This is the third album from international, (Greece/US), blackened death metallers Phasma.
Phasma play an interesting and intense mix of black and death metal, cut with elements of doom and deathcore. Purgatory contains 26 minutes of dark violence, and it’s pretty damn good.
Purgatory is merciless. It’s a savage. Phasma wield their influences like weapons, delivering an adrenaline-soaked burst of precision violence that’s withering.
It’s a contemporary form of extremity that’s learned its lessons well, resulting in a moreish slab of potent brutality. The obvious deathcore influences operate on the more extreme end of the spectrum, blended with black and death metal to make for a thoroughly brutalising experience. Thick, destructive riffs are combined with blackened texture and deathcore vocals. It’s harsh, unfriendly, and has a fierce bite.
However, Phasma deal in dynamics and skilled songcraft, not just blast beats, making for an engaging, well-written listen. It’s brutal, but not without nuance. Melody sprays across the dark distorted heaviness in bright arterial arcs, and there are even moments of bleak atmosphere amidst the bloodshed, brought to us by an unexpected blackened doom influence. Around this, there are hooks and memorable moments aplenty, despite the raging ferocity that serves as the foundation of the music.
Serrated blackened darkness, brutal death metal aggression, crushing muscular breakdowns, and sharp technical nuance, all delivered with a lethal execution, combine to make for six raging songs that destroy the opposition with frenzied glee. Phasma have a great deal of technical ability, but also know how to just go for the kill. Indeed, this edge of technicality makes Purgatory an even more effective killing machine, having been honed to an efficient murderous point.
With its short running time it’s a less-is-more assault on the senses; highly replayable, the brevity of Purgatory is to its credit, all the while boasting a considerable amount of punishing content for the listener to try to stoically absorb.
Phasma have impressed. Purgatory is a killer.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 