Reviews: SODP087
< Обратно к релизу / Back to page
L’histoire des DARK PHANTOM trouve son origine en l’année 2007, celle de leur formation. Et au mois de décembre dernier, nous pouvions juger de leur potentiel sur leur premier LP Nation of Dogs, distribué par Symbol Of Domination Productions via Satanath Records.
Entre temps ?
Parce qu’après un rapide calcul, 2007/2016, tout ça nous donne neuf longues années pendant lesquelles il a bien dû se passer un peu plus qu’une simple mise en jambes, quelques concerts et un processus de composition et d’enregistrement…
Tout ça paraît très long, mais le parcours de ce quintette (Mir – chant, Murad & Rebeen – guitares, Mahmood – batterie et Sermet – basse) est pour le moins atypique, et ce, pour une raison bien particulière…
Ces cinq amis/musiciens viennent en effet d’Iraq, de Kirkuk plus exactement, et vous n’êtes pas sans savoir que faire de la musique dans cette région du monde relève plus d’un acte de rébellion que d’un simple passe-temps ou d’une passion. Dans une zone géographique dominée par les exactions d’Al Quaeda, le simple fait de prendre une guitare ou de chanter s’apparente à une défiance ultime, et surtout l’engagement d’une vie que l’on remet entre les mains d’un destin qui peut souvent s’avérer funeste.
Alors, dès lors, pas étonnant que presque dix ans aient séparé la création de DARK PHANTOM de la publication de son premier album, et il est déjà extrêmement satisfaisant de pouvoir l’apprécier, tranquille au chaud dans nos salons…
Alors certes, conditions précaires, danger permanent, mais nous ne sommes pas là pour parler géopolitique ou religion, mais juste pour juger de la valeur intrinsèque de ce Nation Of Dogs, qui nous présente donc une nation de chiens, qui pourrait s’apparenter à la vision qu’ont ces intégristes de nos démocraties décadentes…
Si la carrière des Iraquiens est atypique, leur musique est plus fondamentale. En bons fans de METALLICA, LAMB OF GOD et SLAYER, les cinq compagnons de l’extrême ont donc choisi la voie assez fréquentée du Thrash à tendance Death, agrémentant le tout de tonalités assez Black, sans pour autant verser dans le chaos ou l’ultraviolence.
Non, leur musique est agencée, intelligente, brutale évidemment, grave dans ses inflexions, mais gardant prise avec une lucidité mélodique qui rend leurs morceaux assez séduisants, à défauts d’être originaux.
Pourtant, certains font montre d’une indéniable créativité, comme ce « O! Holocaust », qui juxtapose des fondations de Death très profondes et putrides à des chœurs orientaux fascinants, sans jamais se départir d’une lourdeur de ton oppressante. Mais ne nous leurrons pas, le principal but de des DARK PHANTOM reste une efficacité et une puissance de tous les instants, ce qui n’est déjà pas si mal, puisqu’ils s’acquittent très bien de leur tâche.
En fouillant dans les influences possibles du quintette, et en occultant celles qu’ils avouent d’eux-mêmes, il est possible de trouver d’évidentes traces du SEPULTURA post Max, de MERCYLESS lorsque les débats s’enveniment et se débrident, et pour rester dans un cadre national, de dénicher quelques réminiscences d’un GOJIRA moins mystique qu’à l’habitude, dans quelques progressions un peu plus complexes et appuyées. En gros, la crème de la quintessence d’un crossover entre Thrash, Néo-Death, Death primal et Heavy barbare, pour un rendu qui provoque un headbanging instantané, et qui prouve que les Iraquiens ont bien fait de s’accrocher sans jamais baisser les bras.
Outre leur sens de la concision, le niveau notable de chaque individualité est à souligner, avec une paire de guitaristes très capables qui font le show et multiplient les soli pertinents et harmonieux.
De son coté, Mir assure des lignes vocales rauques et graves, et développe un sens du phrasé précis et percutant, tout en aménageant des respirations bienvenues qui lui permettent de tenir le rythme sans montrer des signes d’essoufflement.
Difficile de faire son choix dans ce panier bien rempli d’hymnes à la violence, mais chaque entrée apporte sa pierre à l’édifice, et les lyrics rendent bien compte de la situation d’un pays en proie aux affres d’une situation inextricable.
Les thèmes abordés sont évidemment logiques, le conservatisme et l’obscurantisme religieux, les tabous sociaux, la répression gouvernementale…Et bien que n’ayant jamais joué hors de leurs frontières, les DARK PHANTOM prouvent qu’ils sont restés au fait de l’actualité de l’extrême mondial en s’adaptant sans aucun problème aux standards contemporains.
« State Of War », la clôture, se hisse même au niveau des meilleures productions de SLAYER, GRIP INC et autres SOILWORK/AT THE GATES/LAMB OF GOD, avec une fois de plus la superposition d’un thème agressif et sombre et des chœurs mélodiques, accumulant les plans percutants, comme ce mid tempo saccadé en break central qui relance la machine.
Vous avez bien sûr déjà entendu tout ça, mais c’est tellement bien fait qu’on en oublie que certains emprunts sont plus qu’évidents, chose que l’on peut pardonner à un groupe dont chaque jour d’existence est déjà une victoire en soi.
Niveau réussites flagrantes, impossible de passer sous silence l’ouverture tonitruante de « New Gospel » qui ne fait pas dans le détail et s’agite d’un Thrash au parfum Death très prononcé, et qui oppose un tempo épileptique à des grognements dignes de l’école suédoise. Un peu PESTILENCE, un peu SLAYER, mais totalement foudroyant, c’est une entame qui prend à la gorge et qui met les choses au point dès le départ.
Les exercices de ruptures rythmiques du court « On Brink Of Terror » sont aussi à mettre en avant, pour un morceau qui ose un groove instable, et n’oublions pas les tonalités Heavy de « Nation of Dogs », qui se veut Heavy/Thrash et presque JUDAS PRIEST dans l’esprit, tout du moins dans une version mordante et féroce.
Quelques baisses de régime sont inévitables, mais ne handicapent en rien ce projet, et en définitive, malgré un classicisme de surface assez flagrant, Nation Of Dogs reste une belle démonstration de savoir-faire dans un créneau Thrash/Death ne rechignant pas à lorgner du côté d’un Heavy harmonique appuyé.
Je souhaite bien sûr le meilleur à ces courageux musiciens pour qui le simple fait de répéter et de jouer dans leur pays devient un acte de bravoure, et j’espère qu’ils pourront un jour s’expatrier pour arpenter les scènes européennes et propager la bonne parole d’un extrême qui peut compter sur eux pour défendre sa cause.
http://www.metalnews.fr/chroniques/nation-of-dogs
Here’s something you don’t hear every day – Iraqi thrash metal with death metal vocals and occasional leanings in that direction musically.
