100 / 100
➤ "… a beautiful EP with a super dose of Metal Opera that covers the Symphonic Metal and Power Metal, with a well-orchestrated cinematic-type drama and atmosphere … even more carefully made … melodic choral singing, guitar solos, heavy percussion, dark and somewhat dense parts with really nice orchestration … really for Metal Opera fans!"
(Darkzen Dragon)
10 / 10
➤ "… a second offering of Symphonic Metal majesty and operatic overtures! PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT are one of a kind – the bands sound dominated by the incredible voice of lead singer Axel De Montalembert. Displaying the lowest vocal range of all voice types, Axel’s bass style is normally associated with classical music, but here it is, in all its proud glory, fronting a Metal band …"
(Metal Gods TV)
9 / 10
➤ "… a blend of Symphonic Power Metal music with orchestral and theatrical operas to wrap an epic storyline that will make us get carried away in the nuances and emotions in the story it brings … the quality of this EP is better than their previous work, with more mature creation and better production making this album feel more classy and elegant, and getting the band closer to the ranks of high-class bands such as Rhapsody, Powerwolf, Nightwish or Cradle Of Filth …"
(Metal Opera)
9 / 10
➤ "… opens with the eponymous track 'The Cursed Lord' … immediately, you're drawn into the dark, ominous .... almost evil atmosphere … absolutely brilliant operatic music … the orchestration is breathtaking … kept us on the edge of our seats … hats off to the artists!"
(Powermetal FR)
8,5 / 10
➤ "The tracks are all excellent and flow beautifully. Axel's vocal range is superb, and Guillaume Remih delights us with his double pedal. Although the tracks are over five minutes long, the time passes quickly and I personally can't wait to hear their next album."
(Soil Chronicles)
7 / 10
➤ "... an impressive EP that skillfully combines the influences of Symphonic Metal and classical music … PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT manages to create an intoxicating atmosphere and immerse the listener in a captivating story ... an absolute must for fans of Symphonic Power Metal and operatic sounds ... prove that they belong to the outstanding bands of the genre …"
(AM:plified Mag)
3,5 / 5
➤ "... is undoubtedly of good quality ... guitarist Oswald Croll's compositions are very pleasant to listen to, with many references to classical music ('Surrounded by Darkness' features Mozart's 'Dies irae', for example), which fits into a genre like Symphonic Power ..."
(All Around Metal)
➤ "The new songs of the Frenchmen tie in seamlessly with the current album. A loss of quality is not to be recognized. The vocals are sometimes melodic, sometimes growled, and there are many choirs. Everything is kept very orchestral, theatrical and pompous. The band is bubbling with ideas and comes up with many interesting, unexpected parts, but without overwhelming the listener ... musically, especially fans of Powerwolf should feel addressed!"
(Crossfire)
➤ "The first part of a symphonic fantasy adventure … the affinity to classical composers is unmistakable … Adrien Djouadou is also at home on opera stages when he is not composing … melodic choral vocals, guitar solos, hard drumming … really nice orchestration … so if you like to go on a symphonic-tinged fantasy adventure for once, you should definitely give 'The Cursed Lord' a listen …"
(Powermetal DE)
➤ "...has more operatic momentum than the previous album...the missing link between Rhapsody and Helloween ... seems the songs were first conceived as short operas and then wrapped in Metal music ... the symphonic elements are strong , not only in the vocals ... this creates a dark and dense atmosphere ..."
(Metal Addicts)
➤ "… Axel de Montalembert's beautiful bass voice, heavy riffs, epic guitar solos, thunderous bass, percussive drums and grandiose orchestrations … and the use of true masterpieces of classical music adapted to Symphonic Metal … you'll hear heavy versions of Mussorgsky's 'A Night On Bald Mountain', Mozart's 'Dies Irae' and inspired moments from some of the finest pages of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi … it's all here for you to set off on a dark symphonic adventure … superb EP …"
(Nawak Posse)
➤ "... sounds damn good ... very dramatic and opulent ... the Metal instruments take the scepter and in addition sounds the mighty voice of vocalist Phoebus, which already fascinated me so much on the previous release ... the epic character remains intact ... manage to fully fascinate me ..."
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "… an outstanding performance from PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT, taking Symphonic Power Metal to new heights of excellence …"
(Frenzy Fire)
➤ "… not only showcases PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT's musical prowess but also highlights their ability to craft a compelling and immersive narrative within the confines of a musical journey. The EP's thematic depth and musical complexity make it a standout addition to the band's discography and a must-listen for fans of Symphonic Metal and classical music enthusiasts alike."
(Iron Backstage)
➤ "The songs are well put together, easy to listen to and sound melodic and familiar to the ears ... alongside the symphonic elements, there's enough going on to keep the listener on their toes ..."
