Review: Phantom "Not Midnight Yet"

Release date: 26.06.2026

7–11 minutes

The Nwothm

Mexican speed and thrash outfit Phantom will release their third album “Not Midnight Yet” through High Roller Records, following the label’s wider reissue of their earlier material. The record was tracked and mixed with Héctor “Northen” Ibarra at Nehtron Studios in Guadalajara and mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in Germany, marking one of the band’s most technical and dynamic sessions.

Mastermind J. C. García says he aims to push the group forward while keeping their traditional heavy metal core intact. “I am never fully satisfied with my records and I try to push forward and expand our boundaries with every new material without changing the soul and core of what PHANTOM stands for,” he notes, calling the album “a juggernaut”.

The tracklist ranges from the high‑speed attack of “Hordes of Bats” to the heavier midtempo focus of “Dracula’s Curse” and the title track. “The Pale Remains of Time” introduces melodic vocals, clean passages and light progressive touches. García describes the release as “a very personal record” and believes it is their strongest work so far.

“Not Midnight Yet” presents a sharpened, atmospheric version of Phantom’s sound and signals a band still gaining momentum.

Review

Hordes of Bats welcomes you to the darkness with the haunting sounds of church organs followed a moment of piano notes. The track then explodes with aggression through melodic madness and speed. The shred soon arrives and the momentum is building before the thrash beat attack comes in like a nuclear explosion. The vocals are ferocious and spit in your face like no one cares. This feels like a ground assault on your ears so get out the way or its going to rip you to pieces. The tempos chop and change bringing a sweat and moments for neck breaking Every moment feels exciting and this is heavily engaging. The solo is like a firework going all out towards the last parts of the song. All I can say is that I am super drawn in already.

Out of the Mausoleum the riffs come from afar before tumbling and spiralling through the dark. Like something huge is approaching. The whole feel of the ripping guitar riffs and ball breaking rhythm section feels absolutely punishing and I am absolutely loving it. There are moments where I can see metal heads head banging in unison in a sort of trance to tones and meaty rhythms of this song. But on the flip side of that there is so much rammed into this that you are going to feel the need to mosh and pump a fist in the air. The vocal work feels like someone who been taken over by the demon himself. There is even a nod to some classical music at the end! Interesting…

Dracula’s Curse returns with more with more organs to make you shiver, before Dracula himself wakes, rises from his coffin and goes on the hunt for blood. This feels like one hell of an evil and sinister album and your not going to b bored for a second. I love the weaving riffage in this track combined with big group shouts and emotion from the ideas that flow in this song. The lead work tears this apart like a snarling wolf. From the speed barrages to the cascading drum work every moment feels alive and ready to destroy what ever is in its path. Another kick ass song to mosh and throw beers around to in excitement.

Morgenstern / Iron Strike comes in with some swagger and no damn given especially with the riffage. The flailing lead licks are catchy and the thrashing drum patterns are going to give you over 30’s back pain. The music is divided between being hungry and needing something to sink its teeth into with moments that are more easier going (if that is even something in the bands vocabulary?) But the destructive speed storm is what they do best here! The solo feels like it has been lit with a lighter and everyone best get out of the way. Boom! The later half continues with more mass brutality and will certainly leave you gasping for breathe. Four tracks in and so far this album absolutely kills.

The Pale Remains of Time opens with some acoustic twangs and power chords that feel some what heroic. Interestingly enough it transitions to some bouncing bass and drum patterns which have that feel good vibe. Unlike the first four tracks this is a mid tempo banger. In a way it reminds me of some early nighties grunge/rock especially on teh vocal and riff delivery. A very unexpected but welcome turn from the band and to be honest this brings some balance to the record.

This is awesome especially when the music is mostly a continuous bloodshed. The softness and calmness comes in and out on the acoustic as well and I like that shift between the slightly heavier guitars. However the song brings a chunkier, speedier ending on the rhythm work which ties the band more into that classic heavy metal side of things. Excellent!

Summoned to Kill comes at you with attitude and bite. The whole track feels like an explosion of riffs and menacing vocal lines that get deep in your ears. Tempos change and provide plenty of moments for headbanging as well stomping and pumping fists uncontrollably. I can see this being a great kind of party track where the crowd goes absolutely mental to. Another quality track on a so far quality album!

Not Midnight Yet opens things up with some blood thirsty riffs. Don’t look in this beasts eyes because it will come after you looking for an easy meal. The track is mostly made up of a fast and aggressive 4/4 beat acting as the back to beat to some totally vicious guitar work. A small acoustic break occurs before a enormous lead breaks the mix and catches your attention like your coming in contact with your worst nightmare. The shred returns and we are catapulted back into some angry back breaking thrash beats. Expressive and powerful in an understatement for this song as I feel it just came at my ear canals full force!

Solomonari tantalises the mind with some majestic opening melodic guitar riffs before bashing skulls with some more meaty, fully stacked riffage. Throughout this whole album I have felt this raw, unpolished presence. Especially in the guitar work. And I love this combination with the great song writing. This track in particular feels a bit more lively and melodic especially with the harmonies in the guitar work. The band clearly show great balance between powerful speed metal, acoustic moments and having that injection of fiery heavy metal. I have to mention that the Raír and J.P provide a locked in and solid rhythm section and this has been consistent throughout the record.

Sepulchral Majesty is one of the shorter songs on the record but delivers on kicking up a huge dust cloud. The opening moments of the song feel a swarm of wasps. Then we subjected to storming double kick work that pummels your ear drums, electric rhythm guitars that feels like a flurry of riffs and a fully charged rhythm section. Considering the track is just over three minutes It feels like a total shock to the system. I often wonder if J.C is foaming at the mouth when it shouts and shrieks is vocal lines because they fit so well with the music, creating this large than life presence! The later part of the song which is mostly the s solo fits in perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle piece. Excellent!

Curse Your Name brings us back to more warm and delicate acoustic guitar ideas that drift through your mind. The harmonies are beautiful and you can feel the emotion an feelings running through every note played. In such a packed album It is great to have a breathing moment where you can dial back a little. i especially love how they gradually build in terms often way they are played before we drop in exciting a heavy metal action. The riffs feel uplifting, energetic and on fire all while flying along on double kick.

There is certainly more harmonies going on here and while I like the crushing ideas on the album, I am also sucker for melodic madness. More huge group shouts and higher register vocal ideas fill the huge space the music sits in. There are bright moments and some like darker twinges at times but I felt mostly uplifted by this song! If your blasting through the sky at a thousand miles an hour this is that song!

A Trail Full of Sorrows come in at just over a minute and delivers more acoustic guitar ideas. This time with a slight Mediterranean feel, with a some added guitar effects.A nice little moment is a very go,go,go album!

Echoes from the Fights is the closer and we return to that blasting speed metal madness. It has everything from pace, punch and boldness. Once again tehre are thrashing drums, booming bass lines and riffs that come down on you like a ton of bricks. There is is wonderful guitar harmonies to take the song out to its end. So get ready to have one last bout in the moshpit, let you self go and throw some fists up in the air. As Ozzy wood say “lets go F**king crazy!”

Conclusion

As the final notes fade, it’s clear this album isn’t just a collection of songs but a full‑scale assault crafted with intent, fury and surprising depth. The band drags you through darkness, chaos, melody and fire without ever losing control of the storm they’ve created. Every track feels alive, sharpened and ready to bite, yet the moments of acoustic calm and melodic colour show a band unafraid to expand their world. By the end you’re left exhilarated, bruised and fully convinced that this record stands tall as a raging, unrelenting triumph. If you came looking for something fierce, memorable and overflowing with metal spirit, this album absolutely delivers.