Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The invasion from the Scandinavia continues and long may it do so, for the realm of Metal needs acts and music from the lands of Norway, Denmark, Finland and music in its entirety from all the group of nations that encompass the thoughts and reasoning of the people there. In amongst the land of plenty you can and should also add Sweden of course and Swedish band Machinae Supremacy to the multitude, for failing to do so is surely an act of Metal heresy.
The band’s sixth studio album, Phantom Shadow, is a racy affair, full of pathos and airtight vocals that soar throughout the recording. Robert Stjärnström’s silk like voice, twinned with the restless heartbeat of a mighty reindeer stalking the lands armed with the knowledge that the next person who takes a pot shot at his frame is likely to get a set of antlers placed so far up their behind that they won’t sit for a month.
The album is a rare complex creature, a set of songs that sound as if they belong in a marriage blended cocktail of film and music or that even more interesting branch of popular culture, the heady mix of graphic novel and inspired musical complement. The images the songs bring up the multi-layer perfectly within the complicated world of the concept album that is presented and yet you cannot help but be overawed by the sheer complexity and enjoyment of it.
With tracks such as The Villain of This Story, Europa, the thumping Meanwhile In The Hall Of Shadows and Redemption Was Never Really My Thing all sending out messages to the flesh to ready for a full frontal assault by goose bumps, the story unfolds so well that barely have you had chance to rid the skin of one attack of piloerection than the next song comes along and takes you right back again. Phantom Shadow should be looked upon as the 21st century musical version of The Lord of the Rings, groundbreaking, a set of songs that you cannot walk away from and edgy. The single icy breathe reverberating down your ear is the sound of beauty battling jeopardy.
Six albums down the line and Machinae Supremacy show no sign of slowing down, why should they when they can craft an album such as Phantom Shadow together.
Ian D. Hall