Is there anything worse than a band or album you should love on paper falling short of expectation? I mean, sure, Ozzy Osbourne leaving this mortal plane and Kreator’s output post-Coma of Souls immediately come to mind, but I’m talking from the perspective of a curious music listener (such as yourself and I) checking out a new band or album, only to be letdown immensely. Such is the case with today’s band in review, Phantom Fire, and their eponymous debut album, which just so happens to be their third (Where have I been?).
I’ve long said that first wave black metal worship is near impossible to screw up. You essentially choose your fighter, so to speak (i.e. Venom, Celtic Frost, Bathory, etc.), and crank out a rabid collection of songs that adhere to the ’80s black metal ethos. Even when those songs are merely copy/paste rehashes of what already was, 9 times out of 10, they manage to hit the spot off vibes alone. And then, 1 time out of 10, you’ll have an album like Phantom Fire, which boasts all the right ingredients, but for one reason or another, misses the mark. Why? Allow me to elaborate, my good sir.
At its core, Phantom Fire is a bare bones black ‘n’ roll album with a gothic twist. There are occasional splashes of speed, thrash, and even traditional Norwegian black metal in the vein of elder statesmen Darkthrone (It should be noted that Phantom Fire themselves hail from Norway), but for the most part, much of this fare comes off as blackened hard rock or blackened goth. In other words, ever wonder what it’d sound like if modern day Tribulation tried to make an album that sounds like Midnight? Look no further. Phantom Fire balances steady rockin’ and gothic bleakness to create an album that, again, should resonate. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
What these songs ultimately lack are the hooks and personality to separate Phantom Fire apart from the rest of the first wave worship pack, resulting in an album that’s not bad, but painfully average. Goth leaning tunes like “Sleep to Die”, “My Crown”, and “Malphas” drift away as quickly as they take hold, or at least attempt to do so, leaving only a faint aftertaste of black roses and tears. Speedier cuts like the opening “Eternal Void” or “Logðarhorn” are slightly more enthralling, but pale in comparison to fellow purveyors of the sound, whether it be Hellripper, Bütcher, or so forth. That said, there’s no doubt I’d dig this album more if Phantom Fire stuck to the uptempo side of the spectrum.
Despite their moniker, Phantom Fire does little to scorch this here headbanger, and again, I’m a sucker for anything remotely connected to the first wave black metal sphere. For what its worth, this eponymous third album plays like a bargain find I’d make at a Disc Replay, amongst other forgotten private presses dropped at some point in the early to mid ’00s. It’s cool for a spin, maybe even a spin and a half, but if you want the same thing done better, stick to Venom and midlife crisis era Darkthrone.
5 out of 10
Label: Edged Circle Productions
Genre: Black ‘n’ Roll
For fans of: Darkthrone, Midnight, Tribulation