Search - Deadsy :: Phantasmagore

Deadsy's Triumphant Return...Worth The Wait.

EerieVonEvil | The Rabbit Hole | 08/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To Deadsy fans, The release of Phantasmagore is one of the most exciting releases in music. Deadsy has had the worst luck with record labels since Elijah Blue formed the band back in 1995. First they tried releasing their self-titled demo(which only exists as promo copies), then they tried releasing their debut full length masterpiece(Commencement, also only in promo's)in 1999. They were dropped from sire and spent their time recording some more material for for the official release of Commencement, which finally arrived to many happy fans in 2002. It can be disputed, but Deadsy is one of the most original bands in music today. Their combination of super-low tuned death metal-esque guitars, retro synthesizers, and intelligent occult-flavored lyrics creates a very exciting sound. Commencement is a very synth-heavy and slow record and has that cool retro sound that calls to mind bands like Gary Numan and New Order, as well as Type O Negative. Definitley an amazing debut that has only gotten better with age.



So now that the 4 year wait is over, did Phatasmagore live up to the stantard that Commencement set? You bet. Phantasmagore is definitley more "rock" than "synth rock" this time, and it works well. There is still a lot of synth in this album, it is just not as loud in the mix as it was on Commencement. The songs on this record are also faster than a lot of the slower songs found on Commencement. A lot of the songs on here were written back in 2003-2004, and have gone through some changes before completion. Phantasmagore is extremely short(42 mins) compared to Commencement, which is probably my only complaint. However, like most great artists, they make up for the short running time in content. There is a lot of great variety on this album.



There are slow melodic, synth-drenched tunes like Better Than You Know(One of the best Deadsy songs ever!) and Phantasmagore. There are also heavy rockers like Time(previously Sands of Time) and Book Of Black Dreams, both possessing really dark, spooky sounding synth effects and choruses. Razor Love and Babes In Abyss are fast rock songs with slower melodic breakdowns in the middle and contain some really cool singing. Carrying Over and Last Story Ever are borderline rock ballads( both containing acoustic guitar),and are heavier than you would think. The chorus to Carrying Over will knock you on your feet, it is so LOUD and melodic. Asura is a great pop song that has a retro feel with cool synths blended in. The cover of Paint It Black is good, and if you know the song then you know this cover because you can only do so much with that song. It does have cool Sitar effects in it though. The albums closes with Health and Theory, a mid-tempo number that also has that old school Deadsy sound to it. Over all, if you can get past the short running time this album has everything a Deadsy fan could ask for. There is a lot of variety on Phantasmagore, which makes it a great follow-up to Commencement. If you are looking for a hard rock album with lush melodies, heavy and clean guitars, cool retro synthesizers, and infectiously good choruses, then Phantasmagore is the album to get.



Maybe one day down the line the other songs that were made for this album will see release. Those songs include Acacia, Dreamcrusher, Heaven and Earth, Collossus,Comforter Cave, Friends, and Do You Want It All. Deadsy is a great band and I hope this album takes them far. Maybe then we wont have to wait so long for the next album. Thanks to Jon Davis and Elementree for signing Deadsy and helping Phantasmagore get released/promoted. BUY THIS ALBUM. Nuff said."

A Different Kind Of Deadsy

Andrew Estes | Maine | 08/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a Deadsy fan, then you are more than likely familiar with long waits. Afterall, this is the band who took over 5 years to get their debut album, "Commencement" off the ground. Since that album was released, a new wait began. The wait for the band's second album, "Phantasmagore," which has just arrived four years after the fact. Here is an album that was announced in 2004 and has been delayed endlessly ever since, so it's kind of hard not to get your hopes up too much. However, just like with "Commencement," what you will find is that the wait was well worth it.



If you either found "Commencement" too much of a challenge to get into, or just got tired of the same kind of songs, then "Phantasmagore" will be a welcome new experience. However, I cannot help but hearing the words "Sell-outs" being screamed from miles away by many bitter fans. "Phantasmagore" stays true to Deadsy form, but whereas the last album was one big experience, this one has eleven songs, all of which stand firm on their own. From the 80's retro of "Babes In The Abyss" and "Razor Love," to the obligatory nu-metal track, "Time" (this album's "Key To Gramercy Park") and the stunning cover song -- this time, "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones, there is plenty here to keep your ears busy. "Carrying Over" and "Better Than You Know" show a lot of maturity both in songwriting and musicianship, as these are the songs you'll keep coming back too, and gasp, one of them actually features an acoustic guitar!



True, there may not be anything as dense or trippy as "Mansion World" or "Flowing Glower" but the sound that Deadsy have emerged with this time isn't too terribly removed from what we're all familair with. Afterall, these guys have always been completely left of center, so if they had released "Commencement Part 2," I would have personally been very disappointed. As it is, "Phantasmagore" is simply the more streamlined, accessible, and rocking side of Deadsy. Here's hoping we don't have to let another half-decade pass before we hear more new songs..."

It's about time!!!

child of the cuckoo | Augusta, GA | 02/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have anxiously awaited the release of this album and now that it's here I can't keep it out of my CD player. To me, Phantasmagore is much better than Commencement. This album has a slightly different sound to it. Of course, it's still Deadsy but without the heavy reliance on keyboards/programming and an extremely heavy and dark guitars. Their cover of Paint It Black is awesome, then again, so is the whole album!"