8  out  of  10.

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Phantasmal Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Psychopomp: Phantasmal started in 2012 when Wraith (a long time comrade of mine) approached me proposing that we do a band that would combine our individual views on black / thrash / speed / heavy metal. Here we are in 2015 and we have our debut demo released and a lot of material waiting to be unleashed!


2.Recently you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

P: Aggressive, melodic, powerful. Black / thrash would be the best term to use, but the songs on "The Reaper's Forge" have a broad appeal, I think.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

P: Life and death, light and dark.


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Phantasmal"?

P: There were a few names on our list when we were brainstorming band names, but Phantasmal stood out at me as being very representative of our morbid and aggressive style of metal. AND it had not already been claimed by another band (to my knowledge).


5.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

P: Phantasmal will remain comprised of Wraith and I unless we are offered any worthwhile live gigs, at which time we will recruit a live lineup.


6.On both the metal archives and facebook page it said the band is from the United States but does not say which part, was that intentional?

P: That is intentional as Wraith and I do not live near each other. When working on material, we bounce demos back and forth to each other digitally, until the time comes to convene and record.


7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

P: We currently have no record deal and are definitely always on the lookout for an interested label. We have plenty of finished or near-finished material in our vaults, so any interested labels should feel free to contact us.


8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and thrash metal?

P: Well, the demo has only been out for about two months, but what feedback we have received thus far has been extremely positive. There has been a great reaction from both fans and media.


9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

P: We have lots of material ready, and if any labels found themselves so inclined to put out a full length for us, we could have it done for them in less than a year's time. But as I said, we have enough material ready currently for a 7" or EP if any interested parties happen to be reading. As for the musical direction of the band, I see it remaining just as it is now. We know exactly what we want to do and are doing it.


10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

P: I dislike rattling off lists of band names, but occasionally it must be done: Phantasmal both takes great inspiration from and is for fans of bands like Sodom, Bathory, Metallica, Witchery, Mercyful Fate, Bewitched, Aura Noir, Destruction, Destroyer 666 and lots more. With that said, I have also described a lot of what I listen to frequently. Also, the new Nifelheim MLP is great.


11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

P: Much like most metal bands: no, not on any more than a superficial level.


12.What are some of your non musical interests?

P: Art, books, films, animals, travel...the usual stuff.


13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

P: Thank you very much for the interview opportunity. Your interest in Phantasmal is greatly appreciated. Any labels that wish to work with us should feel free to write us at phantasmalmetal@gmail.com, and any fans that are reading should keep an ear out in the coming year for plenty of new music from us. Cheers!

Phantasmal/The Reaper's Forge/2014 EP Review

  Phantasmal  are  a  duo  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  self  released  2014  ep  "The  Reaper's  Forge".

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic old  school  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  before  adding  in  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  along  with  blast  beats  and  screaming  vocals  which  are  more  in  an  80's  direction  that  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  blackened  thrash  metal  direction and  the solos  and  leads  the  band  brings  into  the  songs  are  also  in  an  old  school  extreme  metal  direction.

  At  times  melodies  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  in  both  the  riffs  and  solos  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  while  all  3  of  the  tracks  have  a  very  old  school  feeling  to  them  the  production  give s the  bands  musical  style  more  of  a  modern  sound.

  Phantasmal  plays an  extreme  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  metal  direction  while  the  black  metal  elements  also  bring  in  a  touch  of  the  90's  sound,  the  production  sound s very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover   dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Phantasmal  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Eternal  Campaign".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: http://phantasmalmetal.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/phantasmalmetal
Promo Video (The Reaper's Forge): www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAeVk2ahEgg