Metalcatto
I think I’m right on time for the Phasma party. It’s probably going to be the opposite of chilled, but we’re not here to enjoy relaxing stuff, unless your definition of relaxing is getting thrown in a barrel down a waterfall. Purgatory isn’t for the noobs. It’s not even for the experienced, but that doesn’t mean it’s good right away. That’s why I’m here to give a smug opinion about it. Preferably read it while you listen to the thing at the same time.
Lord have mercy! This thing just stormed into my room and stole all my pants. It’s hard to be really heavy and abstract without sounding Avant-Garde, but somehow Purgatory achieves a level of decadence that honestly makes me dread what hell can mean to these guys, since purgatory is supposed to be more chilled. Well, no! Phasma‘s fury knows no boundaries. The album opens with a wall of sound that doesn’t bother with introductions or warm-ups. It just drops you into the deep end and expects you to swim through chaos. The guitars are layered in a way that feels both dense and sharp, cutting through the mix with precision while the rhythm section creates a foundation that shifts constantly beneath your feet.
Sure, everything sounds deranged, obscene and godless, but it’s those vocals that truly bring this to the worst chapter of humanity. Someone took the madness of Converge and Ulcerate and put them through the vocal filter of a Deathcore band. The result is something that has no time for remorse, pity or moshy feelings. Purgatory is like getting hit by a train while you were trying to tie your shoes. The vocal performance ranges from guttural lows to piercing highs, often within the same phrase, creating a sense of disorientation that matches the instrumental chaos perfectly. I’d risk saying Phasma is competing for heaviest album of the year already, and we’re not even halfway through.
So, the only thing you’ll hate here is how jarring and chaotic the whole experience is. The vocals are fascinating but they’re louder than a cat in heat. You’ve gotta be ready for an assault that is as creative as it is hostile. The production choices amplify this feeling—everything is pushed to the edge without losing clarity, which makes the brutality hit even harder. Honestly, many people don’t want to listen to something that will probably make you relive the darkest moments of your life, because this thing is the perfect soundtrack to freaking war crimes. There’s no comfort here, no redemption arc, no light at the end of the tunnel. Just pure, unfiltered aggression from start to finish.
I didn’t know what Phasma was before this review. Well, Purgatory made it clear that more people should be aware of the pure savagery this act is capable of. It’s easily going to be too heavy and insane for most, but if you have a strong stomach and are bored out of your mind, this is as close as you can get to taking you to God—but the Old Testament one, you know, the dude who digs vengeance and genocide. Whether that sounds appealing or terrifying is entirely up to you.
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Release date: February 20, 2026
Website: https://phasmametal.bandcamp.com/album/purgatory
Country: Greece
Score: 4.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 