I liked the traditional instrumentation and desert bedouin feel the intro set up, and there are similar elements scattered throughout – the clean chanted solo section of the title cut, for example, which sounded a lot like evening prayers to Mecca. In fact, there are several clean sung/chanted bits to be found around the album – “judgment call”, for another – and it’s part and parcel of what makes this band unique.
There’s also a quirkiness to the thrashy riffs, where it often feels a bit spare and open, which contrasts with the otherwise modern metal overkill style being striven for here. There are two guitarists, but somehow it feels like just one at these points, and when the drummer pulls back as well, it leaves a lot of negative space…which while not coming off as “retro” in any real respect, is still a nice change from what we’re hearing from metal nowadays.
I’m all for hearing bands from rarely heard-from countries and smaller scenes, particularly when they bring some local colour and ethnic flair to the table (traditional instrumentation, cultural appropriation and exchange, that sort of thing)…and Dark Phantom definitely fits that bill.
Definitely worth a listen, see if it grabs ya.
Dark Phantom are a band from Iraq that plays a mixture of death and thrash metal and this is a review of their 2016 album "Nation Of Dogs" which was released as a joint effort between Symbol Of Domination Productions and United By Chaos.
Middle Eastern style flutes start off the album before going into a very fast thrash metal direction which also uses a great amount of blast beats and the riffs also use a great amount of melody along with all of the musical instruments sounding very powerful and after awhile death metal growls start to make their presence known.
When guitar solos and leads are utilized they bring in a very chaotic yet melodic style of extreme metal and while the music has a lot of old school influences it still sounds very modern at the same time and clean vocals are also utilized at times along with the songs also bringing in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and their is also a brief use of high pitched screams and a later track also adds in a small amount of classical guitars.
Dark Phantom plays a music style that takes death and thrash metal and mixes them together with a touch of traditional metal to create a sound of their own, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover dark, violent, and political themes.
In my opinion Dark Phantom are a very great sounding mixture of death and thrash metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band.
http://extrememetalzine.blogspot.ru/2017/02/dark-phantomnation-of-dogssymbol-of.html
I mention the words “Iraq”, “thrash” and “death” in one sentence, and chances are you’re not thinking about metal band genres. Well, think again, bitch, for before me lays now the debut album of Kirkuk’s finest: Dark Phantom. Beginning in 2007 as a heavy metal band, living through some rather stressful circumstances implied by a somewhat confused biography published on their label’s website, the band finally found their home in aggressive death/thrash territory. Nation of Dogs is the fruit of what sounds like rather miserable years of labor, so let’s hope it’s good.
I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Leaning to the thrash side, sometimes building riffs somewhat similar to Kreator with a more modern production, Dark Phantom is still surprisingly brutal. The death metal aspect of the music is most obvious in some magnificent guitar leads, calling to mind 90’s Scandinavian death metal acts, and also in the overall harshness of sound. And the vocals, dear God, what vocals. grunting, yet with a thrashy edge, they are among the better ones we’ve encountered in a while. The band’s heavy metal roots also shine through at times, with a few solos and more melodic riffs, that complement the rest of the mix very well. There are also a couple of clean vocal parts that I could have lived without, but won’t die from either.
The track length is a bit on the short side, with the longest song a mere 4:19. This works out fine, though, because it adds a slight sense of urgency and intensity. The lyrics deal more or less directly with war, religion and politics in a way that would feel more cliched were it not for the unusual circumstances under which the band members operate. Western “radical” bands often go far beyond cringe worthy with their political stances. Rage Against the Machine’s insanely embarrassing tribute video to the Colombian Narco-terrorist gang Shining Path is one case in point, while the war fetishism of many black metal bands, in so far as it is in earnest, at least indirectly point to some of the downsides of prosperity, boredom and consumerist decay. If you live by a friggin war-zone, neighboring the Islamic State, your observations about violence and some dangers connected to weaponized organized religion do gain at least 28% credibility. In a bizarre twist, the band’s take on Islam (as expressed in “New Gospel” and “Judgement Call”) would normally condemn them to a life on the far Right fringes of Western discourse, but as things stand their albums are distributed for free at pro-immigration demonstrations in Europe. Make of that what you will, we will make nothing of it at the moment.
While Middle Eastern extreme metal bands will always get a little extra attention simply because they are rare, and at least in some countries face especially difficult circumstances, in the end it is about the music. Dark Phantom deliver in that department, combining the right amount of melody with the right amount of brutal thrash and a strong taste of death metal, only rarely losing their way. Nation of Dogs is well worth a listen and, perhaps, a purchase.
http://archaictriad.com/2017/02/12/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs/
If you like your metal ultra-raw and super fast, you’re going to love Dark Phantom, Iraq’s first thrash band. Their backstory is as intense as their music. Started in 2007 as a way to express both their love of metal and their feelings about the shitty situation in their home city of Bagdhad, the band struggled to achieve their dreams as a result of the Iraq war, with members frequently having to go into hiding for their own safety. It took until 2016 for their pummeling, brutal debut Nation of Dogs to makes its debut. As a metal record, it slays. As a testament of the band’s will to survive, it is a powerful paean to the human spirit. Dark Phantom’s bio puts it best: “Music itself means life.”
https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/01/31/bandcamp-human-rights/
Dark Phantom's beginnings stretch back to 2007, though due to very unsealed political climate in Iraq, the band wouldn't make any headway until two years later. Their early musical endeavours were met with some hostility in their home country — or they would have been, had they been heard. In the band's own words, with regard to playing such music: "under an Al Queda controlled situation, death was a consequence." Still, Dark Phantom toiled, playing cover tunes at first, but eventually crafting their own sounds. Their first gig in their home city of Kirkuk in 2011 attracted a crowd, but also resulted in terror groups attacking the band's online community. In 2012, they underwent a major line up change as their vocalist and drummer left the band and sought work in other areas "for safety reasons". To say the journey from band formation to album release was a hard and dangerous undertaking would be an understatement. Against the odds and after years of determination, Dark Phantom finally released 'Nation of Dogs' — an album of hard-hitting, self-penned material at the end of 2016.
