Release : December 21th,2010
Label : Backstage Records (Physical) , Insight Out (Digital)

SOUTHERN SORROW

Today’s menu features something local and high-quality. Hailing from Larissa, Phase has been making waves in the rock/metal scene for some time now with their first album titled ‘In Consequence.’ A work that stands out, like a sore thumb, from most independent Greek productions, as every detail has been carefully attended to in a professional manner, with the necessary passion, talent, and, of course, the required budget. It’s evident that the fellows from Larissa are deeply involved in their ‘Phase‘ project, focusing on the quality of their work and its promotion. This is demonstrated by the outstanding effort put into the album itself (production, songwriting, artwork, etc.) and the band’s active and comprehensive online presence, reaching out to all possible platforms where they can ‘fish’ for new fans.

In essence, ‘In Consequence‘ is a rock album that, from start to finish, restlessly oscillates between past decades, personal influences, and the present. With each new song that begins, you don’t know what to expect, and I consider this the greatest compliment I can give to this work, in an era where it’s challenging to stand out and surprise. If I had to fit Phase‘s music into categories to give you a better idea of how they sound, I would say their sound navigates somewhere between modern progressive rock/metal and the alternative rock scene of the ’90s and ’00s. At no point do they hesitate to ‘acknowledge’ their admiration for Anathema, The Tea Party, and Radiohead, while boldly stating, ‘Yes, we are children of the ’90s who grew up listening to Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.’ In general, their music is characterised as melancholic and cerebral, without a penchant for speed, yet at times, the prog and other times the hard rock outbursts ensure that the balances are maintained, and the compositions do not fall into the loop of repetition.

The majority of the songs range at high levels, and there is also a considerable variety in the band members’ choices. Heavy riffs, psychedelic melodies, electronic touches, acoustic guitars, and some surprises like A Void create an excellent atmosphere of alternative music that aims to captivate you until the end. From the dynamic hard rock of The Smile and the melancholy of Ibidem (featuring the well-known Duncan Patterson from Anathema, Ion, and Antimatter on keyboards) to the majestic swan song called Next Illusion to Fade, Phase‘s music always manages to leave its mark on the listener. The plethora of emotions and moods that emerge through it is truly impossible to leave the listener unaffected.

In Consequence, is a work that speaks to the lovers of dark, alternative music and to those who prefer their favorite bands to help them ‘escape’ rather than entertain. If Jeff Martin moves you, if you’ve been ‘floored’ by Alice in Chains‘ Dirt, and if you worship Alternative 4 by Anathema as an icon, then it’s time to shift your priorities for the coming days, as Phase‘s debut has much to tell you.

RATING : 8/10
LISTEN IF YOY LIKED : Antimatter – “Leaving Eden” ,  Alice in Chains – “Alice in Chains” , The Tea Party – “Transmission”