Album review: PHANTASMA – The Deviant Hearts

Napalm Records [Release date 27.11.15]

Phantasma is a project consisting of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity), Oliver Philipps (Everon) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain). Helping out are drummer Jason Gianni, bassist Randy George from Neal Morse’s band and Tom Buchberger (ex-Serenity) guests on two songs on guitar.

I must admit the cover may lead some to think it is an extreme metal band! But delve inside and this concept piece has lots of big arrangements, powerful duets and more.

The album starts with ‘Incomplete’, a piano led duet featuring Oliver Philipps and Charlotte Wessels. Wessels is a real star of the album and very impressive vocally, none more so than when she teams up with some of the guest vocalists. Pick of these is the title track that features Evergrey’s Tom Englund, who even in a quieter mode has such a powerful presence in his vocals.

Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and Dennis Schunke (Van Canto) team-up to great effect on ‘Try’. This is the sort of song that the Neuhauser and Philipps have combined so well together on in the songwriting and composing.

‘Carry Me Home’ is a fantastic piece of melodic rock, starting with an extended guitar solo before it kicks into a mix of Everon and Meat Loaf. Majestic strings sweep the song along coupled with another fine vocal performance from Charlotte Wessels. One of my songs of the year.

This is an excellent album and don’t let it escape your listening pleasure. It has the wide appeal to reach those outside the symphonic metal arena, for instance lovers of the OTT arrangements of Meat Loaf will love the music in here. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)