Phantom Shadow
Machinae Supremacy · 2014
66 min · 16 tracks · alternative metal
A fusion of chiptune melodies and heavy metal riffs creates an epic, gaming-inspired soundscape throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Villain of This Story — This track showcases the album's narrative depth with its dynamic shifts between melodic choruses and aggressive verses, capturing the essence of storytelling in music.
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Throne of Games — With its catchy hooks and references to gaming culture, this song exemplifies Machinae Supremacy's signature style that resonates with both rock and gaming fans alike.
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Renegades — As one of the longest tracks on the album, it features intricate arrangements that blend orchestral elements with metal, showcasing the band's musical ambition.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Phantom Shadow blends chiptune and metal effectively but has moments that feel less cohesive.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, atmospheric intro that builds into a heavy riff, setting a dramatic tone for the following tracks.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes related to video games, with narratives that connect to gaming culture and storytelling.
- The final track concludes with an orchestral arrangement that contrasts sharply with the preceding heavy sound, providing a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- cinematic narratives with rich detail
- dynamic pacing with varied intensities
- engaging character-driven storytelling
- short interludes enhancing immersion
- epic themes for adventurous spirits
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification tracks
- preferring straightforward, single-focused albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2014, Phantom Shadow is Machinae Supremacy's fifth studio album, following their 2011 release, Rise of the Digital Nation. By this point, the band had established a dedicated fan base within the metal and gaming communities, further solidifying their unique blend of genres.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sabaton· DragonForce· Celldweller
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Wasn't Made for the World I Left Behind 0:42
- 2 The Villain of This Story 5:44
- 3 Perfect Dark 3:49
- 4 Europa 6:50
- 5 Throne of Games 6:09
- 6 Meanwhile (In the Hall of Shadows) 0:36
- 7 Phantom Battle 3:47
- 8 Captured (Sara's Theme) 2:00
- 9 Renegades 6:15
- 10 Beyond Good and Evil 6:33
- 11 The Second One 5:05
- 12 Redemption (Was Never Really My Thing) 0:33
- 13 The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall 4:29
- 14 Versus 6:01
- 15 Mortal Wound (Skye's Requiem) 1:09
- 16 Hubnester Rising 6:28
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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