BLACK PHANTOM – Better Beware!

6/10

BLACK PHANTOM - Better Beware! - 6/10

6/10

Summary

Punishment 18 Records
Release date: May 26, 2017

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10/10 (1 vote)

Formed in 2014, Black Phantom is the side project of bassist, Andrea Tito of Italy’s Mesmerize. Better Beware! is a full-length album of Traditional Heavy Metal songs he wrote over the years, but never had the opportunity to bring to life. As you might expect from a band where the bassist is the main creative force, the resulting songs feature very active bass lines drawing comparisons to Iron Maiden. The sound mix favors the bass as well, but unfortunately, the heavy vibrato vocals of Manuel Malini are too heavy in the mix and tend to be distracting rather than complementary.

Whenever the mix backs off the vocals, it reveals well-structured and groove-worthy song writing and musicianship. There are sections in “From An Is To A Was” where the vocals are mixed left and right instead of dead center and the power of the band is brought to life. This song and the song immediately after it called “The Absence” teases the listener with a taste of how good this album could’ve been. Of the ten original songs on the album, the first seven songs reflect the best of Tito’s muse while the remaining three are not as inspired. Highlights include the opening track “Light Behind The Armour” which starts with a slow build-up and then breaks into a Maiden-esque gallop featuring heavy bass riffs throughout. “Firebase Valley Forge” departs from the up-tempo pace of the album to tell a story and allow the band to explore different textures. The album closes with a tasteful cover of Iron Maiden’s “Total Eclipse”.

Die-hard fans of Heavy Metal inspired by bands like Iron Maiden will find songs from Black Phantom worthy of a listen. Better Beware! is an album that shines when it breaks free from its flawed mix.

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Author

Zac Halter

Zac was a reviewer here at Metal Express Radio, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. His interest in heavy music began in the 70s with his father’s Johnny Cash albums. After cousins introduced him to Steppenwolf, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, KISS, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, Johnny Cash didn’t stand a chance. The 80s were spent in full pursuit of everything Metal: searching for new music at record stores, listening to albums, studying the covers and sleeves, and attending concerts. In the 90s, he preferred Death Metal over Grunge and hosted the Death Metal Juggernaut on WUPX in Marquette, Michigan. It was advertised as the only prime time Death Metal radio show in the country.
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