Kev Rowland Well, it has been five years since the debut, and three years since it was reissued on Aural Music, but at long last one of my favourite Greek bands are back with the follow-up. There have been some changes afoot, with singer/ bassist Anastasios “Tas” Ioannidis leaving, and the band taking the opportunity to move from a trio to a quartet by bringing in vocalist Takis Mark and bassist Kostas Dragon-K, but there hasn’t been a significant change in sound. What we have here is music that is grounded in stoner, doom and southern (that’s pronounced ‘Suvverrrrnnn!!”), yet contains a groove and vitality that takes it away from the navel-gazing that can so often be associated with the former. There is no way that music such as this should be coming from Europe, this is as American as Jack Daniels, and each time I play this I am astounded at just how original and authentic this sounds!

It hits hard, with stacks of bottom end, but it is the inherent groove and swing that lightens this and provides the drama and vitality that lifts this so far above the norm. I had forgotten just how good Phase Reverse actually are until I put this on the player, but now I remember it is going to take a lot to shift them out! Yet another stunning album from the Greeks, let’s hope that it isn’t nearly as long until the next one. www.phasereverse.com

Kev Rowland Originally released in 2009, this Greek trio then signed to Aural Music who reissued it in 2011 with some additional material and new artwork. These guys have an interesting concept in that they state that they are “not quite metal, not quite rock, but the best of both.” Okay, I guess I can go with that as a description, as what they are clearly adept at is taking bits and pieces from both genres and then mixing them together within the same song. Let’s get one thing clear at the outset though, when these guys are heavy, they are right up there with the real heavyweights as all three of them combine to produce power chords and solid slabs of music that can bring down walls if played loud enough (and I live in New Zealand, so I know all about earthquakes).

But, this is not just about music that is powerful enough to walk on, but instead they have many strings to their collective bow. Singer Anastasios “Tas” Ioannidis (who is also the bassist) is an incredible asset, with a voice that has a breadth and depth as well as range. Although not quite a deep as Danny Joe Brown (RIP), he has a similar style in that when he sings it is almost as if he is singing chords instead of single notes, such is the richness and tonal qualities. Also, an added asset to Western ears is that there is no accent whatsoever.

This is album that is meat and potatoes, something that is filling and satisfying, which makes one want to go back for seconds. Some of the runs and fills within “Eye to Eye” for example are just stunning. Alexandros “Alex” Alexiou obviously uses treetrunks instead of drumsticks, while John “Chief” Stergiou is happy to play gentle notes in the background, or provide powerchords that Iommi would be proud of, or blistering runs and solos when the need requires.

This is easily one of the finest albums, whatever genre, that I have ever come across from Greece and I can only hope that it isn’t the last we hear from these guys who appear to be currently unsigned, but are still gigging. This is a superb release. www.phasereverse.com

adg211288 Phase Reverse is the self-titled debut album from this Greek trio, which was originally released in 2009 to the Greek market only but saw wider distribution at the tail-end of 2011 after the band signed to Aural Music. The 2011 version comes with a bonus track and new artwork. The band comes with the quite interesting branding of being “not quite metal, note quite rock, but the best of both.” I guess that’s kind of true, since their music tends to sway back and forth between the hard rock and traditional heavy metal genres, but ultimately I have to consider this album more within the hard rock genre, even if it is an album that can heavy it up right into metal territory, rather than being in total balance between the two.

I guess the burning question is though is if Phase Reverse’s drifting between hard rock and heavy metal aspects affects the consistency of their music in any way. Well it’s very clear to me that it does affect it, but in a very good way. Hard rock and heavy metal are pretty closely related of course, if fact I know a few people who consider them one and the same, something I don’t quite agree with myself but Phase Reverse is an album that seems tailored to give credence to such a view. The band’s music drifts between classic hard rock riffs and more aggressive metal parts seamlessly. The somewhat raw quality to the vocals helps a lot with the flow of the tracks. I’m pretty sure that with a voice like this Anastasios "Tas" Ioannidis would be right at home fronting any sort of hard rock or heavy metal band.

In some ways the band reminds me of some of the more successful hard rock or even alternative metal acts, which is the main reason I consider this album more hard rock based, but the major difference is those metal influences that really spice up the music just that bit more, which for me, makes Phase Reverse a much easier and more much enjoyable listen than many of the acts that hit the big time. I think that’s also because the band shares more qualities with their writing with more classic bands than relatively recent acts on the scene. I don’t think mentioning them in the same breath as the likes of Led Zeppelin would be inappropriate at all. Not that Phase Reverse sounds retro at all, this is very much modern rock music, pulled off extremely well.

Did I mention that it’s fantastic? This is as far as I’m concerned how hard rock music should sound. It is catchy yet intense on the guitars, creating a really heavy sound, played by musicians that are clearly worth their salt, and has awesome vocals that fit the music regardless if the band is on a light section (which there are quite a few of) or rocking out. It rocks. Pure and simple it just plain rocks. What more reason do you need to be adding this one to your collection?

Phase Reverse is just starting out, but as this album shows they’re already a force to be reckoned with. Their debut comes highly recommended to all rock and metal fans.

8.6/10

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org))

Time Signature I got your back...

Genre: groove metal/rock

Enter Phase Reverse, a Greek modern power trio who style themselves as being not quite metal and not quite rock, but a bit of both. To my ears they are quite rock and very much metal. They draw extensively on groove metal, but effectively filter out the thrash and sludge influences, the result being sound based on pure groove which, riffwise, at times gives the impression of a Led Zeppelin on steroids.

But while Led Zeppelin had the sort of upbeat feel to their grooves, Phase Reverse's music generally comes across as very potent and heavy (though not as heavy or technical as, say, Adrenaline Mob). And, I must say that the three Greek rockers can really churn out some crushing riffs. This album is definitely graced by the touch of top class riffsmiths.

The vocals have a sort of gruff quality to them, which suits the music quite well, and at times - especially in the more mellow passages - there is an almost introspective alternative metal/rock-like feel to the singing as well, which, again, suits the passages in which it appears quite well.

So, there definitely are some strong songs in the album, which make it more than worthwhile. However, some of the songs do become a bit formulaic in the long run in term. Still, the riffs are so awesome that they do make up for it; the riffage definitely is the album's biggest strength and the main attraction of most of the tunes on the album.

"Phase Reverse" is quite metal and quite rock, I'd say, and riff-happy fans of strong groovy metal should definitely give this album a listen. Oh, and see of you can spot the Born to be Wild-Easter egg.

(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)