Phasma is on the cusp of a new era.
Signed to Transcending Obscurity Records, the international duo Luis Ferre (vocals, Gravecarver) and Jason Athanasiadis (guitar, Kawir), accompanied by Giorgos Markantonis (bass) and Vasilis Nanos (drums, Dead Congregation, W.E.B.) for live performances and studio, unveils its third album, Purgatory.
Simply titled I to VI, the six tracks total just under half an hour of sound and will be treated here as a single block. As soon as the instruments kick in, they are put to use in a dissonant oppression that explodes suddenly with the arrival of screams, becoming even more aggressive and terrifying, taking advantage of massive instrumentation and an unexpected but visceral acceleration. There are still parts infused with catchy Old School influences to complement the waves of virulent darkness that are tinged differently from one track to the next, sometimes opting for devastating Grind influences, sometimes for overwhelming heaviness, but still reserving rare moments of levity for us. The novice takes the opportunity to catch his breath, but the seasoned listener prepares for the next wave, which is only seconds away and hits with full force, leaving the vocalist to give it his all and the musicians to torment our eardrums by pushing their talent to its limits in both violence and intricate passages. The majority of the roots lie in the different nuances of Death Metal, with the most furious ones at work during the mosh parts, but also when the rhythm section ignites after what resemble introductions or during the groovy passages that sometimes turn into majestic moments, such as the finale where the keyboards sound the death knell.
Some albums are imposing, terrifying, or oppressive, but Purgatory easily surpasses many of them. With this short but devastating work, Phasma has succeeded in plunging us entirely into darkness with no escape other than the end.
95/100
