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Phallax: Lex Concordia
Phallax - Lex Concordia Album Art

Phallax: Lex Concordia

Traditional Heavy Metal
3.5/5.0

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Metalapolis Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 03.03.2021 | Released: 12.03.2021

Hailing from the Stuttgart area of Germany, Phallax was conceived nearly 17 years ago as a cover band. Finding writing their original songs to be more interesting and fun, Phallax dropped their self-released The Chandlers Passion in 2008. Since then their output has been sporadic with 2010's EP Lower The Flags and 2014's long player Relics Of Harmony. Finally the band returns with their third studio album Lex Concordia, which is my first introduction to the band.

Phallax - Click For Larger Image

Phallax

Essentially, Phallax plays traditional heavy metal, the German interpretation of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. In their early cover band days, I would not have been surprised if they performed Iron Maiden songs. Their metal revolves around twin guitar harmony and leads, a galloping rhythm section infused with some rock groove, and clean melodic vocals, often supported by band gang vocals.

Considering a few songs, the Phallax formula could probably be reduced to, with some exceptions, fast and heavy metal with all things leading to a concluding guitar solo in the latter third. This is self-evident within Scratch App, Sei Du Sas Licht, and the quite galloping Hey You. Alternatively, both I Shit On Your Parade and Echoes have softer starts with light electric or acoustic guitar. But the former rise heavy with mixed pacing, but getting faster with the guitar solo. The latter juxtaposes softer vocal parts with heavy segues with the intent, I suppose, to be something of a metal ballad. Maybe more interesting is Inside Us which, having a more steady groove, offers a fine breakdown featuring lighter guitar work over the rhythm section. Which led me to suspect Phallax could have some potential progressive metal nuances. Conversely, I found the following Silent Tragedy to be heavy, steady, and uniquely monotonous compared to the other songs. All said, with Lex Concordia Germany's Phallax offers metal fans an interesting, generally consistent, album of traditional heavy metal, supported by strong guitar work. Check out the video and support the band.




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The Bottom Line

All said, with Lex Concordia Germany's Phallax offers metal fans an interesting, generally consistent, album of traditional heavy metal, supported by strong guitar work. Check out the video and support the band.

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