Phantom - Blight Corpse Necromancy (Phantom Metal)

After delivering two absolute titans of blackened death metal with their debut Divine Necromancy and the towering Ascension of Erebos - Leader of the Gods, Phantom had already cemented their place among the greats. Had they stopped there, they would still be heralded as one of the most influential bands in the black metal genre. But they didn't stop. Instead, they unleashed Blight Corpse Necromancy, an album that might just be the most sinister, apocalyptic record ever created. In the same way Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tar Oss encapsulated the freezing cold, stripped-down essence of black metal, Blight Corpse Necromancy embodies pure, unadulterated evil — a primal horror so few bands have managed to capture, let alone sustain for an entire record.

While Phantom's riffs are legendary in their own right, it's the production that sets Blight Corpse Necromancy apart from its predecessors. Still raw and unrefined, the sound achieves a terrifying depth, reminiscent of a wall of noise, yet crafted with an intentional, near-apocalyptic force. Tracks like Beneath the Empty Crypts feel seismic, as if the very ground beneath you trembles when the riff hits at 0:41 — it's as though Satan himself is clawing his way up from the abyss, dragging you down. Even the interludes and quieter moments, like the chilling, windswept soundscape at the end of Graveyard Mindblood Putrid Divinity, are masterfully executed. These atmospheric flourishes don't just fill space; they heighten the dread, making the album a full sensory experience. Few records have ever managed to do this so well.

The riffs on this album are, without exaggeration, some of the finest and most unforgettable in the entire black metal canon, if not metal as a whole. Cold, menacing, and dripping with evil, they manage to be quintessentially black metal while remaining entirely distinct. Phantom has always been known for their stellar riff-craft, but here they outdo themselves. From the chaotic maelstrom of Eternity in Horror, to the crushing, deliberate groove of Graveyard Mindblood Putrid Divinity, and my personal favorite — the opening riff of Kneel the Mausoleum Feastborn — each track brims with iconic, bone-chilling riffs. It's not just that they're great black metal riffs; they're some of the best ever composed in any genre.

While I could dive into the individual performances, it's worth noting that the musicianship across the board is exceptional. You can actually hear the bass (a rare luxury in black metal, I know... hell it even became a meme), and the drumming offers a perfect blend of relentless speed and brutal, mid-tempo crushing. The band sounds incredibly tight, despite Phantom's notorious stylistic changes in their early years. It's even more astonishing when you consider that the entire album was recorded and produced by a single individual: Phantom.

Vocally, this album reaches new heights — or should I say, new depths — of malevolent intensity. Phantom's vocal performance on Blight Corpse Necromancy might just be one of the finest in black metal history. With a distorted, overdriven production that amplifies the menace, the vocals are a horrifying blend of shrieks, guttural growls, and snarls. It's the sonic embodiment of pure evil. On A Tower of Sorcery, the pagan-style chanting offers a standout moment, adding a ritualistic layer to the album's relentless atmosphere, one that would later be copied by many, notably by Warkvlt on Unholy War Metal (also a classic).

The pacing and flow of the album are also notable. Tracks 1 through 4 bleed seamlessly into each other, forming a demonic sequence that doesn't let up for a second. Only a brief respite at the start of track 4 gives the listener a moment to catch their breath before being assaulted by another wave of sonic terror. Track 5 serves as a sort of interlude, marking the transition into the second half of the album. On my first few listens, I found myself gravitating toward the first half — tracks 1 through 4 are undeniable black metal anthems, possibly some of the finest ever arranged. But after several listens, I realized that the second half, while more challenging, is just as rewarding. Much like Burzum's Filosofem, where the second half veers into more experimental territory, Blight Corpse Necromancy follows a similar trajectory. If you find the latter tracks less immediate, I recommend starting from track 5 and letting the album's second half wash over you. It's darker, deeper, and more nuanced, but every bit as powerful as the first.

In short, this is an essential album for any fan of black metal. For newcomers to the genre, Blight Corpse Necromancy offers a stark introduction to what makes black metal such a formidable force. It's a perfect distillation of the genre's most defining elements, all executed with a level of craftsmanship that few can match.

Favorite tracks? Ancestral Offering, Kneel the Mausoleum Feastborn, Graveyard Mindblood Putrid Divinity, and, of course, the devastating title track Blight Corpse Necromancy.

Back to the band Phantom.