(Wings Of Death)
►► Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror • 2023 ◄◄
10 / 10
➤ "… a fantastic album … terrifically atmospheric … sensational … if this was an opera in the popular West End of London, it would be a sold out affair for so many nights …"
(Metal Gods TV)
10 / 10
➤ "One aspect that I really liked about PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT is the way the band draws the listener into the story through the music and captivates them song after song … appropriates the essence of old school Symphonic Metal to create its own style … a sensual, imaginative and dynamic album that takes the listener out of reality and lets them participate in their adventures …"
(La Magia Absalón)
9,5 / 10
➤ "As a reviewer I am seldom lost for words when it comes to a band or their music, however, PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT have left me speechless … what a refreshing change to so many Metal bands … Axel has an operatic Bass voice that literally goes from metal growl to the most entrancing gentle tone and it leaves me with goosebumps … insanely brilliant; it’s Metal Fantasy of the highest order that could be performed in the Royal Opera House or Royal Albert Hall … such an uplifting work …"
(Banshee Entertainment)
4,5 / 5
➤ "... a wonderful musical experience ... the attention is maintained throughout the album thanks to the rich instrumentation and Phoebus' incredibly diverse organ ... if you like concept albums that you can immerse yourself in for hours or days, if you like musical, operatic Symphonic Metal, I highly recommend this surprising and challenging creation!"
(Rattlead HU)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… an album that you should give your attention to … immersive, varied, imaginative and without fault in terms of production … PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT doesn't claim to be an avant-gardist and fully embraces its influences, but absorbs them to allow itself to sound like no one else … well done … are you tired of listening to Rhapsody Of Fire do Dragonforce? Try PHOEBUS out …!"
(Heavylaw)
8 / 10
➤ "… more Symphonic than Power, with predominance of orchestrations. There are several bands that played with orchestras, PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT doesn't need that, orchestra is implied and an important part of the music …"
(Sounds From Apocalypse)
8 / 10
➤ "… combining Power Metal, symphonic music, Melodic Death Metal and gothic atmosphere … the concept and the musical diversity make the band unique … PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT succeeds with its first album: a brilliant future seems promised to this band. In any case, it deserves it!"
(Power Metal France)
8 / 10
➤ "... more traditional Power Metal with a Rhapsody approach ... Phoebus' voice is the big highlight, bigger than anything else in good Hollywood musical fashion ... the effect is strong and takes some getting used to, so it's really a matter of personal appreciation as musically good taste rules and captivates ..."
(World Of Metal)
8 / 10
➤ "... for their first album PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT already do well, thanks to a fully accepted and mastered risk taking ... so yes, we do not get into it easily (that's the goal), but the work to present the band is done ..."
(Seigneurs Du Metal)
8 / 10
➤ "… 'Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror' presents a new color and enlivens the Metal music scene … heroic musical characters with conceptual fantasy enter them into Symphonic Power Metal by combining many other musical elements … immediately highly recommended for fans of Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Powerwolf, Rhapsody Of Fire and Cradle Of Filth …"
(Metal Opera)
7,5 / 10
➤ "... with a touch of Nightwish ... careful orchestrations and guitar riffs ... symphonic melodies that captivate you and keep you in suspense from the first second ... dramatic and epic atmosphere ... strongly influenced by Teutonic Powerwolf ... all elements very well realized ..."
(MetalRock Club)
7 / 10
➤ "... majestic ... fat riffs that bang really well ... for the theatrical background there are many choirs ... with focus is the deep, melodic and theatrical lead vocals of Axel 'Phoebus' De Montalembert, which reminds me very much of Powerwolf ... the band is bubbling with ingenuity and goes very varied and detailed ..."
(Crossfire)
7 / 10
➤ "... a surprising journey through medieval epicness, offering fascinating combinations of symphonies and dramaturgy …"
(Heavy Metal Webzine IT)
3,5 / 5
➤ "… fluent and convincing … characterized … by the baritone voice … excellent instrumental parts … a good Symphonic Power album, suitable both for fans of the likes of Nightwish, but also for those who appreciate Rhapsody … an enjoyable listen …"
(All Around Metal)
➤ "The Phantom Of The Opera! … pleasantly eerie flair that you can not escape ... imaginative guitar playing ... extremely opulent ... what fascinated me personally from the first notes was the voice of Phoebus - clear and deep and also a bit eerie ... also suitable for non-Power Metal fans who are friends of deep, expressive vocals …"
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "… out of the ordinary … no female singer here, no, it's a man … a voice that we could hear in an opera … even if most of the vocals remain clear, the frontman Axel doesn't hesitate to open up to the growl to surprise the audience and to give more consistency to his interpretation … the production has nothing to envy to the greatest prod that this style can know, quite the contrary …"
(Metal In Veins)
➤ "… imposing bass voice … relied on opera traits to be built up … written to be performed as opera pieces … all the symphonic and orchestral movements make sense … a theatric sense of music that leads the band … mixed altogether with a Power Metal sonic mass … love or hate. There’s no between. I love albums like that."
