Marianas Trench - Phantoms - Album Review 

Yeah this review almost PERFECTLY sums up my opinions on this record. I'd say it's on the level of Ever After for me, sliding above that project, and just below Masterpiece Theatre as of now. Astoria is my favorite album of all time and honestly I have you to thank for it. Your review of Astoria introduced me to them and they've been my favorite band ever since. This is an act that I'm seeing in a week and again in May. I love these guys passionately. This is not their top tier work, but it's still incredible, especially in the writing department. The Killing Kind and Echoes of You are, in my opinion, easily Astoria level songs and I LOVE when this band properly cuts loose and ignores all trends. The orchestration, the vocals, the massive swells; all of it is just mind blowing. But I do like how they make songs that fit current trends and run circles around everyone else while doing it. I love that Wish You Were Here takes everything I like about Shut Up and Kiss me and improves it. I like how they made pitch shifted vocals sound lush and organic (at least in my opinion) on Don't Miss Me, one of my favorites. And the simple fact that Josh's vocals only get better with each release blows my mind. I know there's an A5 on Don't Miss Me, and the low, frantic vocals that open The Killing Kind are fantastic. Hearing Josh Ramsay switch between his registers and really display his range made up for some of the less impressive instrumentation. Astoria had lush, beautifully layered instrumentals and beautiful vocals. Phantoms has less impressive instrumentals, but kills in the vocal department. I agree with you on the ending too. I've kinda decided to take it as an embrace of the madness, a realization that this will always be a part of him. Along with that, the fact that he sings "nevermore to leave here" and then calls back to Astoria, makes me feel secure in that interpretation. idk that's how I read it. I'm SUPER curious what they'll do after this, because I'm choosing to see this as almost a transitional album, almost a come down from the massive emotions of Astoria (a coda, like you said). Josh Ramsay clearly knows that dwelling on this is bad for him, so I honestly don't know where they'll go next. I'd love for them to do something that leans all the way into over the top theatrics next. But yeah this comment is just a big ole excuse to talk about my absolute favorite band, and if you end up reading this mess of words, I'd genuinely like to thank you for introducing me to this band. Like, I'm meeting them in May man you've genuinely changed my life for the better with that Astoria review, I wouldn't have found them without it. Anyways, I'd also give Phantoms a big 8-8.5/10 and I just tell everyone to listen to them lol. Great review man.

I'm a simple man. I see Spectrum Pulse reviewing a Marianas Trench album, and I click. Your review of Astoria is one of my all-time favorite reviews of yours.

SPOT. ON. I want the aforementioned "goth rock/post-punk/symphonic metal" influence on album no. 6, and BADLY. (Maybe with a sci-fi concept of some sort.) The comments on the mainstream's influence on Phantoms (and MT's transcendent highs when they divert from it)...also spot-on. It's early, but as a fan (thanks to you), this might be a contender for one of my favorite reviews of yours.

They should be popular in the states.

I actually agree 100% with everything you had to say. To me, Masterpiece Theater and Astoria are perfect albums, so I can’t say Phantoms wasn’t a step down for me. I wish they’d dug into the horror/goth sound a LOT more (knowing this band and how creative they are, I think they really could’ve nailed it.) and, like you said, I didn’t care for the modern pop sounds this album took on. That being said, this is a Marianas Trench album still, and there were some pretty awesome tracks. I can only hope they move away from the modern, radio friendly sound in the future.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS Edit: Billie Eilish and Jason Isbell comparisons 😩 Edit 2: no mentions of Ever After when talking about past works, I’m curious about what marks thoughts are on it.

most anticipated music review of 2019 bar none

It’s finally here! It’s a great record & Nice Leather Jacket Bro!

This has a very real possibility of being my AOTY. I felt a bit mixed upon first listen, but I haven't been able to stop listening since it came out. I was a bit scared going into this for similar reasons, Astoria being absolutely incredible made me worried Phantoms would be a bit of a step backwards... but I don't think I feel that way. My only personal problem with it is that seeing the album art, the title, the teaser trailer and Josh talking about the influences for this record made me expect a fair bit more gothic/darker sounding tones, but when actually listening to it, I think The Killing Kind is the only song that fully gets there. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but I guess I was just expecting it to sound a fair bit darker. I love it, though. This is definitely my best of the year so far. It's only March, but I can't think of anything even giving it a run for its money so far. Great review as always.

‘Only The Lonely Survive’ reminds me bit of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Castle On The Hill’. I love It!!

I reviewed this album as per request and, even if I disagree with your opinion on it, I'm actually happy that one of my favorite RU-vid critics also covered the album. Helps give me a look at it from another perspective.

