Phantom on the Horizon
Encyclopedia
Phantom on the Horizon is a concept EP
by American
progressive rock
band The Fall of Troy
that was released on November 28, 2008 through Equal Vision Records
. It is the completed version of the Ghostship EP that the band released in 2004. This rerecorded version of the original demos features five "chapters" and was produced by Casey Bates (Fear Before
, Chiodos
, Portugal. The Man
).
The concept behind Phantom on the Horizon tells the fictional story of a Spanish galleon
meeting with a ghost ship from another dimension.
and Doppelgänger
. In 2004, demos of some of the tracks that would later be featured on Phantom on the Horizon were leaked onto the internet and dubbed The Ghostship EP. The demos were never released in a physical form of media. In October 2008, The Fall of Troy secretly recorded the album and released it the following month on November 28, 2008.
Physical copies of the album were released exclusively through the band on their winter 2008 tour with The Number Twelve Looks Like You
, and on the The Fall of Troy's web store. Only 3,000 individually numbered copies of the album were made (although physical copies were numbered out of 3,300) – one half were sold on tour and the other half sold through the band's web store. An MP3
digital download version of the album became available on The Fall of Troy's webstore once physical copies sold out.
In January 2009, The Fall of Troy expressed their interest in releasing the album on vinyl
"sometime in the near future." The vinyl release of the album was available on April 28, 2009 in limited quantities. There were 1,000 copies made with an orange and white swirl colored vinyl available exclusively through The Fall of Troy's webstore, and 1,000 copies made with a clear colored vinyl available exclusively through Hot Topic
. The vinyl record version of the album features different artwork than the CD and download versions.
Guest musicians
Production and art
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
that was released on November 28, 2008 through Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
. It is the completed version of the Ghostship EP that the band released in 2004. This rerecorded version of the original demos features five "chapters" and was produced by Casey Bates (Fear Before
Fear Before
Fear Before is an experimental rock band that resides in Aurora, Colorado. As stated on their Alternative Press podcast, their name originates from a Denver Post newspaper headline of local forest fires titled "The Fear Before The March of Flames." They released their debut album Odd How People...
, Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
, Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man is an American psychedelic rock band based in Portland, Oregon, but originally from Wasilla, Alaska. The group released their first two albums with Fearless Records. They also released material on their own imprint Approaching AIRballoons through indie label Equal Vision Records...
).
The concept behind Phantom on the Horizon tells the fictional story of a Spanish galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
meeting with a ghost ship from another dimension.
Release
The Fall of Troy began working on Phantom on the Horizon five years prior to its release in the gap between The Fall of TroyThe Fall of Troy (album)
-Information:* The band members were 17 when they recorded this album.* The whole album was recorded in one week throughout one take.* Lead singer and guitarist Thomas Erak has the original album's cover art tattooed on his left arm....
and Doppelgänger
Doppelgänger (The Fall of Troy album)
-Reception:*AbsolutePunk *[ Allmusic] *Punknews.org -Trivia:* "You Got a Death Wish, Johnny Truant?" and "The Hol[ ]y Tape..." are quotes taken from Mark Z. Danielewski's novel House of Leaves. "Hol[ ]y" being short for "Holloway"...
. In 2004, demos of some of the tracks that would later be featured on Phantom on the Horizon were leaked onto the internet and dubbed The Ghostship EP. The demos were never released in a physical form of media. In October 2008, The Fall of Troy secretly recorded the album and released it the following month on November 28, 2008.
Physical copies of the album were released exclusively through the band on their winter 2008 tour with The Number Twelve Looks Like You
The Number Twelve Looks Like You
The Number Twelve Looks Like You was a mathcore band from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Their music combined elements of grindcore, progressive metal, hardcore punk and jazz...
, and on the The Fall of Troy's web store. Only 3,000 individually numbered copies of the album were made (although physical copies were numbered out of 3,300) – one half were sold on tour and the other half sold through the band's web store. An MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
digital download version of the album became available on The Fall of Troy's webstore once physical copies sold out.
In January 2009, The Fall of Troy expressed their interest in releasing the album on vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
"sometime in the near future." The vinyl release of the album was available on April 28, 2009 in limited quantities. There were 1,000 copies made with an orange and white swirl colored vinyl available exclusively through The Fall of Troy's webstore, and 1,000 copies made with a clear colored vinyl available exclusively through Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
. The vinyl record version of the album features different artwork than the CD and download versions.
Track listing
- "Chapter I: Introverting Dimensions" – 10:51
- "Chapter II: A Strange Conversation" – 4:42
- "Chapter III: Nostalgic Mannerisms" – 7:52
- "Chapter IV: Enter the Black Demon" – 5:36
- "Chapter V: The Walls Bled Lust" – 8:08
Personnel
The Fall of Troy- Thomas ErakThomas ErakThomas Joseph Erak , is the former lead guitarist and lead vocalist from Mukilteo, Washington based progressive rock band The Fall of Troy. His new project, Just Like Vinyl, was officially announced on July 8, 2010. Thomas is currently endorsed by Gibson USA, Orange Amplification, Ernie Ball and...
– vocals, guitar, keys - Frank Black – bass, backing vocals
- Andrew ForsmanAndrew ForsmanAndrew Forsman, born was the drummer for the Mukilteo, Washington based prog-rock/post-hardcore band The Fall of Troy. Previous to The Fall of Troy, he was also in a band with Thomas Erak, Tim Ward and also guitarist Mike Munro in the band The Thirty Years War at the age of only 17. His playing is...
– drums, percussion
Guest musicians
- Dave Marion (of Fear BeforeFear BeforeFear Before is an experimental rock band that resides in Aurora, Colorado. As stated on their Alternative Press podcast, their name originates from a Denver Post newspaper headline of local forest fires titled "The Fear Before The March of Flames." They released their debut album Odd How People...
) – vocals - Ryann DonnellyRyann DonnellyRyann Donnelly is a horror punk, shock rock and dance/pop songwriter and vocalist.Born in Olympia, Washington, although she moved to Seattle, Washington after attending Charles Wright Academy...
(of Schoolyard HeroesSchoolyard HeroesSchoolyard Heroes was a horror punk/alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, consisting of four members: Ryann Donnelly , Jonah Bergman , Steve Bonnell , and Brian Turner .-History:...
) – vocals - Jonah Bergman (of Schoolyard Heroes) – vocals
- Nouela Johnston (of Mon Frere) – keyboards
- Katie Mosehauer – violin, string arrangements
- Angela Kimber – cello, string arrangements
- Jay Beaman (formerly of Red Museum) – glockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
, tambourine, other auxiliary percussion arrangements
Production and art
- Casey Bates – producer
- Chriten Shaw – art direction
- Curtis Tanner – A&R