Following an intro, 'New Gospel' sets out Dark Phantom's musical stall in a particularly unsubtle manner. By forging ahead with hard, pneumatic riffs that mix the best thrash sounds with a heavy melodic death crunch, they instantly show their colours. Within a few bars, the rhythm section asserts its power even more, before things briefly slow down to introduce an equally huge groove metal riff. Two distinctly different styles, both played with aplomb, it doesn't take long at all before this Iraqi riff unit makes a real impact. With a contrast between a grinding, thrash riff and death metal infused vocal, some parallels with Burn The Priest can be drawn, but that's not to say Dark Phantom only ever settle upon copying others. The relentless riffery leaves the biggest impression during this opener —particularly when things slow down — but there's just enough of a hint of groove within the noise to suggest this album will feature a few genuinely killer tracks. Moving into the title track, things improve tenfold as Phantom deliver a mid paced, heavy riff that culls its influence from various old school metal bands and classic thrash cornerstones — there are big nods to Sepultura in the riff, with a faint nod to late 8os Anthrax in the way everything powers off of the drums. An aggressive, throaty growl taking root as lead vocal may be a little off putting to some, but a clean counter vocal is very welcome, while the melodic root of a screaming lead guitar solo belies the band's geographic origins. If you can make it past that lead vocal, this track should bring some solid metal thrills on all fronts. It's very different to `New Gospel' in most respects, but really helps to show how these guys are happy to take cues from a very broad range of metal.
...And so the open-minded approach carries through 'Judgement Call' — a defmite contender for best track — which leads with a melodic groove metal riff that's almost Megadeth-esque, before adding a clean vocal to carry an interesting verse. By the time the chorus hits, things heavy up considerably, adding more of a thrash base and Lamb of God style voice, but as with 'New Gospel' — even more so, in fact — the push and pull of the two styles is what makes it work so well. Throw in a hugely melodic solo with a distinctly Arabic flair against constantly solid drumming and it's a winner. Having built slowly upon their repertoire of sounds and influences, things start to level out by track four, but even so, 'Unholy Alliance' shows an adeptness for a heavy death-groove hybrid, while making a bigger feature of the bass. In terms of style it's great, particularly once a huge, sweeping solo takes hold —and by the track's second half, even the confronting vocal starts to appeal more than before...and certainly won't be an issue if you're a fan of either Lamb of God man Randy Blythe or Gojira's Joe Duplantier.
`Atmosphere' powers with some tried and tested thrash techniques, adding another superb riff to the album, shifting between the fast and slow(ish) throughout; without broadening any previous musical ideas, this number sustains interest through sheer tightness and a heavy chug. 'State of War', meanwhile, teases with a superb bass riff before settling into another Sepultura styled breakdown, only this time to be somewhat marred by a death metal vocal. An unexpected clean rock voice carries a counter melody during a pointed hook and eventually everything comes together, but it's certainly a track where the riff is the best feature. Proving they're nowhere near running out of steam near the album's end, 'Confess' throws a sledgehammer riff of the Machine Head school against a melodic death vocal and some shrill leads. More so than ever, the presence of cutting lead guitar helps carry this skull-pounder to victory...and with more melodic death heaviness, everything's in and out in just over three minutes without any unnecessary flabbiness.
Naturally, some tracks work better than others, but the lion's share of the material on 'Nation of Dogs' presents compositions that are both musically impressive and lyrically thoughtful. The band doesn't always strive for originality, but with power and intellect on their side, Dark Phantom are still on their way to reaching their target audience with a very solid outing.
http://www.realgonerocks.com/2017/01/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs/
Oltre alla soddisfazione nel trattare le opere di gruppi che nell’ambiente metallico sono delle icone, il bello di operare all’interno di una webzine è l’incontro con entità provenienti da paesi, in teoria, al di fuori della consueta scena musicale, soprattutto se parliamo di Iraq e l’abbiniamo al metal.
Così, solo come ascoltatore non avrei mai potuto conoscere i Dark Phantom, ed invece eccomi a raccontare a voi il primo full length di questo gruppo proveniente da Kirkuk, non proprio il luogo ideale per dei ragazzi con la passione del metal, il talento per suonarlo e il sicuro potenziale per imporsi.
Nella loro carriera troviamo un primo ep nel 2013 (Beta) e il debutto sulla lunga distanza dopo tre anni, ben spesi direi, visto la qualità di Nation Of Dogs, un album di thrash metal con atmosfere a tratti prese in prestito dalla musica popolare della loro terra per un risultato molto interessante.
Mezz’ora basta e avanza per il gruppo, che convince su tutta la linea dal thrash che si alimenta di death metal nel growl profondo del singer Mir, mentre le soluzioni arabeggianti più marcate nella title track e nella splendida Judgement Call, non fanno che lasciare una sensazione di maturità e personalità elevatissima da parte del combo.
Pensate al sound di Slayer e Testament più death oriented, ricamati dalla musica popolare che dà al tutto un tocco progressivo, ed avrete in mano la musica degli iracheni Dark Phantom: la band poi ci inserisce cavalcate di thrash metal old school e ne escono dieci brani che hanno il pregio di non risultare prolissi, sempre impostati come terribili fendenti, vari nella struttura, sorprendenti per la già ottima amalgama tra le influenze, e non così facile da proporre con una tale intensità.
Nation Of Dogs non vive del riflesso dei due brani menzionati ma risulta un ottimo lavoro nel suo insieme, con almeno altre due tracce che centrano il bersaglio, le devastanti O!Holocaust, una marcia metallica dal coro in clean arabeggiante e la conclusiva State Of War.
Solo complimenti per il gruppo iracheno e, anche se si può sempre far di meglio, il loro debutto si può già definire un album di culto, in bocca al lupo da MetalEyes.
http://metaleyes.iyezine.com/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs/
-Που είχαμε μείνει χθες στο μάθημα γεωγραφίας; Α, ναι. Στις χώρες τις Ασίας. Για να δούμε τι ξέρετε για τη χώρα του Ιράκ. Ναι Κωστάκη;
-Η πρωτεύουσα της είναι η Βαγδάτη.
-Πολύ σωστά. Αννούλα;
-Το 2003 ενωμένες δυνάμεις της Δύσης εισέβαλαν στη χώρα για να ρίξουν τον Σαντάμ Χουσεΐν.
-Πάρα πολύ ωραία. Γιωργάκη;
-Από εκεί προέρχονται οι Dark Phantom.
-Ορίστε; Ποιοι;
-Οι Dark Phantom, κυρία. Death Metal συγκρότημα από την πόλη του Κιρκούκ. Ιδρύθηκαν το 2007 και μέχρι το 2011 πραγματοποιούσαν ζωντανές εμφανίσεις στη χώρα με μεγάλη επιτυχία, αλλά το 2012 αναγκάστηκαν να σταματήσουν τις δραστηριότητες τους, καθώς τρομοκρατικές ομάδες τους απείλησαν να σταματήσουν. Δύο από τα μέλη της μπάντας, μάλιστα, παραιτήθηκαν εξαιτίας αυτού. Το 2013 όμως άρχισαν και πάλι τις εμφανίσεις, ενώ πέρσι κυκλοφόρησαν τον πρώτο τους δίσκο, με τίτλο “Nation of Dogs”, που είχαν αρχίσει να γράφουν από το 2009.
