Album Review: Machinae Supremacy - Phantom Shadow

It was only natural that once metal music became intertwined with video games that there would be a degree of co-mingling, that bands would start to soak up the sounds and influences of the games that took metal under their wing. It's odd, in a way, that a genre that tries to push boundaries would instead have a faction that aims to introduce regressive sounds, but that is exactly what has happened. The soundtrack of old 8-bit video games has seeped into areas of the metal culture, and has created an odd amalgam of sounds that I could never have predicted.

Machinae Supremacy is one of those bands that uses video games as a source of inspiration, turning out music that mixes the worlds of metal and gaming. There is actually more commonality between the two groups than you might expect, but we're here to talk about the music, not the sociological constructs that enable it.

"Phantom Shadow" is the band's attempt to mainstream their sound, reducing the emphasis on 8-bit sounds, using them merely as accents to color the songs. "The Villain Of This Story" starts things out with a stop-start riff, and vocals that call back to the heyday of punk/emo, while the digital influences are reduced to sounds playing a melody line under the guitars. It's a smart use of those sounds, making them present enough that you know they are there, but not pushing them so far to the forefront that it would turn off people who would rather listen to actual instruments.

"Perfect Dark" throws a monkey wrench in that plan, focusing heavily on those sounds that could be called 'bleeps and bloops', which doesn't play to their strengths. The song itself is fairly strong, and boasts a solid hook, but it all gets swallowed up by the gimmick. When the bridge kicks in, it's a moment that should feel powerful, but it hard to take seriously because I almost feel like I'm driving along Rainbow Road.

What becomes evident as the album continues is that Machinae Supremacy is not ready to fully shed their roots. On the songs where they try to be a more serious rock/metal band, they lack the spark that would make them stand out. "Europa" wants to be a heart-wrenching ballad, but it doesn't have much in the way of a towering hook, so it winds up feeling like an unfinished composition. When the 8-bit sounds are played up, that's when the band is at their best. It's obvious that is the kind of music that are most familiar with, and are most interested in making. Those songs have sharper playing and better hooks, possibly because the band has yet to figure out how to separate their playing from the very melodic constructs that video games rely on.

Whatever the case may be, "Phantom Shadow" is an interesting album. It has a frenzied energy about it, with songs that want to be ear candy, both in style and substance. There's something about the 8-bit sounds that just works when the band commits to it, even though I have a hard time believing I'm saying such a thing. When the pop band Ozma tried the same thing years ago, I thought it was a horrible joke gone awry, but Machinae Supremacy plays is straight, and their sincerity is what makes it work.

No, "Phantom Shadow" is not an album I'm going to revisit often, but that has more to do with me than the music. It's not the kind of thing that I would choose to listen to, but I'm glad I did, because it's the kind of wild ride that metal doesn't often give us. It's certainly worth hearing, even if it's only for the spectacle.

Chris C

Music Reviewer

Chris is a professional intellectual. He graciously shares his deep thoughts on the world of music with the world. You're welcome.