Sometimes an album comes out of the old promo pit that looks and smells familiar but plays like something entirely different. Today’s entry in the hall of infamy of “what the hell am I actually listening to?” is Phasma‘s Purgatory. The third record from the Greek-American duo, and the first released by a label – our beloved Transcending Obscurity Records – Purgatory continually overturned every expectation I had. In doing so, it became one of my biggest pleasant surprises in recent memory.
While Phasma‘s early works boasted a songwriting style and sound reminiscent of a grotesque love child of Whitechapel / Vampire Squid, Purgatory is a burned and venomous affair with only a fragile connection to that blend, and all the better for it. Creating a vision where Vimur, Harms Way and Crypts of Despair merged into a malformed mass, Purgatory twists and slides through an unholy collection of brutal riffs, pyre-like tremolo flames and arrogant grooves. While Phasma‘s vocal approach largely carries over from early works, combining a guttural roar with piercing screams, but minimizing previously widespread elements like subterranean gurgles and glass-shattering shrieks, it takes on an altogether more intimidating character here. Rather than displaying the full range of technical skills and breadth this unit had to prove on their self-titled debut, Phasma took Purgatory as an opportunity to be as nasty and concise as possible.
Simplifying their song structures, using memorable hooks and keeping technical showpieces to a minimum helped Phasma achieve their goal, resulting in a work that is genuinely terrifying. The opening duo “I” and the early highlight “II” prove this within thirty seconds of their intros, but they also create a pleasant deviation from the usual songwriting tricks I expect from one phrase to the next. For example, “I” makes me think a huge breakdown is about to drop right at the start, only to explode into shadowed frozen black metal and then sink seamlessly into a gym-ready hardcore groove. Overturning my expectations becomes a frequent occurrence on Purgatory. “II,” “III” and “VI” all sink into doom-filled dungeons more than I’d ever expect from a record as malicious and high-energy as this. The harmonic melodies and layered guitar pyrotechnics only reinforce this effect when things shift between tempos and moods in an instant (“II”). By thus counterbalancing their simplified writing with constant fiery twists and sharp turns, Phasma created an exceptionally thrilling and rich experience that is an absolute joy to experience again and again.
- Read also: Shine – Wrathcult Review
Despite its short 27-minute runtime, Purgatory overflows with invigorating ideas, all meticulously arranged, but the initial spins suffer from a production of relentless intensity. “IV” in particular challenged my ability to appreciate the fantastic triplets lead-in-chug and Vampire Squid riffs emerging from dense bass and glassy cymbals, largely because everything is so far forward that it’s completely flattened. “V” has a similar impact, though an otherworldly, bass-driven atmospheric break and the subsequent Atrae Bilis-style bridge momentarily mitigates that effect. Understanding that Purgatory‘s purpose is to oppress and destroy, a little more headroom in the mix and mastering would let Phasma hit harder and better showcase the myriad clever details distributed throughout the album.
- Read also: Course of Fate – Behind the Eclipse Review
Fortunately, the production isn’t so destructive as to make my experience with Purgatory anything less than a delightful treat. As I spent more time with it, I loved it more, craved it regularly and found more moments to take home. Unforgettable beyond what I expected and more thrilling than I dared hope, Purgatory scored a huge success in every area except engineering. In some circles, that one weakness won’t matter that much. In the end, it didn’t matter that much to me either, such is the strength of Phasma‘s songwriting. This is a journey into the void you won’t want to miss!
Rating: Perfect!
DR: 5 | Format reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Websites: phasmaproject.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/PhasmaProject
Worldwide release: February 20, 2026
