Philm
Fire from the Evening Sun
Release Date: 20 October 2015
UDR/Warner Music Australia
Review by Matt Bolton
All aboard the “train to the valley of the dead” with opening track Train, as California’s Philm take you on a ride full of prog-rock mastery. The riffs pack a wallop from the get-go with singer/ guitarist Gerry in his element on this record. The title track, Fire from the Evening Sun shows some impressive solos from Gerry and behind the kit is Lombardo at break-neck speed. A Mediterranean sound is evident in tracks like Lady of the Lake where Pancho’s bass playing stands out, pummelling along to Dave’s interesting technique.
Gerry’s vocals fit nicely with the band, letting it out with screams of rage at times, like on the epic Lion’s Pit and spoken word on the experimental Omnisience. Fan Boy is a fun song showing bursts of punk, thrash and hardcore. All 12 songs bring something different to the table and there are no duds. Even closing song Corner Girl may feel out of place by some, but it just shows how Lombardo can excel as a jazz drummer and how tight this trio really is.
Lombardo proves to outdo himself as a drummer demonstrating what he is capable of. Not only has he provided us with great music from Slayer, Grip. Inc and Fantomas but now the focus is on Philm and all the man’s talent is laid across the table for all to enjoy. Laying down 12 drum tracks in one day and getting an awesome sound at the House of Rock studios in Santa Monica CA, (the home of the late actress/singer Kathryn Grayson) Philm find their sound on their second release.
