Having to wake up in the morning each day is proving to be more exhausting with every successive rotation of the Earth. As if the world couldn’t be on fire enough, there is always something new that is either absolutely horrendous or comedically stupid-yet-also-just-as-awful that just adds even more fuel to the seemingly inextinguishable proverbial flames that encroach on our happiness, rights, and long-term existence as a species. It isn’t just me feeling this constant doom-and-gloom, nor is it just you; there are dozens of us, dozens! We need all the coping mechanisms we can get to survive. For many, listening to music helps us cope and for others who are creatively inclined, the creation of music is the preferred method of escape. Thankfully the former can rely on the creative fruits of the latter.
All being said, it is not strange whatsoever that so much music (and art in general) exists that reflects the times in which they were conceived. Many of the societal problems echoed in popular songs from back in the 60’s aren’t all that different from that of today, imagine that. We didn’t start the fire indeed. There is an abundance of widely known protest and counter-culture music, and even more that linger in the underground. We at Everything Is Noise are pleased to share with you some niche protest music that’ll be sure to satisfy the metalheads out there, especially those that have been following since It Djents. Behold an exclusive advance premiere of Phantom Heir’s new EP, Fragile Immortals, which drops on July 4.
‘After nearly two years of writing and production, Fragile Immortals is finally here. As the black cloud that looms above our new dark ages grows darker with each day of senseless violence and oppression, this release has never felt more imperative and prescient. Regimes may rise and fall, but the perennial waves of resistance to tyranny will always endure.’
Phantom Heir is an independent solo project based out of Philadelphia. While this project is instrumental, Fragile Immortals features guest vocalists (Angel Eduardo and Redouane Aouameur) to add some additional flavor and spice. Altogether, Fragile Immortals is written and executed in such a way that the anguish about the current state of the world is directly reflected in the tones and instrumentation; dark, horrific, and seemingly utterly hopeless.
In terms of what to expect stylistically, Phantom Heir is djent-meets-post metal. Oddly enough their sound is hardly either of the two aforementioned subgenres alone. It is far removed from what you’d typically hear from djent for example, yet it is still under the same umbrella. What immediately stands out to me upon spinning this EP is the thick and abrasive guitar tones reminiscent of VOLA’s Inwaves with grooves akin to early Volumes; this is best heard on “The Revelation”. The closing track, “The Harbinger”, is an epic 8-minute beast with soaring clean vocals juxtaposed gutturals and an infectiously satisfying, drawn-out linear song progression relying on repeating riffs.
You can listen to Fragile Immortals in its entirety here right now before it drops on July 4; I doubt the timing of release was a coincidence given the socio-political motivation behind the music. With this being an exciting and promising EP early in the lifespan of the project, I am eager to hear how Phantom Heir will continue to evolve, as there will certainly be plenty of inspiration to fuel it in the coming years. If the sound waves heard here hit the sweet spot in your temporal lobe, I’d highly suggest giving Phantom Heir a follow on Facebook and Bandcamp and also hit up their website while you’re at it.
‘Preserve the earth, its finite resources, and all that live upon it while time still allows. An end to apartheid states and genocide. An end to the destruction of civil rights and liberties. An end to the erasure of indigenous cultures — an end to the murder of all living beings, animals, and creatures. An end to the plundering and exploitation of the environment for objectivist gain. An end to the apathetic complicity imposed and exhibited by the ruling classes. An end to the superficial revelry of blind hedonism as the earth burns.
‘A mirror to the fallacy of immortal supremacy. May it eternally shatter.‘
