Release
date: October
25th
2019. Label: Argonauta
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Phantasma
–
Tracklisting
01.
My Doom Dealer
02.
Freaks
03.
Cloud Valley
04.
Walking On Thirds
05.
Song Of A Preacher
06.
Ghosts
07.
Urban Funk Campaign
08.
Hypnopomp
Members
Henkka
Vahvanen - drums
Antti
Vesikko - bass
Tomi
Mykkänen - guitar and vocals
Tommi
Lintunen - guitar
Review
Phantasma
is the is the hard-rocking and suped-up new album from Finnish
Sludge/Stoner Rockers – Lowburn – and they make an almighty
racket on this album. The album is a mixture of Sludge Metal, Fuzz
Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Metal allowing Lowburn to have a modern
style of music.
The
album features 8 tracks of thrilling Sludge/Stoner Metal with the
band having a flair for creating powerful grooves and grizzled vocals
to match. Lowburn know how to rock out and show how willing they’re
ready to do this for Phantasma with the excellent opening song – My
Doom Dealer – which is fast-paced example of Sludge, Stoner and
Doom Metal with a classic “NOLA” approach for a song that’s
action-packed and full of powerful grooves.
Second
song – Freaks – has a more “Blues Rock” feel with the band
maybe taking influence from CLUTCH in places but still playing their
own brand of Sludge/Stoner Metal but with a harder approach that you
wouldn’t expect. The psychedelic grooves are superbly played and
allow Lowburn to have a more laid-back feel to their music but the
heavier sounds rule the roost on this album. The vocals from Tomi are
quite commanding and very raw in places but it gives Lowburn a very
real and human sound.
Third
song – Cloud Valley – is a straight-up Hard Rock affair with the
band playing a more vibrant “NOLA” style of music. The song is
action-packed from the start and Lowburn are way more aggressive on
this song and Tomi’s vocals prove that as well. The song does slow
down in the middle for a slower style of music and the song loses
some of it’s early magic but it’s good to see Lowburn doing
something different on the album.
Fourth
song – Walking On Thirds – opens with a Post-Doom/Post-Rock style
of music which I didn’t expect at all. This was very cool to hear
and I was excited to hear how the song would progress. Lowburn play a
more subdued style of Sludge/Stoner Rock with trippy amounts of
Psychedelic Rock allowing the band to slowly build up an exciting
rhythm. The song never feels forced or outstays it’s welcome as the
song gradually becomes heavier with fantastic sounding guitars
holding everything together.
The
second half of Phantasma continues with Lowburn playing their
emphatic style of Sludge/Stoner Metal across 4 songs that are just as
good as the first half with Song Of A Preacher and Hypnopomp being
the main highlights.
Phantasma
is an excellent sounding album that will surprise you in many
different ways. As the band play a high amount of different sounds
within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal genres that you wouldn’t
expect. Lowburn have soared to new creative heights on this album and
they will surprise a lot of people with Phantasma.
This
is an outstanding album that could allow Lowburn to become more well
known within the Sludge/Stoner metal community.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
You
can see the new video for their excellent new song – My Doom Dealer –
from the upcoming new album below.
Thanks
to Mona at All Noir for all of the details. Phantasma will be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonuata Records from October
25th 2019.
Links:
