Phantom Elite is back with a brand-new album! They will release Blue Blood on March 17, 2023, on Frontiers Music s.r.l. Phantom Elite was one of my favorite bands of 2021, and they are back to claim the title again.
Blue Blood is a monster album, which will carry on the legacy that so well created with their first two albums, Wasteland, from 2018, and 2021’s magnum opus, Titanium.
If you don’t know Phantom Elite, they are made up of members: Marina La Torraca, on lead vocals; Max van Esch, who plays guitars, bass, synths/electronic arrangements; and Joeri Warmerdam, who plays drums. I interviewed them in early 2022, and hope to interview them again to discuss Blue Blood. The album was produced by Sander Gommans, who brought the members together for his HDK project. The highlight of that encounter, for me, was the track “Serenades of the Netherworld”. I think it is Marina’s best vocal performance, to date.
So, without any further ado, let’s talk Blue Blood.
“Skin Of My Teeth”, is the powerful album opener, and second single off Blue Blood. It has a lyric video supporting it, with cool, spacey illustrations and dynamic visuals. It musically opens with pounding drums, cool as ice, grinding guitars, and spacey orchestration. This one does catch you immediately with its music, unlike its lyrics did, on the last two albums. Marina sings, “These walls high above, below. By the bare skin of my teeth, I hold on, for life beyond! I’m climbing high! Burning to know the truth!” A great fight song. And they are very adept at those. Later Marina sings, “I’ll come for your throne!” Yes indeed. Marina adds emphasis in the desire to attack, with a growling yell of “You! I’ll come for you!” Someone pissed her off, and now they going to pay. Stand back!
“Inner Beast”, follows that driving song with, a telephone ring. Who is gonna pick it up? After that last song, not me, or anyone else for that matter. This one also has a cool music video supporting it. “Inner Beast” was the band’s first single, and I’m sure it left an impression. The video is fantastic, and includes a monster stalking Marina. This song is Joeri Warmerdam’s showcase. Drums extraordinaire, for sure. But, Max van Esch’s keyboards and blistering guitar work provides an ably strong memory. Marina sings, “But every time you scream, I feel alive!” (Makes you happy you don’t share her dreams). She loves the growling, and yells, “Crash and burn”, as if her life depended on it. Powerful and driving, and full of some wonderful guitar work. Dramatic from beginning to end, to be sure.
Although the first two singles were great, it is not until I get to “This Sick World”, that I feel we have arrived at something special. It opens with a fevered pitch, drums, orchestrations and burning guitars. Marina, almost raps, “Born into obedience, in a world where nothing is free. Born means, I’m free to choose whatever. My dignity, an empty desert. And now it’s war! I’ve been trapped in this illusion. Trying to break from the disarray. Longing for the ultimate fantasy!” She sounds like she has male vocal accompaniment, at times. (Maybe it is just an alteration of her voice – I learned about that process from the Blackheart Orchestra). Then, suddenly a beautiful guitar interlude that just takes your breath away. Then, the best vocals yet from Marina, “After all just an illusion!” wow! Now this song was something completely different. Thank you.
I’m going to hazzard a guess, that Skin Of My Teeth and Inner Beast, were written a while back. Maybe years ago. When I interviewed them, they said that they had many songs ready for production. I bet those were two of them. “This Sick World”, sounds brand new.
Then, “Birdcage”, has one of the most unique intros I have heard from Phantom Elite yet. It reminds me of Peter Gabriel, maybe during the Birdy or US sessions. It opens with some very cool solo guitar, with orchestration. Bet this is another new song, and not something from their past. Marina sings, without the growling, and she sounds so much better. The orchestration and keyboards are another highlight from this album. Marina sings, “I will take what is mine. Yes, I’m talking to you”. (Yeah, visualize Robert Di Nero, talking to the mirror, in Taxi Driver). Marina sings, “When the time has arrived. I’ll set fire to the stage. We’re all trapped in this lavishing cage!” Another of the best songs on the album.
“Apex”, sounds like another of those songs from the past, on its opening. Spinning orchestration, drums, amazing guitars. Max van Esch, is one of the most unique guitar players in metal today. You just have to hear this album. Very innovative. Marina’s voice rises with a massive chip on her shoulder, as she sings, “I’m a hawk in the world of snakes”. She rips though some rapping like lyrics with immense velocity.
