Review: “A Solitary Vigil” by Phobetor

Mixed by Ollie Roberts (Pythia, Born For War) and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (Darkane, Defleshed, Paradise Lost) after 2021’s disturbing “Through Deepest Fears and Darkest Minds” album comes a new burnt offering from London Blackened Death Metal act Phobetor in “A Solitary Vigil“. The bands fourth record since inception in 2018, it finds them officially joined in a writing capacity for the first time by guitarist Ben Ash, a man who has earned his stripes with them in the live arena over the past three years. For those unfamiliar, you may have seen him on stages in Carcass, Pig Iron and even Satyricon at various points since 2001, adding more seasoning to veterans who already have performed in Pythia, Meat Train and Lunatic Hooker to name but a few…

Walking the left hand path where Gods fear to tread “A Solitary Vigil” has a classically styled and suitably blackened introduction that will send a chill down your spine like the finest of psychological horror films before flexing some Death Metal muscle. Haunting leads and blast beats accompany the throat shredding vocals from Debora Conserva as she screams like a banshee, spitting blood and venom like a woman scorned. Approaching the realms of Extreme Metal in the same way that Cradle Of Filth have done with albums like “Hammer Of The Witches” the brutality has a certain melancholia to it that’s seductive. Embracing their new found power “Absence Of Light” takes that one step further with punishing, thunderous kit work and unearthly demonic vocals as the riffs fly in all directions. The well of creativity overflows with dark, poisonous waters and the five piece slide between Black and Death Metal with consummate ease, their groove laden formula blood soaked in malicious intent. Moving into the Death Thrash territory of Nervosa, “Black Fading Winter” goes faster and heavier with a frenzied riff attack and pummelling percussion before a mid track slow down that burns like wire. Rather than being melodic or even ambient, the band allow Conserva’s vocals to inflict maximum damage as they take a moment to breathe before returning to for a final mauling. It’s a moment of genius that makes the most out of what Phobetor are without compromise while refusing to give up any of their precious dark energy.

In turn that feels like part the blueprint for “The Vacant Worlds Within Us“, a track that ebbs and flows with tempo changes and rich leads. Menacing and sinister in the slower groove laden parts, the riffs on this one are utterly sublime, proving that Ash is a great partner in crime for fellow riff lord Ross White. The pair then expand their horizons with “Where Mournful Shadows Dwell“, once again moving into Death Thrash territory as Conserva barks and bites in a way reminiscent of Mayara “Undead” Puertas of Torture Squad fame. Descending to the bowels of Hell itself the band then peel back the layers exposing a moment of eerie haunting acoustic guitar to give us a melodic break before returning to the skull crushing madness. A shock moment on the first couple of spins, the break serves its purpose well, if anything enabling the second half of the cut to become even more monstrous. The only problem with this record is that after its twenty one minutes is over you’re left wanting more, the band having reached critical mass and outdone themselves with these cryptic writings. That bodes very well for their next burnt offering, a record that upon hearing this has instantly appeared in the highly anticipated category [9/10]

Track Listing

1. A Solitary Vigil
2. Absence Of Light
3. Black Fading Winter
4. The Vacant Worlds Within Us
5. Where Mournful Shadows Dwell

“A Solitary Vigil” by Phobetor is out 25th July via Black Jasper Records