For some fans, to deal with an album that is different from what you know from its members' past is truly hard. It's because when the musician is widely known, there's a tendency to believe that the band will sound this or that way, and we forget that a musician is a human being, with different ways to express himself/herself. That's the case with PHANTOM 5, a German super-group formed by members (or former members) of bands as BONFIRE, MICHAEL SCHENKER, and SCORPIONS. On "Phantom 5", you'll find some similarities of the band with the members previous works, but as well, you'll find out that they want to do something far distant from their past.

The band's musical style is a mix of melodic Hard Rock with AOR elements, so their songs are extremely accessible in musical terms, done with excellent choruses and trying to play just what the music needs, without exceeding on the technique. But as well the band's main focus is on guitars, and not keyboards, so it is a bit different from North American bands from AOR, having a more aggressive work. It's nothing extremely new, but it's good and charming. To work with musicians with such experience, the producer did a fine work. The sound quality is perfect, loud and clean, but with the right touch of that filthy sound that they need. Of course, it could be a bit more aggressive in some moments, but their focus is something a bit more melodic. So be prepared. Best songs: "All the Way" with its good chorus and very good work on guitars; the Hard/AOR song "Blue Dog" (where the vocals and chorus are really very good, and some good keyboards and saxophone parts); the charming tempos and melodic atmosphere show on "Someday" (where Claus' voice really reminds Jon Bon Jovi way of singing in some moments), the Hard Rock filled with that Blues influence called "Flying High", the nasty and hooking guitars on "They Won t Come Back" and on "We Both Had Our Time" (this one with an excellent work from bass guitar and drums as well), and the energy that the bonus track "Sing Along" has. I still think that they could have more musical diversity, but "Phantom 5" is fine as a first album.