-Ευχαριστούμε Γιωργάκη, αλλά αυτά δεν έχουν σχέση με το μάθημα μας.
-Συγγνώμη κυρία αλλά δεν τελείωσα. Σας διακόπτω εγώ ποτέ; Ε;
-Εμ, οοοχι…
-Πολύ ωραία. Έλεγα λοιπόν ότι ο πρώτος δίσκος κυκλοφόρησε πέρσι, ενώ τώρα βγαίνει επίσημα από την Satanath Records. Αποτελείται από 9 τραγούδια κι ένα μικρό εισαγωγικό, που έχει ανατολίτικες μελωδίες. Τα υπόλοιπα κομμάτια είναι κινούνται ξεκάθαρα σε Death Metal ρυθμούς, με κάποια από αυτά να έχουν και πιο γρήγορες στιγμές, με στοιχεία Thrash. Πραγματικά κυρία μιλάμε για έντονες και συμπαγείς συνθέσεις που σε κάνουν να χτυπιέσαι δυνατά. Και ανάμεσα στο γρήγορο και επιθετικό παίξιμό τους, έχουν και πολλές τεχνικές στιγμές, κυρίως στα solo της κιθάρας, τα οποία πολλές είναι εντελώς thrashάτα.
-Γιωργάκη να σε ρωτήσω κάτι; Ο μπαμπάς σου ξέρει ότι ακούς τέτοια πράγματα;
-Φυσικά κυρία. Μαζί τα ακούμε.
-Α. Ωραία…
-Ναι ναι. Πάντως, πέρα από τη γρηγοράδα και την ένταση, ο δίσκος έχει και πιο αργές και μελωδικές στιγμές, όπου πέφτουν για λίγο οι εντάσεις. Και οι Ιρακινοί έχουν καταφέρει να ταιριάξουν πολύ ωραία αυτές τις αργές στιγμές, με την υπόλοιπη μουσική τους, ειδικά όταν αυτές είναι ιδιαίτερα αργές, περνώντας έστω και για λίγο από το χώρο του Doom. Γενικά θα έλεγα πως ο πρώτος δίσκος των Dark Phantom είναι μια αξιόλογη προσπάθεια στο χώρο του Death, με πραγματικά δυνατές συνθέσεις, πλαισιωμένες με μια φοβερή παραγωγή. Βαριές κιθάρες, ωραία riffs και solos, επιθετική μουσική, καταιγιστικά τύμπανα και ωραίες μελωδίες είναι τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά του δίσκου, ένας δίσκος κι ένα συγκρότημα που πραγματικά αξίζουν να γίνουν γνωστοί σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο, καθώς είναι σίγουρο πως έχουν πολλά να προφέρουν. Τώρα τελείωσα.
-Μάλιστα. Θα έλεγα να έρθεις αύριο με τον πατέρα σου, αλλά δεν νομίζω να έχει νόημα. Βγείτε διάλειμμα, δεν νιώθω καλά.
https://rockoverdose.gr/portfolio-view/dark-phantom-nation-dogs/
Von Musik-Journalisten wird ja bezüglich der Bewertung neuer Alben in erster Linie Objektivität erwartet. Diese lass ich bei Dark Phantom aber zunächst außen vor – denn diese Band kommt aus dem Irak und hat auch hier ihr Erstlingswerk „Nation of Dogs“ aufgenommen - und zwar im Schlafzimmer des Schlagzeugers! Der Irak ist wohlgemerkt ein Land, welches nach der völlig missglückten Befreiung aus einer Diktatur durch westliche Militär - bzw. Finanzbündnisse, nun mit noch viel größeren Problemen zu kämpfen hat. Stark muslimisch geprägt gilt Heavy Metal hier noch immer als Teufelsmusik und die paar Musiker, die sich wagen, Leib und Leben zu riskieren, um ihren Traum zu leben, stehen als Satanisten unter permanenter Lebensgefahr. Ich frage mich, wie viele ganz böse Black oder Death Metal Bands aus unseren „ach so schlechten“ Gesellschaften an Ihren Ansichten festhalten würden, wenn Sie in einem totalitären System permanent Gefahr laufen würden, für ihre Gesinnung ohne ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeiten ermordet zu werden. Hut ab vor dem Mut dieser fünf jungen Iraker!
Doch nun zurück zur Objektivität: „Nation of Dogs“ braucht sich aufgrund Herkunft und widriger Produktionsstandards keinesfalls hinter westlichen Veröffentlichungen zu verstecken: Dark Phantom beweisen großes Talent für gutes Songwriting und liefern auf ihrem Debut eine abwechslungsreiche Mischung aus Death – und Thrash Metal. Sänger Mir growlt amtlich, spielt sein ganzes Können aber insbesondere in den cleanen Gesangsparts aus. Die Arbeit der beiden Gitarristen Murad und Rebeen stellt jedoch das eigentliche I-Tüpfelchen dieses Albums dar: Lange, perfekt arrangierte Soli wechseln sich mit orientalischen Harmonien und Spannungsbögen ab. Unterlegt werden diese von messerscharfen Riffs mit glasklarem Sound. Spitze!
Ich hoffe sehr, dass Dark Phantom irgendwann die Chance bekommen werden, ein Album zusammen mit einer finanzkräftigen Plattenfirma und einem Profi-Produzenten aufzunehmen. Dann können sich viele etablierte Acts warm anziehen...
http://www.zephyrs-odem.de/cd-reviews/detail/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs-2016-6566/#.WN7bPdLyjIV
Dark Phantom fra Kirkuk i Irak startet opp som band i 2008 og begynte å øve. På tross av de åpenbare farene dette medførte i et land som Iran, så var kjærligheten til metall musikk større enn frykten for represalier fra myndighetenes side. Døden i forskjellige voldelige varianter var den naturlig konsekvens av å bli pågrepet i å spille metall i et Al Qaida kontrollert område. Dette var en uholdbar situasjon. Som en avledningsmanøver begynte Dark Phantom tilsynelatende å spille «ufarlige» coverlåter. I virkeligheten så fyrte bandet på alle sylindre, og komponerte metall låter og utviklet seg som musikere. Musikerne hadde virkelig tro på at musikk deres i seg selv var et ekte utrykk for håp, lengsler etter et fritt, verdi og trygt liv.