I like it about as much as Ever after, Astoria is absolutely their best work and it will be unlikely that any future release will top it from them. Still I'm happy to have another project from my favorite Canadian group and it absolutely shows they still have huge potential in the future.. 8/10 for me as well

Brendon Urie...Josh Ramsay puts him under the table? Really ? Edgar Allan Poe...one drama queen deserves another? Truly? Astoria, Eleonora...both work in their own twisted ways? Seriously? Like to...like and subscribe? Honestly? Answer to all of the above... Yes! 😁

I just listened to this album last week or two weeks ago and I saw your review the moment you uploaded it (I'm so late on listening to it I know lol). And honestly, I agree with everything you said here! I needed time to let this album sink and honestly, it's not as good as Masterpiece Theatre and Astoria I strongly agree. I did temper my expectations after this review and I'm glad I did cause I was also scared to check this out too. Still a dope album, but not better or up to par with Astoria and Masterpiece Theatre. What's your opinion on "Ever After"? Never heard you talk about it. I know it's an old album but that one was meh to me. For me it's a light 7 to a decent 8/10

I agree with the others on this being more on par with Ever After, still a great album but being slightly overshadowed due to proximity to both Masterpiece Theatre and Astoria (also EA and Phantoms both attempt a more narrow thematic point, with MT and Astoria having a more general concept with a specific sound moreso than a specific storyline)

I have to admit that you nailed my thoughts on this album..... I'd personally place it 2nd to last in terms of how I'd rank the albums as a whole, yet at the same time that doesn't seem fair given that each of their albums is well, very solid. I do have to admit though, if we have to wait another 4 years between albums again after this one..... and I find the idea of going more post-punk goth rock an interesting one... I'm just hoping that the songs they plan to release as singles do well on the US charts cause they deserve it.

Wait... the guy from Jellyfish is on this album? I haven't heard of Jellyfish anything since like, 2006 with Drake Bell's album that year. I loved some of Jellyfish's stuff. I need to hear this album too, cause I do like Marianas Trench quite a bit. I loved "Celebrity Status" and "Who Do You Love?". This does sound like a pretty good. Also, I heard Carly Rae Jepsen on "Bucket", so I was a bit earlier, but I did like his feature on "Sour Candy".

You are the best music reviewer on RU-vid man. Hands down. No equal exists

I was actually hoping they were gonna go gothic when I saw the album cover, but they didn’t :( That I think is what really brought the album down. It just didn’t meet my expectations. I still like it though and I’m gonna see them live soon :D I am ready to hear The Killing Kind LIVE!!!

Don’t forget Adam Lambert’s vocals in modern day music.

Your score was given right at the climax of The Killing Kind, that was very satisfying.

I have been waiting for this since the album was announced! I can understand the nerves, because I felt the same way. I feel like phantoms is the baby of Fix Me and Masterpiece Theatre. It has the powerful emotions behind fix me but also has some fun weird production like masterpiece theater. I don't know I love the band and this album definitely is good, it's just not what I expected from them.

Lots of songs rip melodies off of other famous songs. The Killing Loud is The Shape is you’s melody. And it’s filled with reused melodies.

Now this is saucy.

i love marianas trench omg 😔

Good to know you're wearing your pants this time, Mark..

This band fn rocks! Pure talent!

Really liked the album, but I definitely was confused with the direction of some of these tracks. 'I Knew You When' and 'Don't Miss Me' specifically seemed a little... Generic? While both have good moments, there are also parts that leave me scratching my head wondering what they were going for. However, as a whole this album works very well. And when the theatric elements shine through, it's fantastic. 'Echoes Of You' is one of the most unique Marianas Trench songs to date, and the opening and closing tracks, while not as epic as the past few, are very gripping and serve their purpose well. I love the Edgar Allen Poe references, even if some felt a little forced (the use of the phrase "midnight dreary" during the opening track was a little bit too awkward in my opinion), the writing was still phenomenal. If he has to keep referencing classic poets to keep the writing good, I don't mind. It at least shows their intelligence and willingness to work hard to make good music. Overall, 8.5/10 from me.

This was my introduction to the band. It's pretty fucking good.

I love those special moments in songs like Echoes of You and The Killing Kind, but I’m also glad that they didn’t use that throughout a lot of songs because it makes it actually special and unique. If they did that kind of stuff more often, it wouldn’t be as unique or interesting. That being said, my least favorite part of this album is the dull and cliche lyrics in songs like I Knew You When and Glimmer. I believe that since they used actually instruments to create those pop sounds so that they wouldn’t be completely falling to the trends they probably tried to follow suit with their lyrics to have those more cliche lyrics without it being too poppy. Instrument wise I think they won that battle, but I think they lost with the lyrics. Like I said, some parts just feel repetitive and annoying. Still, I love the band more than anything and this album is stellar (but definitely not better than the masterpiece that is Astoria).

I found this albun really dissapointing and apart from the final track pretty much nothing impressed me. Maybe I should give it another shot, but for now it's a 5/10 for me.

Ok, after couple more listens, I think it starts to click with me. I still think it's Marianas Trench weakest album, but lyrics are better than they were on surface and Josh Ramsay is as killer vocalist as always. I would give it a 7. Also, new Juice WRLD album is hot garbage. Bloated, whiny, annoying, badly produced and mixed hot garbage. Funny thing is Robbery, song I enjoyed ironically, actualy might be the best from this album. Worst rap album of the year so far. At least Lil Pump has some fun bangers and Gunna's album was shorter. 1.5/10 for me and I would love to see how Mark would tear it to shreds like Rae Sremmurd and AJR.

Second

God you know it's a good album when the worst track is still a but if a bop

Even their shitty songs if they have any blows the crap out of the shit thats out there. MT and GVF give me faith

Another name to throw in the mix for incredible pop/rock vocalists is Cody Carson of Set it off. Now don't get me wrong. Set it off's writing, production, instrumentation and just in general their music has gone to shit ever since Duality came out. But Cody Carson still does have that amazing voice. It's sad because their music doesn't suit his voice whatsoever anymore.

I’m sorry, but I thought this album was their worst BY FAR. I was greatly disappointed.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

All this type of music sounds the same. Josh sounds just like every other one. Nothing special about him.