Customer Reviews

Phantom on the Horizon

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Although The Fall of Troy ended their run as a band rather dismally, over all they were an impressive band and this is their masterpiece. Phantom on The Horizon gives an accurate depiction of what this band was about. Phantom is a concept album about a Spanish ship being taken over by a ghost ship from another dimension, and I will leave the story there. The lyrics and music work together to tell such a terrify and interesting tale that it shouldn't be ruined by simply reading it in a review, but I will say it includes cannibalism, demons, and inter-dimensional travel. If you're not convinced, I would recommend listening to "Chapter IV: Enter The Black Demon" or "Chapter V: The Walls Bled With Lust" These tacks alone are worth buying the whole EP. In a world full of lackluster post-hardcore(I'm looking at you Chiodos)Phantom on the Horizon is a shining beacon of greatness.
Bottom line: If you're going to pick up any Fall of Troy record. This is the one to get.

To begin, this EP has been waiting for an official release for quite a long time. When the Ghostship EP was leaked in 2004, fans were able to catch a glimpse of what The Fall of Troy would start to evolve into with the release of 'Manipulator'.

Finally, TFoT rerecorded all of the songs under an official label, and released the newly dubbed 'Phantom on the Horizon' EP, a brilliant allusion to the fan-dubbed 'Ghostship' EP. Much like 'Manipulator' before it, TFoT has continued to evolve into a more suited progressive-rock style with complicated guitar solos that seamlessly transition between utter madness and simplicity.

As with every TFoT album released thus far, listeners are treated to an almost manic form of songwriting; everything from rapid fire changes in tempo to vocals that will soothe you one minute and have you screaming the next. TFoT manages not only to create a beautiful and varied album through this release, they create an entire sound-scape to their own story that plays out like a ship floating through uncharted waters: thrashing about with every strike of a wave and floating along in the calm of the twilight.

The album plays in its entirety like a very long song (think Rush's '2112') but has enough diversity along the way to keep you listening. If this brilliant release indicates just one thing, it's that TFoT have only started to test the waters of their creative genius. With a continually evolving sound, this dynamic three-piece band has a lot of life in them yet.

I am a fan of glassjaw, botch, dillinger escape plan. also a hardcore and death metal fan along with stone (stoner rock/doom) and classic/psych/prog rock.
this new release is ambitious and a followup to Ghostship, almost a re-working. Nonetheless bands like this should exist more. The pop and progressive factor meet so well. A good album for Mars Volta fans, lots of jam and prog. For fans of metalcore and Frances the Mute especially. All previous indication led to believe a more pop and power-pop sound, this EP both envelopes and detains that anticipation.
The next release hopefully will encapsulate progressive songwriting of this and the powerpop/soul-infusion of Manipulator. Whatever is next, this band remains strong.