Etter en utrolig mengde viderverdigheter og motgang klarte Irakerne 8 mai i fjor å omsider å få ut sin første skive, «Nation Of Dogs». Det var ei skive som finansielt og moralsk var understøttet av venner og andre sympatisører i Europa og USA. Noe støtte kom også fra eget land, men derfra kom det mest beskyldninger om satanisme. Beskyldninger om å bringe en satan kultur til Irak, noe som overhodet ikke var tilfelle. Det bare understreket mange av landsmennenes totale mangel på forståelse for hva Dark Phantom i virkeligheten holder på med!
Virkeligheten er at lyrikken i all hovedsak handler om politiets krig mot egne innbyggere og religiøs korrupsjon. Det er en forholdsvis liten scene med metall musikere i Irak, men de støtter hverandre etter beste evne. Planene vider for Dark Phantom er et nytt album. Drømmen er at den skiva skal være spilt inn i profesjonelt studio, og også å kunne spille konserter for å presentere bandet. Et band som til de grader har en lyrikk de brenner for og som virkelig har et viktig budskap.
Talsmannen for bandet Murad Jaymz er en reflektert person! Han sier blant annet at metall musikk er en viktig ingrediens for å lindre den smerten og avmakten han føler overfor situasjonen i hjemlandet. Ved å skrive om trakassering, krig, brutalitet og det øvrige av grove overgrep som nok er svært vanskelig for oss fra vesten å sette oss inn i, får han en kanal hvor han kan få utløp for de følelsene han har. Følelser som knapt pop, jazz eller annen musikk kunne ha fanget opp. For å uttrykke seg på en riktig måte så duger bare en sjanger. Metall!!!!
Av artister som kvintetten liker og som har inspirert dem så nevner de Metallica, Sodom, Death, Megadeth , Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Kreator, Slayer, Testament, Exodus, Destruction, Havok, Death Angel, og Supeltura.
http://permafrost.today/2017/03/27/nar-bare-metall-duger/
"Ćao, mi smo "Dark Phantom" iz Iraka i već deset godina razbijamo tabue u svojoj domovini". Cenim da bi ovo bio odličan način da se ovaj bliskoistočni death/thrash kvintet predstavi svetskom auditorijumu. Samo bavljenje takvom vrstom muzike u tom delu sveta je uspeh sam po sebi. "Nation of Dogs" nije ni po čemu izdanje koje biste izdvojili kao jedno od najboljih iz 2016. godine, ali opet ima neki šmek zbog kog drži pažnju. Pojedine deonice zvuče kao nešto što bi i kanadski "Aeternam" ukomporirali u svoju muziku. Vredi preslušati barem nekoliko puta.
http://ciklonizacija.blogspot.ru/2017/03/sa-druge-strane-globusa-2.html
I thought I’d start with Dark Phantom as they are a band that deserve the utmost respect from Metalheads all over the world. Many bands have a variety of hurdles to overcome, but playing Metal in worn torn Iraq, specifically in Kirkuk, with the threat of reprisals from terror groups, man, that takes a lot of balls.
The band lost a couple of members through fears for their own safety, but they persevered and here we have Nation Of Dogs. A debut album they can be very proud of.
The mainstay of the album is a Death / Thrash hybrid. And you wouldn’t really know of the bands origins most of the time as they fit in very nicely with their Western counterparts. But every now and then, they show their roots and the Middle Eastern flavours elevate this album to new heights.
I understand the band wanting to just be a Metal band, but the home-grown flavours they can incorporate are almost unique in Metal, and I’d love to hear more of this style in the future.
Even without the hardships the band have endured, this is a really good album. But once you hear the backstory of what they went through to create such a fine body of work, then it’s nothing short of a masterpiece.
https://beneaththesurfacemagazine.com/2017/03/24/five-for-friday-ii/
Prendetemi per pazzo, ma è esaltante che arrivi nella casella mail nel cuore del Sud Italia la musica di un gruppo iracheno, tramite un'etichetta bielorussa. Sì, il metal fa ancora miracoli e mette un dito su per le chiappe al clima di guerra presente in Medioriente. I Dark Phantom debuttano con rabbia e bava alla bocca, e -ancora una volta- il risultato non è disprezzabile. Il growl è un po' fuori luogo, è vero, ma sarebbe stato molto peggio un classico scream thrash. Almeno non si rinuncia a una certa personalità. Qualche melodia tipica di quelle zone alle chitarre è presente qua e là, così come una voce pulita che fa molto System of A Down. Come per gli indiani Chaos, di cui ho parlato in un'altra occasione, sono le parti in cui si spinge di più ad essere migliori ("Confess"). Con un pizzico di varietà in più alla batteria (la title track sarebbe stata ottima con un altro approccio) e esperienza nella scrittura dei pezzi, ancora un po' primitiva, si possono avere delle soddisfazioni che vanno oltre l'ambito musicale. Metal vincit omnia, giusto? 'Nation of Dogs' (Symbol of Domination) lo dedico a tutti i gruppi italiani che si perdono in piagnistei senza fine.
Existem certas coisas que não conseguimos controlar. A curiosidade mórbida é uma delas. E neste caso não nos estamos referir a quando vemos uma fila na auto-estrada, procuramos (e lutamos para não procurar) por sangue no alcatrão. Quando temos uma banda do Iraque como é o caso dos Dark Phantom, há algo de nós que levanta logo as orelhas e mostra-se imediatamente interessado. Com a abrangência da cena metal hoje em dia e com o seu constante crescimento, provavelmente daqui a uns anos só uma banda marciana nos consegue cativar, mas isso são outros tantos. Os Dark Phantom tocam uma mistura de death e thrash metal e fazem-no com uma qualidade surpreendente. Calma, não é o álbum do ano (até porque foi lançado em 2016) nem é revolucionário. Mas é bom e quem gosta desta mistura principalmente quando a mesma finca os pés no death metal, então gostará de "Nation Of Dogs" - por falar em curiosidade... a quem se refirará o título? (F.F.)
http://radiowom.blogspot.ru/2017/05/world-of-metal-magazine-4-out-now-ja.html
Ich schaue ja gerne mal über den Tellerrand und heute ist es mal wieder so weit. Mit Dark Phantom gibt es heute niemand geringeres als die erste Thrash Metal Band aus Kirkuk (Irak) auf die Lauscher. Metal aus dieser Region verdient schon allein deswegen meinen tiefsten Respekt, denn wer sich trotz Todesstrafe der Satansmusik verschreibt, steht entweder mit ganzen Herzen dahinter oder ist lebensmüde. Wenn man sich die Musik auf ihrem Debüt „Nation of Dogs“ anhört, dürfte es wohl eher Ersteres sein.
