Phantom - Transylvanian Nightmare [EP] (2024)

4.5★

Last year, when PHANTOM released their debut LP Handed to Execution, I was quite blown away. Ironically, despite being from Mexico, I wasn’t really aware of this new wave of thrash coming over us all, but once I heard PHANTOM, I was hooked. They’re reminiscent of the more extreme ‘80s thrash bands like Kreator or Dark Angel, taking obvious influence while still writing original material, but it’s with this new EP that I think they’ve written some of their best stuff. While very short – only 4 songs spanning 18 minutes –, the amount of riffs and evil melodies they pack into this thing is crazy. J.C. García’s vocals are totally unholy, bordering on death/thrash territory, but keeping enough diction to be palatable to the average thrash fan. The guitars are ripping, the drums and bass are monstrous, and in the end, I think I’ll be spinning this EP for a very, very long time.

FAVORITE TRACKS: “Transylvanian Nightmare,” “From the Abyss”

FOR FANS OF: Deathhammer, Kreator, Cruel Force

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Originally published in Aug. '24 (Issue No. 4)