Phantasma – The Deviant Hearts

album by:
Phantasma
Version:
mp3
Price:
£13.99

Reviewed by:
Rating:
5
On 12 November 2015
Last modified:12 November 2015

Summary:

The Deviant Hearts is a concept album of sorts, and is story driven with each track giving you a piece of the story, those of you lucky enough to get the Earbook edition with also get treated to an audio-book read by Charlotte Wessels. Overall I have to give it full marks, it’s an interesting concept and it’s executed beautifully with so many layers to it from all the different contributors. It really is very immersive, you find yourself lost in the story with the incredible imagery from the artwork and the powerful music. I recommend it to all you symphonic metal fans out there; you may well find your new favourite album of the year!

Up today I have Phantasma’s upcoming release The Deviant Hearts for review, ‘Phantasma is a project sprung from the collective energy of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity), Oliver Philipps (Everon) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain)’ When this project was announced there was a lot of excitement amongst the Symphonic Metal Music fans, and I am very happy to say that you won’t be disappointed.  It really has been a great year for Symphonic metal we have had so many fantastic releases and I can say with certainty that The Deviant Hearts is well up in my top picks for this year.

This album really offers up a good measure of both the heavy and softer sides of symphonic metal.  Kicking off with the piano ballad Incomplete which perfectly highlights the vocal talents of Charlotte Wessels.  I was lucky enough to catch her performing a couple weeks back with Delain, and her vocals are just as powerful and beautiful live as on cd.  The Deviant Hearts also features a number of guest vocalists; Tom Englund on the title-track which is one of my favourites on the album, it builds into beautiful melodies and really is perfection!  Another highlight is Try featuring Cloe Lowery and Dennis Schunke, adding even more vocal variance that really makes this album so refreshing.

My absolute favourite track has to be the single that launched before the release of the album Let It Die; it really just has all those ingredients that make an incredible song.  I can’t get it out of my head, it has it all; soaring guitars, beautiful melodies and the inspiring vocals from Charlotte and Georg Neuhauser are just beyond perfect.  I truly cannot find fault in this album it is a masterpiece from start to finish.

The Deviant Hearts is a concept album of sorts, and is story driven with each track giving you a piece of the story, those of you lucky enough to get the Earbook edition with also get treated to an audio-book read by Charlotte Wessels.  Overall I have to give it full marks, it’s an interesting concept and it’s executed beautifully with so many layers to it from all the different contributors.  It really is very immersive, you find yourself lost in the story with the incredible imagery from the artwork and the powerful music.  I recommend it to all you symphonic metal fans out there; you may well find your new favourite album of the year!

Track List –

  1. Incomplete
  2. The Deviant Hearts
  3. Runaway Grey
  4. Try
  5. Enter Dreamscape
  6. Miserable Me
  7. The Lotus And The Willow
  8. Crimson Course
  9. Carry Me Home
  10. The Sound Of Fear
  11. Novaturient
  12. Let It Die

 

Members –

Georg Neuhauser

Oliver Philipps

Charlotte Wessels
Links –

https://www.facebook.com/PhantasmaProject

The Deviant Hearts is a concept album of sorts, and is story driven with each track giving you a piece of the story, those of you lucky enough to get the Earbook edition with also get treated to an audio-book read by Charlotte Wessels. Overall I have to give it full marks, it’s an interesting concept and it’s executed beautifully with so many layers to it from all the different contributors. It really is very immersive, you find yourself lost in the story with the incredible imagery from the artwork and the powerful music. I recommend it to all you symphonic metal fans out there; you may well find your new favourite album of the year!

About Kris White

Music Journalist @ www.planetmosh.com, Bassist at FyreSky, EK13 Photography, Creator at Poisoned Cogs