Nach einem orientalischen Intro („Dark Ages„) gehen die Jungs auch gleich in die Vollen. Wuchtiger und knüppelnder Death Metal trifft auf furiosen Thrash und heizt ordentlich ein. Mal überwiegt der donnernde Death-Anteil wie im rasenden „New Gospel„, mal setzt sich der melodische und groovende Thrash durch (siehe Titelsong). Immer wieder wird mit dem tempo gespielt, mal angezogen, mal eine melodische Pause eingelegt kurz darauf wird der Song mit stampfendem Groove nach vorne getrieben. Immer wieder schleichen sich filigrane Riffs und Soli in den Vordergrund und nehmen die Aufmerksamkeit des Hörers in Anspruch, bevor die Vocals wieder das Ruder an sich reißen. Diese zeigen sich meist sehr harsch und brachial. Tiefe, aggressive Growls dominieren das Bild und machen ihrem Ärger Luft. Nachdem 2014 sowohl der Sänger als auch der Drummer ausgestiegen sind, bildet „Nation of Dogs“ einen quasi Neuanfang und bei der Performance ist der sicher nicht zum Schlechteren. Die durch und durch starken Growls werden immer wieder in den Refrains durch mehrstimmigen Klargesang abgelöst, der zwar sehr melodisch daher kommt, an der Kraft allerdings noch etwas mangelt. Auf einem Debüt lässt sich da aber nochmal drüber hinwegsehen, zumal sie doch eher sporadisch zum Einsatz kommen. Ansonsten liefern die Jungs eine durchweg solide Leistung ab, sowohl an den Instrumenten als auch am Mikro.
„Nation of Dogs“ ist das Debüt einer Band, die es allen Schwierigkeiten zum Trotz nicht aufgegeben haben ihrer Leidenschaft nachzugehen. Mit schwerem, ruppigen Death Metal, der auf sehr groovigen, melodischen Thrash Metal trifft liefern Dark Phantom schonmal ein dickes Ausrufezeichen das nicht nur einmal den Kopf zum ordentlich mitnicken bringt und Heißhunger auf mehr macht. Death-Heads aufgepasst!
https://metalviewer.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs/
Of all the places in the world, this band comes form Iraq! Metal is a music without borders, without nationalities, without color... DARK PHANTOM plays a brand of melodic Death / Thrash Metal, which is quite similar to later SEPULTURA or ARCH ENEMY. The production is quite good, if maybe it still could have been a bit clearer, I think the dirtier sound adds a touch of their own. Also I can appreciate the fact that they do play every song with quite different speed tempos, yet the band seems to be more comfortable with the tempos of more “groove”. The use of clear vocals in the song 'Nation Of Dogs' with a heavy oriental accent adds the exotic flavor quite in a very interesting way. Sometimes the overall aura of this album reminds me of MORGOTH’s “Odium” although with a more Thrash / groove sound, but it will give you an idea. For a debut album, and from the place they come form, it is a very interesting effort. The band surely knows how to do simple yet effective riffs. I am not so much a fan of the groove kind of Metal they use in some songs, yet in this case, and as the band uses a lot of Death / Thrash sounds, it is quite enjoyable.
http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Albums-EPs-Demos/D/DARK-PHANTOM--11150.html
I don’t think I have ever heard an Iraqi death metal band. Not that geography matters but because it is a pretty totalitarian society that doesn’t allow such an expression as upsetting as extreme metal. But today you can access metal much easier than back in the 80s when I first got into it. So it no wonder that there are metal bands in the middle East too. And this is some pretty cool death metal. It is modern in sound but never losing touch with all that makes death metal cool. There is a melodic sense to this that sits perfect with the more aggressive. This makes me at times think Arch Enemy. And that is not too shabby a reference.
http://battlehelm.com/reviews/38903/
Ого, иракский трэш-дэт, сам удивился. Но факт есть факт. Dark Phantom выступает здесь с дебютным полноформатом, а ранее была выпущена эпишка - в 2013 году. Между прочим, здесь на этом диске мы наблюдаем плодотворное сотрудничество с финской конторой United By Chaos.
Можно ли было обойтись без этого слегка фолкового вступления - интро? Нет, конечно. Но сразу за ним повалил суровый дэто-треш, жестокий, прямолинейный с проявленной линией соло-гитары, я и не говорю про ритм-секцию — все здесь нормально — как полагается. Уже во втором же траке музыканты (а это полноценная группа — пять человек, в возрасте уже, не мальчики) работают интенсивно и вдохновенно, у них получается поймать дух стиля и соответственно музицировать. Вокалист Dark Phantom красиво харшит, с полной отдачей, и вовлечением в трековое пространство.
Видно, что ребята давно играют в этой стилистике, и изучили ее основательно. Потому трак за траком мы получаем итоговый результат по их видению стилистики, иногда более дэтового, иногда более трешевого. А вот иногда и с включениями чистых вокалов — интересные паверные куски. Эти музыканты могут удивлять, оказывается. И упомянутые соляки - не такое редкое явление на этом диске, они даже могут позволить говорить о мело-дэтовом наполнении. Не иначе... в любом случае формация, ее композер отказался от шаблонных форм и заготовок, а демонстрирует свою неограниченную музыкальную фантазию.
А в траке Judgement Call чистый вокал даже начинает компо, явно так линкуя к павер-трешу прогового разлива. Керосина в этот лирический костерок подливает вокалист, которые свой сухой харш заделывает так низко, что понятно - мы имеем дело с дэто-трешем ))).
И ведь позднее, в ином ракурсе, но в в таком же стилистическом направлении решена компо 6, атмосферно, с применением мощного вокала, а потом вкл паверные чистые вокалы. И это все сотворено органично, и можно сказать, что и круто. Фактаж уже позволяет сделать выводы и добавить новых тегов в описание группы Dark Phantom. Могу успокоить любителей брутализма, в целом, что естественно для своего основного муз.направления, группа создает по-настоящему мрачную и агрессивную динамику. Как и полагается в дэто-треше.
Формация использует небольшие временные рамки - около 4 минут, что позволяет ей и высказаться по определенному музыкальному поводу, и быть не надоедливой в развитии темы. Многие спросят, сильно ли ребята зарубались на своей традиционной музыке. Могу сказать, что музыканты создавали дэто-треш-павер метал (я сказал это!!!), а не фолк-дэто-треш. Для меня это - показатель.
В компакт затрамбован 12-страничный буклет с текстами.
https://vk.com/wall216331265_2872
Muzica rock și metal este în general acceptată de societate și chiar intrată în mainstream aproape peste tot în lume, cu câteva excepții. În unele țări musulmane cum ar fi Irakul, metalul este considerat o muzică satanistă ai cărei adepți sunt marginalizați și, în unele cazuri, le este pusă în pericol chiar viața.
