Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
It was the week before Christmas and not a single person was stirring except perhaps some ghosts? On December 18, 2009 a handful of loyal followers gathered at the world famous “Whisky A GO-GO” in Hollywood, to oversee the mischief misfits I AM GHOST with their counter partners STILL PHANTOMS.
The night itself was slowly unfolding itself as a line formed outside the doors of that cold but crisp chilly winter night the sea of black flocking into the club taking their positions as they sat in awe of the first arrangement of performances. But after the clock had struck 11, the real fun was about to begin and for a loyal fan base to follow them Long Beach go getters I AM GHOST were ready to please.
I Am Ghost
Playing tribute to the timeless classic Tim Burton film ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, I AM GHOST’s introduction was a crowd pleaser for everybody awaiting the band’s arrival to the stage. After the intro had ended, the band came abruptly to the stage and they did for the night, throwing together as always the old meets the new, with hits that included ‘Bone Garden’, ‘Killer Likes Candy’, ‘Burn The Bodies To The Ground’, ‘Saddest Story Never Told’, ‘Those We Leave Behind’, ‘We Are Always Searching’, ‘Don't Wake Up’ and ‘Our Friend Lazarus Sleeps’.
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9 / 10
Still Phantoms
I AM GHOST interacted with the crowd of on-lookers from throwing their fists in the air to jumping up and down in energetic proportions keeping the momentum constantly flowing long into the last act of the night, STILL PHANTOMS whose ghostly image maintained what I AM GHOST was producing. But the STILL PHANTOMS managed to rattle up the spooktacular night. ‘Translucent Hymns’ is the band’s first LP to hit the music scene and the band hands down let the music roll with ‘He Walks Amongst Us’, ‘Ravens Dive’, ‘The Man That Wasn’t There’, ‘Chasing Shadows’, and specialty encore ‘Awaken’. It was a night filled with spirits, spooks and Christmas nightmares that were surly follow you long into the night.
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9 / 10
- Natalie Perez
STILL PHANTOMS is one of those bands you find yourself listening to in a small dark four walled room with no way out and nobody to turn to. They present this Ambient Dark Rock speculation that is influenced by all styles of music ranging from hard rock to hip-hop straight to the core of it all, with metal meeting its electro beats. The music is nothing that unusual but can be heard at this point and time within this particular music scene. Simply STILL PHANTOMS says quote “Interpret what you hear, not what you are told to hear”.
When it comes to breaking down this thirteen track enlightenment, you may notice the number 13 labelled across the amount of tracks enlisted, but don't let the number fool you just yet. These tunes have possessed this type of “dark energy” that manages to overrun the music itself. For instance ‘He Walks Amongst Us’… the introduction alone has that rattling marching undertone that sends this eerie sensation running instantly down your backside. Whereas the music itself doesn’t start up until 30 seconds later after, the marching of the drums has decreased pushing out this overwhelming power of vocal chords sung by front women Ashley Martin whose amazing voice sets off this darkness vibration that cannot be explained.
‘The Man That Wasn't There’ seems to dish out the same energy source that the intro song had done, procrastinating the music which undoubtedly allows the keyboards to partake in their share of segments and allows the vocals to come in on their own accord bringing out this dark method of awe that resembles that of EVANESCENCE meets I AM GHOST. Whereas other tunes tend to be instrumental like ‘Sounds of the Shadows’ and briefly upon ‘A Haunting Realm’ they still lash out that ‘dark energy’ that keeps the music that more interesting to listen in on.
‘Echoes of the Past’ and ‘Time Stood Still’ still unleash that same momentum as the other tunes had done which showcases that STILL PHANTOMS is definitely that dark gloomy sound wave of music that has maintained a worthy image of themselves to look upon day in and day out, never misleading it to undergo a day without the need of darkness.
Tracklist
01. He Walks Amongst Us
02. Wolves on Your Trail
03. Awaken
04. The Man That Wasn't There
05. Gather Around
06. Echoes of the Past
07. Time Stood Still
08. Apperception
09. Illusions
10. Sound of the Shadows
11. Oceans & Mirrors
12. A Haunting Realm
13. The Seance of Isis
Line-Up
Ashley Martin - Vocals
James Greenwood - Guitar
Frank Ruiz - Bass
Matt Scully - Keyboards
Aaron Kramer - Drums
Website
http://www.myspace.com/stillphantoms
- Natalie Perez
Discography
Translucent Hymns- Full length debut album, released 8/14/09
Available on Itunes and other major digital distribution sites.
Let Now The Dead Come Alive: Hard Copy Release 2/11/2010, Itunes, etc. expected sometime in March.
Photos
Bio
Still Phantoms is an Ambient Dark Rock band from Orange County, CA started in May 2009. Influenced by all styles of music from Hard Rock to Hip Hop to Metal to Electro, the music is like nothing that is being played or can be heard at this point in time in the music scene. We go by the quote "Interpret what you Hear, Not what you are told to Hear" James Greenwood and Matt Scully who began the writing on the first album right away. They went out and found Ashley Martin to perform vocal duties and Aaron Kramer for drums. The album was then completed and put through the mixing process and Frank Ruiz was finally brought in as a full time bassist. The album was released August 14, 2009 and Still Phantoms began playing shows a week later playing with the well known pop-punk band The Higher at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA. They booked 6 shows in their first real month of playing shows (September 2009) at Venues as big as Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA) , The Viper Room (Hollywood, CA), and The Troubadour (Hollywood, CA) and since then have played other major venues in the southern California area such as House of Blues (2nd CD Release Show), the Orange County Fairgrounds and the Queen Mary. Aaron has already been endorsed by Pork Pie Percussion and Still Phantoms is determined to grow as a band and do the work necessary to make it in the industry. Their second album "Let Now the Dead Come Alive" was completed and a hardcopy was released on February 11th at the CD release show at House of Blues, Anaheim with digital distribution on its way. Still Phantoms has opened for many big name bands such as I Am Ghost, Shiny Toy Guns, Korn, Death By Stereo, Rufio, and Throwdown to name a few.
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