Review: phoenix/NEBULIN- Mainframe

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                                       Review: phoenix/NEBULIN- Mainframe


phoenix/NEBULIN is a musical outfit who has been recording professionally since 2003, and on their latest release, Mainframe, they definitely reflect a seasoned expertise that permeates with both the songwriting and production. Being as I had never heard the band before, I had a fresh slate to take in all the elements that they are trying to get across, and absorb them. The band I would describe as a amalgamation of metal, EBM or Industrial, the dark themes of Gothic Rock (particularly eminent in the chorused guitars of songs like Alone), and somewhat more mainstream rock. 

I was taken aback immediately by Phoenix Doval's hearty vocals, which at times remind me, and I'm sure she's heard this before, of a young Pat Benatar. In this age of autotuned sterile sounding “singers” littering the landscape, her soulful vocals are extremely refreshing (and of course since Pat Benatar has always been one of my favorite singers, a definite plus in my book).

The programmed, electronic part of the music has a great atmosphere and is all encompassing, with spacey synths and adept sampling that makes for a bleak, dreary, and cybernetic landscape. 

Lyrically, they run the gamut, from the more Sci-Fi of Purge Destroy Create Rebuild to the sardonic questioning of Professional Liar. The Rock/Metal parts of the sound are especially obvious on tracks like Shadow Wolf, which features great and cutting groove riffs. 

Overall, I can see fans of everything from Scar Symmetry or Soilwork to Front Line Assembly to Evanescence liking this band, and continued listens will reveal more elements to unwrap. The production/sound is of note as well, as the clarity and depth are outstanding, and as someone who hears a lot of albums during the course of a week, this is definitely something worth mentioning.

The members of phoenix/NEBULIN are:

Phoenix Doval- Vocals/Songwriter/Artistic Director

Armando Doval- Songwriter/Music Production/Live Drums

You can find out more about them at the following links:


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