Dark Phanton este o trupă de thrash/death irakiană, înființată în 2007 în orașul Kirkuk. Din cauza condițiilor nefavorabile (bombardamente, atentate, sau chiar amenințări cu moartea), Dark Phantom compune primele piese abia în 2009 și susține primul concert abia în 2011. Albumul lor de debut, Nation of Dogs, este lansat în 2016 de Satanath Records în colaborare cu United by Chaos și poate fi ascultat mai jos.
Dark Phantom continuă să repete și să compună piese noi și speră ca într-o zi să își poată împlini visul de a își putea cânta muzica în fața fanilor, fie din Irak, fie din alte țări ale lumii.
http://www.metalfan.ro/stiri-rock/dark-phantom-sau-thrash-metal-ul-ca-arma-de-rezisten-a-16750.html
Unul dintre acele lucruri pe care mă țin aproape de metal, este faptul că acest gen muzical niciodată nu încetează să mă surprindă. Fie că descopăr o trupă veche, care abia acum mi-a ajuns la urechi; fie că sunt pe aceeași lungime de undă cu un nou val inovator; fie că reușesc să văd pe viu formații pe care cu 10-15 ani în urmă nici prin gând nu îmi trecea că aș putea face asta în această viață; sau fie că ceea ce știam deja îmi stârnesc cele mai frumoase trăiri, sentimente, amintiri. Iar faptul că astăzi am ajuns să descopăr o trupă metal a cărei țară de proveniență este Irak, e ceva ce, evident, mă ține activ alături de fenomenul metal, adică de lucrul ăla care m-a făcut ca în prezent să fiu ceea ce sunt ca om!
Kirkuk este orașul natal al celor de la Dark Phantom, iar înființarea propriuzisa a trupei a avut loc în 2007. Băieții bagă un heavy/thrash/death foarte corect executat, în forță, cu multă energie, cu tot tacâmul, însă, deși există o mică doză de originalitate, pot spune că ceea ce se aude pe Nation Of Dogs (2016) am auzit în foarte multe cazuri. În pofida acestui lucru, producția este una foarte bună, cu un sunet excelent. Desigur, e loc și de mai bine, însă chiar și așa avem parte de un album care oferă condiții foarte bune spre a fi ascultat. Muzical vorbind, cel mai mult îmi plac solourile de chitară - capitol la care irakenii stau formidabil. În plus, vocile supărate alternează în multe momente cu cele clean, în stilul Serj Tankian, dând albumului o aură mai orientală - adică acel strop care face din Dark Phantom să nu sune fix precum acele trupe influente din occident. Din punct de vedere instrumental, ne dăm seama foarte rapid că nu avem de-a face cu niște amatori, ci cu niște oameni care acordă o foarte mare importanță acestei pasiuni. Am și piese preferate: Nation Of Dogs - care poate fi considerat un veritabil hit al albumului, O! Holocaust și On Brink Of Terror.
În altă ordine de idei, nu trebuie să ne uităm la Dark Phantom ca la ceva excentric (ar fi și culmea, fiind la rândul nostru nimic altceva decât români), deoarece muzica lor ne arată că, indiferent locul în care te afli, de etnie, orientare sexuală, religie etc, arta poate atinge niște cote înalte dacă e făcută așa cum trebuie. Dark Phantom fiind la rându-i o trupă care merită toată atenția noastră, în primul rând pentru ceea ce oferă: muzică de o foarte bună calitate. Restul sunt can canuri.
Formazione bielorussa dedita ad un thrash/death , questa formazione ha critica di fondo e armi affilate per competere nel genere. L’intro “Dark ages” ha un sapore mediorientale, pochi secondi di quiete prima della tempesta iniziale con il brano “new gospel”, un up tempo thrash metal, riffing della scuola bay area si seguono mentre un growl profondo erompe selvaggio, il solos è melodico e breve e s’incastra a dovere. La titletrack è potente, un mid tempo roccioso, sembra una versione più agguerrita dei Kreator, un brano di forte critica, il brano poi accellera all’improvviso in un up tempo thrash e arrivano voci pulite che dovrebbero dare più enfasi al brano ma purtroppo non hanno la profondità necessaria, ci vorrebbe uno screamer di razza per bilanciare l’urto, il solos anche qui è ben fatto. “Judgement call” è possente, riffing duri si uniscono ad un cantato pulito che dovrebbe essere enfatizzato ma non ha mordente, cosa che invece il growl ha dalla sua, un’aggressività potente che al brano in questione serve; il brano poi muta ina cavalcata thrash prima del solo.
“Unholy alliace” è un brano aggressivo, un mid tempo fatto da chitarre compresse, e growl death metal, controtempi di batteria fanno capire che la formazione ha anche discrete doti tecniche e non sa solo pestare. “O! holocaust” è un pezzo che ricorda umori megadethiani, chitarre che fanno presagire un’apocalisse in corso, lenta marcia con la batteria che in doppia cassa procede inesorabile, anche qua si prosegue con il doppio cantato pulito/growl ma manca di profondità e pathos. La conclusiva “State of war” è veloce, diretta, un bulldozer thrash/death che non lascia scampo, un brano che a metà si trasforma in un mid tempo che stimola l’headbanging prima del solos melodico e thrashy. Un discreto disco, che pecca in due cose: una produzione che dovrebbe esaltarne di più le chitarre e renderle al meglio, e una voce pulita che dovrebbe avere maggior enfasi e aggressività per la musica trattata.
http://giornalemetal.blogspot.ru/2017/08/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs.html
Global Metal, documentarul lui Sam Dunn din 2008 e probabil cel mai frumos film făcut vreodată despre heavy metal (nu sunt oricum foarte multe) și asta deoarece prezintă metalul ca un fenomen capabil să treacă peste granițe culturale, lingvistice, religioase etc., ca un mijloc de exprimare artistică aflat la îndemâna tuturor tinerilor revoltați ale căror ambiții muzicale nu se reduc la două platane și un microfon. Tocmai despre această accesibilitate universală a metalului vorbește și Murad Khalid, chitaristul Dark Phantom, într-un text apărut pe Noisey, unde explică printre altele cum i-a schimbat Metallica viața. „Cântau despre război – spune Murad acolo – și asta era și situația noastră.” „Prin intermediul metalului – adăugă el – pot explica situația noastră. Nu pot s-o fac prin intermediul muzicii folk, deoarece în folk e vorba despre dragoste. Dar aici nu există dragoste, există doar război.”