“Fragments”, sounds like it could fit well on Titanium. Great music, but not a song that will stand out. The guitar playing is magnificent. I actually hear a little similarity in the guitar playing from Nemisis’, last two albums. Math rock mixed with some great vocals from Marina. But no powerful catchy lyrical lines, like Titanium. Marina sings, “Fragments, just better to quit”. Yep.
“Laid With Vines”, is another stand out track I liked immediately. Maybe it was the deep, organ-like opening. Maybe it was Marina singing, without slamming guitars and drums. Just Marina. Bet this is a newer song. Sounds perfect. More of this please. Marina sings, “My treasure. My pleasure. It burns me alive inside. Every ending. A beginning. A new chance to let things be”. An almost Depeche Mode prep song. (They have a new album coming out this year). This is Phantom Elite giving their sound a shot. Before the heavy Titanium sounds return. Thanks for that too, though. Marina sings, “What goes around, will come right back to conjure demons”. Maybe a song that didn’t make it onto Titanium. It’s a good one though.
“Daydark”, is another good song that would have fit well on Titanium. Marina sings, “Close your eyes and you will see, like a memory, if you don’t look too deep. Bluer skies will be waiting. But I want you to bury all the pain and keep on dreaming!” Yes, take us back to Titanium, I miss it already. Those grinding and deep diving guitars are simply awesome Max.
“Blue Blood”, is the epic, long track on the album. No wonder it is the title track. At 7:46, it is the album’s longest track, so go ahead and immerse yourself, in its grandeur. It opens with ominous, deep, and eerie orchestration; and that almost whirling guitar from Titanium’s opening. Then, Marina sings, in her best voice, “When a blue moon rises, it will bless us, with light beyond our sight. It’s just a long way, and I’m scared that someday we might lose the path and set our sails apart”. Wow! Absolutely beautiful. She continues, “One more step towards the ending. I’ll find you here”. Then, a symphonic “Kashmir”-like guitar piece. Not Titanium, but one of the best tracks they have written yet. Then, the awesome instrumental begins. Guitars, surrounded by keys and orchestration. A sort of Tool, Descending, without the awesome drums of Danny Carey.
“Black Sunrise”, is the album closer. It feels like this should have been placed before “Blue Blood”, and allow the title track, to be the epic closer. This song is wonderful, and the cool, space video created to support the song is imaginative. Marina sings, “You can’t escape from the Unknown”. That takes me to the Edge of Paradise, which will be my next review.
So, how does Blue Blood compare to the last two albums? Well, there are many things to like about this new sound. It generally seems faster. I hear a lot of Dream Theater in the drumming. The guitar work from Max van Esch, is so much different, and original. In fact, the star of the show on this album is Max. The guitar riffs and chords he plays on this one are so unique and come at you at such rapid speed. It is a guitar lover’s album, with plenty of keyboards that will delight your ears. The use of more keyboards is also another wonderful surprise. Thank you for that!
Marina’s voice is way beyond what she has done on the first two albums. But, unlike the first two, Blue Blood does not have that immediate song which catches your spirit and does not let go, like “Lockdown”, from Wasteland, or the title song off Titanium. The music is everything you could want.
The powerful lyrics and hook phrases do not show up as quickly, as they did on either of the first two albums. This album is a “grower”. It will take a little more time to acquire the taste for this one than the albums of the past. That can be a good and bad thing. If you like the band, and are a fan, like me, you will probably let the music grow on you over time. As a fan, you will take the time to let the music set in and enjoy it. If it is your first-time hearing Phantom Elite, then you might not give them that amount of time. But I hope you do. This is a great band.
Fans, don’t pause…get this one…as soon as it is available to hear the continuation of the Phantom Elite journey!
Track List:
1. Skin Of My Teeth
2. Inner Beast
3. This Sick World
4. Birdcage
5. Apex
6. Fragments
7. Laid With Vines
8. Daydark
9. Blue Blood
10. Black Sunrise
Social Media:
https://www.phantom-elite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jointhePE
https://www.instagram.com/phantom.elite.official/
You Tube:
Inner Beast:
Skin Of My Teeth:
Black Sunrise: