Phantom Reign originated in Illiniois back in the late 1980s. Their sole album – No Hope for the Future – is one which can properly have the “lost classic” tag applied to it. That album appeared in 1993 with the band funding a rather limited run of just 1,000 CDs.
Spring forward a few decades and thanks to Arkeyn Steel Records who have put together a re-issue of No Hope for the Future including the band’s demo from 1991 on a limited edition run of 500 hand-numbered CDs. For those of you preferring the digital version of the album (minus the demo) I found it on Amazon Music.
The album is a killer. A thumping slab of hard hitting heaviness with a melodic tinge to it and in places a bit quirky.
The riffs are varied. They cut, slash, fly and chug in mighty fashion throughout. Tasty guitar solos aplenty all backed up by a huge rhythm section and soaring vocals. This is a special album make no mistake. Not a sign of any filler over the dozen songs.
Phantom’s Reign opens things up grabbing the attention from the off. She’s a Living Nightmare and Love is a Sweet, Sweet Thing are a pair of superb heavy yet melodic numbers with the riffage, solos, changes of pace and big choruses being very catchy.
We have the obligatory semi-acoustic ballad in What Am I Supposed to Do? Delivered with sensitive and quite emotional vocals.
The title track is a monster with the gentle intro before breaking about in to another montage of huge riffage, controlled solos going this way and that all driving along at pace. Marvellous stuff. Have a listen:
I’m Wasted is fun. Summertime rocks hard as does Summertime. Concussion is weird yet compelling. Terror in the Streets is something like the title track with how that twists and turns around the nicely paced big cutting, chugging, powerful riffs and excellent soloing.
All in all an extremely solid album of heavy, slightly quirky and melodic metal. The demos give an interesting slant on how they were developed in to the album versions.
Apparently the original CDs from the 1990s go for big money if one can be found. This re-released version with the demos is a “must have” in my opinion. Get one before the 500 sell out as surely they will.
Got mine from Sonic Age Records. As I put up this post they are showing availability:
https://www.sonicagerecords.com
Or if you prefer the digital album minus the demos, found that on Amazon Music here:
https://amzn.to/40xIFAR
Get one……!