There are times when you are so confused that it makes it hard for you to make sense. Why do I mention this? Well, when you listen to "Phantasmagoria", the fourth studio album by PHENOMY. They are a band that originally is from Lebanon, but now operates from Germany. In the eleven years that they have been around they have succeeded in eluding my interest. Until now, that is. That does mean that I have no way to compare what I am hearing right now to whatever the band has done in the past. This does give me a clean slate to use while listening to "Phantasmagoria". I now have the opportunity and pleasure of reviewing the forementioned album, which has a wider musical range span than an albatross has. Luckily for them I am like a chameleon when it comes to my Metal, I adjust to whatever the band is giving me. If you look them up on the Metal Archives site, you will see the band being labelled as Thrash Metal, but that is like saying that IRON MAIDEN is just a band. Nope, PHENOMY does play Thrash Metal, but also Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Hard Rock and even Alternative Rock. Oh, and of course Middle Eastern influences, although they don't occur too often. But what that does is make it difficult for me as a reviewer to point out what I am thinking in general terms. The song where the first and last mentioned influences are captured in the best way is in "Sins Of The Father", where the addition of the parts by Ricardo A. Haifa and Léa Wardini make sure that you can't escape the Lebanese origins of PHENOMY. "Phantasmagoria" is so divers and versatile that I can say that a song like "Shellshock Paradise" is the pinnacle of an Alternative Rock song. The most impressive song on the album has to be "Gambit", where the band is able to pull together everything they love and make it into one hell of an impressive tune. On the other side of the spectrum you have "Mad Man's Waltz", which will have you wondering what you are listening to. so, there you have it. "Phantasmagoria" is a whirlwind of different emotions and levels of intensity, but there is one thing that all songs have in common; they all sound bloody good and just right. This makes PHENOMY into a very interesting prospect for any adventurous Metalhead or Heavy Rocker. Let's see if you're brave enough.