(Metal Addicts)
➤ "… really, really epic, grandiose Symphonic Power Metal … the orchestrations, the symphonic elements are just absolutely incredible … the arrangements are so well thought out … bombastic … very operatic style …"
(Power Metal Ranger)
➤ "… a sensational performance of operatic overtures combined with symphonic Metal majesty to create a masterpiece …"
(Frenzy Fire)
➤ "To go to the conquest of the marvelous world of Symphonic Metal, nothing is more precious than solid guild of experienced knights. When we listen to this first album, it seems obvious that PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT and his knights of Heliopolis are one of the highest calibre."
(Metal Alliance Mag)
➤ "If it is undeniably the epic and symphonic register which dominates, the musical spectrum proves to be very varied … sometimes a venture into a much calmer and more theatrical style … a palette of different ambiances and mixed styles … a solid team of musicians … an impressive first album … the symphonic style should talk a lot to Nightwish or Rhapsody fans …"
(La Grosse Radio)
➤ "… remarkable … the male voice, with very low tones that handles the songs with a great fluency, and a second voice that soars to guttural tones, bring a new vision to this genre … Symphonic Metal, developed with very good skill, with good melodies and a story that is told within the album, so that you almost experience it in the first person … epic, legendary sound, good ballads … lately the French Metal is developing very well and a clear example is this band that gives new connotations to a very hackneyed genre."
(Nada Hay Bajo El Sol)
➤ "'Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror' is an album that surpasses some in terms of theatricality and arrangements … some similarities with Powerwolf , in some ways with The Vision Bleak, in terms of drama, and certainly with our own Rhapsody (whether Of Fire or Turilli/Lione) in terms of the symphonic power of the sound system, and if so you like these references, feel free to give them a listen."
(The Murder Inn)
➤ "… an array of musical moods, mixing epic Metal tracks with majestically orchestrated Power ballads, punctuated by instrumental symphonic pieces … sung by Axel's bass voice, in clear and saturated … you'll hear Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, medieval lines, as well as pieces composed in the style of Bach, Mozart or Rachmaninov … a pharaonic work, both visually and musically … a titanic effort and, above all, an undeniable success."
(Nawak Posse)
➤ "The album tells the story of Phoebus the knight alchemist, masterfully set to music, with a heavy, virtuosic and very versatile sound, making you enter song after song into this great story".
(Metal Pedia)
►► The Last Guardian • 2022 ◄◄
This EP consists of a prologue of the story of the fight between Phoebus and his companions against the terrible Beast. It tells the beginning of the French revolution, how the Beast attacked the dwarf city of Baraz Dûm in Island to detonate a volcano that will have a terrible effect on the agriculture in France and trigger the revolution, how the Beast manipulates the people to lead them to violence during la Prise de la Bastille, how Phoebus and his friends will participate in the signature of the Declaration of human rights and finally, how the Beast will kidnap one of the most important ally of the light, the Iron Queen, the last guardian. All of these events will lead to what will happen in their upcoming album, "Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror".
[ Artwork: Léon Cogniet ]
8 / 10
➤ "A favourite! PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT skilfully manages to use a historical storyline, the French Revolution, and to associate it with an imaginary and fantastic story, putting in duality a troop of knights against a Beast symbolising the evil. It is clever to use the growl and the guttural voice to represent the destruction. The use of a female singer brings an indisputable plus to this band. Adrien's compositional work is effective and captivating. The 5 members have hit hard, undeniably."
(Power Metal France)
8 / 10
➤ "It’s only four songs and it’s still early, but from what you can hear here, we may have a big name in Symphonic Metal."
(World Of Metal)
8 / 10
➤ "… Nightwish meets Dark Tranquillity and it's good!"
(Heavylaw Webzine)
7 / 10
➤ "… orchestrally grandiose …"
(Powerplay)
➤ "Four well-filled tracks, armed with choral forces with stentorian voices full of chest, orchestral flights worthy of the greatest epics, seizing melodies, supported by sharp rhythms; this is what we get by frank shovelfuls in 'The Last Guardian'!"
(Blastpheme)
➤ "… holy moly … not expecting that … absolutely insane … phenomenal … strong, powerful voice … so grand … the true definition of epic … the arrangements … wow … WOW!"
