If you have been keeping tabs on the underground, you already know that Guadalajara’s speed and thrash metal force Phantom has been sharpening an incredibly razor-sharp blade over the years. Hailing from Mexico, this quad has built a reputation for delivering blistering, relentless Thrash Metal / Speedmetal that echoes the classic, dark energy of early Agent Steel, Razor, and Paradox, while injecting their own atmospheric, complex arrangements.
With their third full-length assault, ‘Not Midnight Yet’, released via High Roller Records, the band is pushing their sonic boundaries without losing an ounce of their old-school integrity. Recorded and mixed by Héctor “Northen” Ibarra at Nehtron Studios and mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony, the production hits that sweet spot of analog warmth and modern clarity. The guitar tone is remarkably biting, crisp but saturated with enough grease to keep it filthy. J.C. García and Harel O. lock into a lethal dual-guitar attack, weaving intricate counter-melodies and rapid-fire alternate picking patterns over a powerhouse rhythm section. J.P. Alatorre’s drumming relies heavily on driving, precise skank beats and syncopated double-bass fills rather than generic blast beats, which gives Raír Tavizón’s thick, clanking bass lines plenty of room to breathe in the mix.
What makes this record a step up from their back catalog is the structural ambition. Mastermind J.C. García delivers a vocal performance that balances a gritty, snarling midrange with occasional piercing, classic metal falsettos, providing a perfect conduit for the album’s darker themes. Instead of relying purely on one-dimensional velocity, the songwriting incorporates dynamic shifts that keep you on your toes. For instance, ‘Hordes Of Bats’ is a masterclass in relentless speed and riff-driven aggression that will easily incite chaos in the pit, whereas the epic closer ‘The Pale Remains Of Time’ shows their willingness to experiment, blending clean guitar interludes, melodic vocal phrasing, and progressive textures that never feel forced. If there is any minor critique, a few transitional bridges between the lightning-fast tempos and the mid-paced grooves feel slightly abrupt, occasionally disrupting the headbanging flow. Nevertheless, it is a minor gripe on an otherwise incredibly solid, atmospheric ride.
Phantom has delivered a juggernaut that proves the underground night is far from over.
