Band Members
Pete Ross – Guitar and Lead Vocals
Rob McKinney – Keys, Bass, Vocals, MIDI Programming
Larry Hundertmark – Drums, Lighting Programming/Designer, Visual Projection Programmer/Designer
THE PHANTOM EYE is a Brooklyn-based Alternative, Psychedelic, Dreamy, Hypnotic Rock, trio consisting of drummer Larry Hundertmark (ex-Neck), guitarist/vocalist Pete Ross (Godmaker), and keyboardist/vocalist/bassist Rob McKinney (ex-Ascent of Everest) playing the Rhodes piano and occasionally bass guitar. They blend elements of psychedelia and shoegaze with huge drums and catchy melodies. Guitars oscillate between spacey and heavy, the drums between ghosting and hammering, while the Rhodes holds down the low end.
The band started out occasionally jamming before hitting the studio with the current lineup. Released in summer of 2021 and recorded by Justin Mantooth at Studio G in Brooklyn, Chromesthesia was originally conceived as an instrumental exploration of sounds. Once the band heard their songs mixed in the studio they knew they had to come up with vocals to take the songs to the next level. What they ended up with is a melodic wall of sound that puts the listener into a state of hypnosis.
While playing venues around Brooklyn (such as the world infamous Saint Vitus), The Phantom Eye started to expand on their live show to create a must-see experience. While collaborating with analog synthesists and moving visual artists, they have developed a MIDI based light show in synchronization with mesmerizing projector animations and light baths to elevate the performance to create a truly psychedelic and visceral journey that continues to evolve.
The band decided to run it back with Justin Mantooth at Studio G in Brooklyn to record a second batch of songs. Stepping up the complexity and exploring the depth of their sound, they added some new instrumentation and dialed in sounds to reach new heights. With new concepts and aural breadth, the band hopes to find a home for their work to reach as many fans as possible. With a few new singles and videos (out now on all platforms), they hope to capture some of the new sounds they have been working on and continue to release new music.
My Thoughts
The Phantom Eye are a superb Doom/Stoner/Post-Metal collective who play emotionally charged Psychedelic Rock/Metal that has echoes of YOB, Cult Of Luna and The Ocean within their heavier and destructive Doomgaze sounds. However, the band show a more softer approach that feels inspired by All Them Witches and King Bufallo which gives The Phantom Eye quite an original element to their sound no matter style of music they play.
Check out their fantastic 2021 EP Chromesthesia and the recent new single Black Hotel for evidence of this. Both releases show different sides to The Phantom Eye's creative character which is told through powerful Doom/Post-Metal waves and Psychedelic Stoner Rock grooves that becomes more Progressive when the band need to change into a more dynamically powerful style of Cinematic Rock/Metal.
Hopefully a full length album isn't too far away. As I want to see what these guys can deliver with a full album's worth of material.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to The Phantom Eye for all of the info.
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