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PHANTOM
Transylvanian Nightmare EP

Inframetal (2024)
Rating: 7/10

With cool cover art from Sebastian Frigerio, Transylvanian Nightmare is a ripping heap of black thrash from a Mexican foursome that has been prolific since forming in 2021. After a batch of demos, singles and a debut full-length outing (Handed To Execution) last year, Phantom continues its violent assault with four strong cuts, a couple of which boast a real snap.

No real surprises are contained within but the combo musters up a threatening brand of metal that fuses Teutonic evil and old school South American vim. Some of the more, shall I say, measured parts boast a real darkness, particularly the fiery chugs on ‘From the Abyss’ and the mystical subtlety ‘Epitaph’.

After the four tracks fall silent I’m certainly left gagging for more because when you hear the opening title track and closer ‘Raging Pyres’ you get drawn into such an atmospheric web of nostalgic mayhem which at times brings to mind the raw first wave of black metal.

The primitive vocals worm through the wiry haze like a ghostly malevolence, evoking a stench of musty dungeons where clandestine forces reside. Phantom has that knack for conjuring old school spirits with those snaking riffs. Transylvanian Nightmare is a sneering EP that Satan would surely approve of.

Neil Arnold

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