Aici înseamnă Irak. Nu vreau să reiau povestea Dark Phantom – poate fi citită pe pagina Facebook a trupei – dar ea ar trebui să fie o sursă de inspirație pentru orice muzician care a avut norocul să se nască într-o zonă mai pașnică a lumii. Simplu spus, dacă pentru alții e greu (costisitor, obositor) să cânte metal, pentru membrii Dark Phantom e periculos. Așa că, atunci când Murad spune că Metallica i-a schimbat viața, afirmația are o anume greutate.
Din același motiv, e imposibil să nu contextualizezi muzica și textele pieselor de pe Nation of Dogs. Versurile Religion is a lie / Religion is fear (v. New Gospel) ar suna de exemplu ca un clișeu în Occident – printre altele deoarece chiar sunt un clișeu – dar ele au o pondere complet diferită într-o situație politico-religioasă ca cea din Irak. În ce privește muzica, trebuie apreciat, cred, efortul formației de a înregistra un album thrash-death direct și corect, fără exotisme, înflorituri folclorice și ornamente orientaliste. Dark Phantom a ales așadar calea mai dificilă. E drept că Nation Of Dogs începe cu un intro oriental (intitulat Dark Ages), respectiv că pe ici pe colo mai apar astfel de elemente (de exemplu în O! Holocaust), dar ele joacă totuși un rol marginal. În treacăt fie zis, nu am reușit să-mi dau seama despre ce e O! Holocaust. E oricum una dintre cele mai bune piese de pe LP, cu stilul ei orientat spre heavy metalul clasic, spre Iron Maiden. Judgement Call e tot un cântec ceva mai melodios, dar celelalte șapte sunt thrash teuton autentic, chiar dacă stilul vocal al lui Mir le trage uneori spre death.
Dark Phantom a mai avut un EP (intitulat Beta) în 2013, dar Nation of Dogs este până acum singurul album al trupei. Date fiind cele de mai sus, aș fi fost oricum înclinat să-l notez cu indulgență, dar punctele din oficiu nu sunt, har Domnului, necesare. Nation of Dogs ar fi un LP de 8 / 10 indiferent în ce parte a lumii și în ce condiții ar fi apărut.
http://www.metalfan.ro/albume/nation-of-dogs-4948.html
Banda cheia de sangue nos olhos no seu death/thrash metal visceral, odioso, desesperado, fora de controle, mas com muita ambição e profissionalismo na produção.
Os riffs de guitarra são mais calcados no Thrash Metal, em muitas partes com melodias de heavy metal tradicional que lembra muitas coisas de bandas como o Judas Priest, e solos com influência do Iron Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen, Scorpions, entre outros grandes mestres dos primórdios do metal, mas o vocal é absurdamente gutural para fãs de Malevolent Creation, Monstrosity, Vader, os trabalhos de guitarra são um dos maiores destaques desse opus.
As influências musicais do oriente médio também marcam presença por aqui, fato curioso a banda ser do Iraque, uma agradável surpresa musical vinda do oriente médio, cada vez mais bandas vem surpreendendo nossos ouvidos ocidentais, os vocais limpos no estilo Nevermore deixam a cara oriental do álbum mais evidente.
https://questoeseargumentos.blogspot.com/2018/06/resenha-dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs.html
Kirkuk, Iraq isn't necessarily a place where you'd expect to see Metal bands come from. Well, since Metal music knows no boundaries and Heavy Metal unites nations all over the world, anything's possible.
Anyways, this Death/Thrash Metal band released their debut album only digitally in May 2016. It is now also available on CD thanks to a joint venture by Belarus label Symbol of Domination Prod.'s and Finnish United by Chaos.
Ten songs of a mix of Death and Thrash Metal are offered on Dark Phantom's debut full-length, titled Nation of Dogs. This Iraqi bunch plays their relatively technical Death/Thrash Metal well. The music is often melodic and really offers something refreshing compared to many of today's extreme Metal bands that have chosen to deliver the goods in the murkiest way possible. Mir's death grunts are impressive – reminding me of Ross Dolan of Immolation here and there – while the occasional clean vocal parts are thrown in, which don't fit the album at all. The album would be way better off without them. Fortunately, the band's excellent musicianship makes you forget about those badly sung clean vocals quickly.
https://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=10502
Desde Irak (!!!!!!!!!) llegan este larga duración debut de Dark Phantom, producción que por los cuatro costados huele a producción independiente hecha con el corazón. Aun cuando fue editada originalmente en 2016, aquí tenemos la muy buena edición del sello SOD.
Lo que sale de los parlantes es liso y llano death/thrash, con algunos cortes autóctonos, que no dan vueltas y suenan como tiene que sonar: melodiosos pero directos.
Al buen trabajo de las guitarras se le agrega el mérito de haber explorado los tiempos de las canciones folclóricas del Medio Este, logrando una especie de “death / thrash neo folklore de Mesopotamia” (?), dando como resultado un ejercicio de cómo se puede dar al metal más extremo un aire a un sonido que le es completamente ajeno, como ser las melodías típicas de los países de aquellas latitudes.
La mejor muestra del potencial que la banda brinda está en la primera mitad del disco, con esas rítmicas vocales con aire folclórico: son simples, toscas, pero son muy efectivas, entre punteos, arpegios, y una base cadenciosa. En este punto la banda llega a una originalidad inusitada, y lo que se escucha es una banda completa, no un ejercicio de metal extremo.
Por último, los contrapuntos vocales (gutural/limpio) no hacen más que engordar el excelente producto final.
Recomendado.
https://rockarollazine.blogspot.com/2019/01/dark-phantom-nation-of-dogs-2016-symbol.html
This album was my blind pick to write this review. I did not make any research about the band before I pressed a play button on my hi-fi and it was good idea to do so. While the album was playing the strange vibe of music has started to become dense. I realized it did not sounded much like European or American kind of metal and I could not wait anymore and checked out about the band. I do not know about that but Dark Phantom claims to be one of the first thrash metal Iraqi band.
What I like about this album is how it works guitar wise which is their way of thrash metal. There are some riffs that are significant to atmosphere of that native culture and region which gives music pretty unique style and climax. It is even more showcased in clean and very original vocals they put here. So, with aggressive and little melodic music approach I got good taste of thrash and death metal that sound a bit differently than other records I used to play on daily basis.
The things I am not so much into are death metal vocals which are very average and monotonic. I think this album would be a way better if there were only those clean vocals I mentioned before.
The drums sounds pretty the same. It has repeatable beats that totally lacks of any changes in style of drumming which thrash metal is and should be known for.
Nation Of Dogs have good guitar parts and solos. It also has interesting clean singing and few catchy moments and songs (2, 3, 4, 8, 10) when they try to gain little of your faith in their music. But towards everything else that is happening on the album I blow hundreds of question marks asking them, is this the way of doing it best you can?...