Sear Bliss | Phantoms | Cosmic Key Creations

 

    Formed in 1993 in Szombathely, Hungary, Sear Bliss quickly earned recognition for blending black metal with atmospheric and symphonic elements, often featuring brass instruments such as trombone in their arrangements. Their music has always balanced aggression with grandeur, creating a distinctive sound within the European black metal scene. Originally released in 1996 by II Moons Records, “Phantoms” marked the band’s debut full-length album and laid the foundation for their future works. Over the years, it has gained a reputation as an underground classic, praised for its unique approach and epic scope.

“Phantoms” runs for just under 50 minutes, weaving together atmospheric passages, icy riffs, and symphonic textures. The album opens with “Winter Voices,” a short instrumental that works as a prelude before the first full song, “Far Above The Trees,” which introduces the listener to the band’s signature blend of harsh vocals, melodic guitar work, and brass accents. The sound is often expansive, with long compositions such as “Aeons Of Desolation” and “Land Of The Phantoms” allowing themes to unfold gradually, combining black metal intensity with a sense of grandeur and space.

Tracks like the masterpiece “1100 Years Ago” and “As The Bliss Is Burning” keep the energy varied, moving between faster sections and slower, more atmospheric parts. The use of trombone throughout the album is one of its most distinctive features, adding a mournful, almost regal tone that contrasts with the harsh guitars and vocals. Closing chapters like “Beyond The Darkness” and “With Mournful Eyes” wrap up the album with a sense of finality, leaving a lasting impression of epic and haunting black metal.

The 2025 repress by Cosmic Key Creations presents the album in a Super Jewel Box format with an 8-page booklet, limited to 500 copies, making it an attractive release for collectors. The sound retains its raw and atmospheric qualities, preserving the essence of the original 1996 release.

Score: 9.0

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