PHENOM

Neo-Prog • India

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Phenom biography
When someone asked Phenom how they got their name, lead vocalist and bassist Gaurav answered "as a college band, we didn't have a name, so our audiences named us Phenom, and the name stuck".

This, in a way, symbolises the laid-back approach Phenom has towards this whole "band business" - focussing intensely on their music, and less bothered about the trappings and publicity parts.

And it is an approach that has paid huge dividends. Today Phenom, fresh out of college (they are no longer a "college band", having graduated from PESIT, Bangalore, in June 2004), have proven themselves as amazingly talented musicians, producing credible and highly appreciated original music.

People who have heard Phenom perform rate songs such as "Coloured for this World", "A Little Step", "CAP 5101" etc. extremely highly, and tip Phenom's "Unbound" as the song that will eventually launch them to national and international success.

While Phenom "categorises" itself as a Classic and Progressive Rock band, their music really spans many genres, and the talented members of the group have never allowed "categories" to limit their experiements in music. An example of this is their instrumental "Resurgence", which appears to be a metal number, with underlying prog rhythms. Another is the deceptively "ethnic" startup of "Unbound", which then goes on to build into an awesome crescendo of rock, metal, prog and and strong melodic overtones. And just when you think you have their style pinned down, they come up with "A Little Step" - a song about peace that is so completely different in style, yet uniquely recognisable as a Phenom song.

Each component of Phenom's music is highly specialised and unique in approach and execution. The "lead bass" style of playing consistently wins awards. The drumming draws attention with tight, controlled and appropriately restless sequences, treating the kit almost like a lead instrument. The guitaring is an amazing blend of lead and rhythm guitar, creating a completely new and uniquely recognisable style. And the keyboards produce impeccable and accurately placed pieces of keyboard magic to "glue" their compositions together.

When asked about their influences, they mention Dream Theater and Rush (they joke that they have performed Rush's "Jacob's Ladder" more often on stage than Rush itself has), an assortment of sometimes obscure international names, but surprisingly also name several Indian groups, including Therm...read more

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PHENOM discography

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PHENOM top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 2 ratings

Unbound
2004

PHENOM Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

PHENOM Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

PHENOM Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

PHENOM Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

PHENOM Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Studio Album, 2004
3.00 | 2 ratings
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Unbound
Phenom Neo-Prog

Review by toroddfuglesteg

It is a shame that this band from India is no longer active. They show plenty of talent on this, their only album. An album which is a free download from their homepage.

This album and probably the band too is deeply rooted in AOR and the American sound. This band is clearly inspired by Rush, as well as Flower Kings, Pendragon, Kansas and the whole AOR scene with Giant, Foreigner & co. In other words, not really my cup of tea. But I am won over by some rather good musicianship and five good songs. The sound too sounds like a one million dollars production. There was obviously some money behind this band. It is therefore a great shame that both the album and the band is almost forgotten.

My only gripe is the blandness of the songs. Phenom does not come across as a band with their own identity. They just comes across as a good band with plenty of skills. A good cover band, perhaps. But this is still a good free download which will give the neo-prog and AOR fans here plenty to feel happy about.

3 stars

Thanks to Angelo for the artist addition.