[Album of the day] Phantom Spell - Immortal's Requiem
Murcia, Spain // 2022 // Wizard Tower Records / Wizard Tower Recordings
[Genres] classic prog rock
[Themes] immortal wizards have problems too
[FFO] Seven Sisters, Iron Maiden, prog rock/proto metal, chiptune, classic fantasy à la David Eddings.
[Thoughts]
You may have heard of Seven Sisters, a UK-based heavy metal band from that NWOTHM revival in the late 2010s;* Kevin McNeill is the frontman, guitarist, vocalist, and occasional producer. During the depths of COVID, the band (like many) was unable to record, and Kevin McNeill started this personal project, Phantom Spell.
Immortal's Requiem is simply infectious. As prog rock goes, it's not quite interested in playing the technical game, like Rush or Emerson, Lake, and Palmer,** opting instead for a more relaxed approach to progressive (McNeill lists more of his inspirations below).
Contemporary prog rock is a strange and altogether different discussion from its founders. Prog rock founders in the 70s existed in an artistic space predating metal, often cited as the inspirations for bands in the First Wave of heavy metal.*** 70s prog rock was the heaviest music of its time, the most recent innovation from the rock scene. But contemporary prog rock (and hard rock) exists in a world where metal already exists; choosing to make contemporary prog rock isn't part of the innovation game, it's revisiting an older style. And while I spend a lot of time keeping up with the innovations and trends, I think it says more about the artist in particular when they time-travel to a particular era of the past.
Phantom Spell labors over the floor with chalk in hand, taking its time to craft the perfect summoning circle to facilitate your time-travel to an era of the past. The songs are filled with sorcerous inspiration; the dramatic fantasy sung in McNeill's powerful vocals remind me of listening to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son for the first time. "Black Spire Curse" is an instrumental chiptune track (i.e. chiptune methods to prog rock ends) that serves as an ode to another musical trend from the era, shaking hands with the fantasy-focused videogames of yesteryear.
I've pretty mush said enough at this point, but I would like to highlight that when you purchase Immortal's Requiem on Bandcamp, you get access to two hidden tracks: a cover of "Moonchild" by Rory Gallagher (i.e. the greatest guitarist you've never heard of) and an alternate release of Phantom Spell's first track, "Keep On Running" (I prefer the alternate, both are good).
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* If you haven't, go listen. The instrumentation is all solid, the music inspiring, and the album artwork great.
The band name is most likely a reference to the Pleiades, seven stars that, in ancient Greek mythos, were the (cough) companions of Artemis. The Seven Sisters are also referenced as the seventh song on The Sword's 2012 album, Apocryphon.
I somehow missed the Seven Sisters on my big heavy metal kick through the late 2010s, but I'm glad I eventually found my lighted by their stars. It can be difficult to reliably encounter heavy metal of quality; heavy metal junkies seem equally enthused by every heavy metal band, an attitude that does not adequately reflect the variance in musical talent in the genre. I won't punch down on the acts that I think are overrated here (unless you ask, and then I'll share my opinions free of charge), but I'll make an effort to promote acts that should survive the NWOTHM trend.
** Which is where I typically lean within the realms of prog rock, my synaptic pathways having been thoroughly rotted out by technical death metal.
*** To this day, Iron Maiden opens all of their concerts with their cover of UFO's "Doctor Doctor." Phenomenon (1974) has been one of my favorite albums since I was a teen, a statement that is also true for my father. For me, it was the beginning of my exploration into heavy metal; for him, it was the end.
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[From the band/label] Wizard Tower Records / Wizard Tower Recordings
Phantom Spell is the brainchild of Kyle McNeill. Frontman for London based classic metal stalwarts, Seven Sisters. Having established his command of songcraft over several albums with the UK's twin-guitar renegades, McNeill has decided to add a second string to his bow. Delving heart-first into a musical love letter to his favourite prog rock artists of yesteryear. As McNeill elaborates: "Musically, this is an area I've wanted to explore for a very long time. The classic prog records have truly captured my imagination and continue to inspire me. I hope that in some odd way, this can be seen as me trying to repay the favour to those bands for enriching my life – a tribute to the dorkiness and grandeur of prog rock!". A tribute, it may be. However, this is more than a mere copycat experiment. Those who have followed McNeill's work over the years have come to expect a certain level originality and attention to detail. This new project promises to follow in that same tradition. After releasing the single, "Keep On Running", in July 2021 to much praise, the stage is set for Phantom Spell's debut album. Through "Immortal's Requiem", Phantom Spell presents a spellbinding sonic journey. A journey in which fractured thoughts of a deteriorating clairvoyant are given form as cascading guitar harmonies and weaving mellotronic passages. Songs like "Dawn of Mind" and "Seven Sided Mirror" effortlessly navigate shifting sonic textures with purpose and unabashed curiosity. Akin to the theatrical majesty of those dear Kansas and Yes gatefolds tucked away in record collections worldwide. You would be forgiven for thinking this facade of shimmering synthesizers is a means of escapism from what we face in the real world. However, amidst the grandeur is a stark vulnerability on display. The driving electrified rhythms of "Up The Tower" clear the heady smog of spell-craft and make way for a direct message. After all, Phantom Spell was born in isolation. A child of the plague years and a necessary catharsis. As the project creator, Kyle McNeill, explains: "At the core of these songs are insecurities and emotions we'll all encounter in our time. Even if you're an immortal wizard". This sincerity makes for a compelling juxtaposition against the baroque instrumental passages and fleeting guitar work. The album's only instrumental track, "Black Spire Curse" showcases McNeill's aforementioned guitar work perfectly. Navigating complex melodies and Hackett-like dreamscape soloing with equal dexterity. Culminating in a grand cacophony of marching rhythms and hedonistic simplicity before gently easing in to the lull of an acoustic/hammond organ combination. Foreshadowing the awakening that is the slumbering beast, "Blood Becomes Sand". The dynamic peaks and troughs that give the album such life are on full display here. A quality that brings the listener back time and time again. With "Immortal's Requiem", Phantom Spell present a complete work. Rounded and satisfying enough within itself while presenting avenues of exploration for a later date. A fitting opening chapter to a new story!
