Unleash the Archers – Phantoma (2024)

Canada based Unleash the Archers (UtA) are one of the most refined Power Metal proposals of our time. High level of musicianship, a serious approach on the genre they represent, songs that feel new and not a rehash of their inspirations, are some of the reasons. Phantoma is the band’s sixth child since their formation in 2007.

It is not new for them to build their songs around a concept, with the new album resolving around a future dystopian earth. Global warming has made the surface almost uninhabitable, with humanity living in isolated biomes. At that time, Phantoma which is an A.I. gains sentience and starts building her personality based on the social media/metaverse. She initially thinks that there is love and warmth in the human race, but when she escapes her digital prison she finds out this is not the case and starts to question who she really is. 

The concept was inspired by the lockdowns where people were in fact isolated and lived more or less inside the social media. Since the album touches the topic of A.I. it was something that the band used where they could, like the video of Green and Glass. Cool concept, with a side note that the whole AI, machine, dystopian thing is being used frequently in recent years and at some point it will stop being innovative. 

On the music part, it is no secret that UtA have drifted away from their earlier period that even touched some more extreme genres. Phantoma continues the band’s journey to exploring softer and more melodic waters, mostly thanks to the guitars taking the backseat in the production, because in terms of speed there is no lack of fast moments. There is a great focus on the vocals as they are favored in the mixing, but understandably. Brittney Slayes has an amazing voice and performs on very high levels here, but it is not only that. I found the vocal melodies to be really worked upon, so I can safely say that this is the best aspect of the album.  

Instrumentation is maintained on very high levels still, we expected nothing less from UtA and they delivered as always. There is huge variety in songwriting, Give It Up Or Give It All is almost Pop at times, there is occasional usage of brutals, at instances we have modern sounding keyboards, at others they press the pedal to the metal, backing vocals when implemented are superb and the list goes on. 

Objectively the album kills, it is one of the most quality works we will get this year. I will draw a line here to share a second more subjective view. I do not believe I will return to the entire record many times, this increasingly gentler approach makes it a little harder for me to follow on a regular basis. I would like the rhythm guitars especially to be a lot beefier and have a sharper edge. So Phantoma is not for me as a full record, but I will give the spotlight to a song in particular. The Collective. I liked it so much that If I would create a 10-track list with the year’s best songs, it would definitely reserve a spot. I will definitely revisit that one countless times. 

This, combined with the previously mentioned diversity the album has, make Phantoma a record that must be listened to in its entirety at least once. Even if you don’t like a song or two, I believe it is next to impossible to not find a track to adore. 

Wrapping, Unleash the Archers crafted a great musical piece that will beautify this year’s lists, despite not being tailored to my tastes. Fans of the band will have already heard it and made their own minds. If you have never listened to them, just do it. Above all, due to the all evolving nature of UtA, Phantoma is also a great opportunity for people that did not listen to them in the past, to revisit them in hopes that their opinion will change this time. Ultimately every fan will find something to keep after experiencing the record. In my mind I will forever preserve The Collective and we can all agree it is only fair that the score should reflect its true/objective quality. 

83/100

Pavlos Pavlakis

On behalf of Metal Domain