(Power Metal Ranger)
➤ "… magnificent and outstanding …"
(Ben Sebastian - The Sonic Symphonic Podcast)
➤ "… awesome …"
(Moshville)
➤ "… grand and epic … delivers all the emotions both genres, Metal and opera, can deliver the fan …"
(Metal Addicts)
➤ "… explosive … one of the most interesting groups to emerge so far this year … monumental music … enormous depth …"
(Metal Rules)
etc.
Action: | PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT |
Title: | The Cursed Lord |
Base: | Paris • France |
Style: | Symphonic Power Metal |
Genre: | Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, Epic Metal |
FFO: | Powerwolf, Rhapsody, Cradle Of Filth |
Type: | EP |
Format: | CD |
Label: | Independent |
Distro: | / |
Release: | June 21, 2023 |
The first EP in the series is titled "The Cursed Lord" and will be released physically and digitally on all streaming platforms on June 21, 2023. Pre-orders for the physical version are available on the Paris artists' website.
The new EP deals with the struggle of the Knights of Heliopolis against Gilles de Rais, who has fallen into the abyss of dark magic, demonology and madness. Will the Knights be able to restore peace to the land of Rais?
To put all the events in a dramaturgic vision, this collection of songs is a blend of several musical moods, combining heavy ballads, Metal tracks with majestic orchestrations and instrumental parts.
Lyrics are for the most part in English and a bit of French, all performed with the beguiling lyrical bass voice of Axel, in clean and screamed vocals.
And what a solemn stroke of luck master Axel is for the music of the band:
All too seldom has such a noble sublime voice been carved out of such an inconceivably gigantic vocal talent with such immeasurable dedication and downright unearthly diligence!
So you can enjoy classical Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, musical, medieval pieces and even passages in the style of great masters like Bach, Mozart or even Rachmaninov!
Witness the legendary fight of Phoebus and his friends against the Beast and the vampire knights! To guide you in this quest, the master drawer Mohamed Aouamri (Sylve, Mortepierre) illustrated each chapters and gave life to this world of Fantasy and History.
To translate his great tale into music, he needed a composer that could write for a Metal band and a full orchestra to give to the story the epic breath it needed. That's how he met Adrien Djouadou, a classically trained opera singer active on established stages and together, they created the whole concept of PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT.
Axel would write the lyrics and naturally, sing them and Adrien would compose the whole music, play the guitar and do the backing vocals. But PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT needed musicians, so they found a great team to play with them on this journey:
Noémie Allet on the bass and vocals, Adrien Guingal on the guitar and Guillaume Remih on the drums. Each member of the band would represent a character in the story of Phoebus and his companions.
Naturally, PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT became a Symphonic Metal band with a whole conceptual and visual universe. They value quality in music, production and work invested by involved parties. PHOEBUS THE KNIGHT finds its roots in bands like Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Powerwolf, Rhapsody Of Fire, Cradle Of Filth ...
Multiple five-star rated PR Agency that works professionally and reliably with numerous partners in the worldwide music media.
Many years of extensive and in-depth experience in various musical fields form the basis for an individual and efficient service at 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ.
Main field of activity besides communication for global Public Relations are integrated Promotion Campaigns in print, online and broadcast, as well as marketing, artist management, consulting and mentoring.
Just like an exquisite manufactory - where passion meets profession!
Merch
•
Releases
•
Concerts
•
Cover Art Mediation
•
Media Area
•
Global Fame
•
IRON TALKS • Podcast
Brews And Tunes
Crossfire Metal
Darkzen Dragon
Epic Metal Blog
Filthy Dogs Of Metal
Highwire Daze Online
Legacy
Metal-FM.com
Metal Addicts
Metal Opera
Metal Pedia
Metal Temple
Metal Titans
Metalhead
Hanf- und Wander-Metaller
Pete's Rock News And Views
Powermetal DE
Rock Garage Magazine
Rock Hard Italy
Stormbringer
The Cosmick View
The Murder Inn
Time For Metal
Via Nocturna
World Of Metal
X-Reviews
Zephyr's Odem
1921 Baliheadbanger
Demontre Radio
Das Metalmagazin hart&direkt
Hijos De La Luna
La Caverna De Hierro
Loud And Proud
Metal Only
Metal Tavern Radio
PowerPlant Radio NL
Radio Diabolus
LABELS
Disclaimer
Impressum
Datenschutzerklärung
•
FAQ
•
Design & Programming
Help 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 𝐸𝓈𝓉. 2001 with your donation via 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗣𝗮𝗹 to give its artist clients worldwide the most dedicated & professional support!
© METAL MESSAGE ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 2001-2023 • All rights reserved
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.