Phantom Elite

Phantom Elite is a Dutch/Brazilian symphonic metal band founded in Reuver in 2016 by the executive producer and former After Forever guitarist Sander Gommans. Their music also incorporates progressive, pop, djent and metalcore elements. The band has released three albums: Wasteland (2018), Titanium (2021) and Blue Blood (2023). It consists of vocalist Marina La Torraca (Exit Eden, live vocalist for Avantasia), guitarist Max van Esch, drummer Joeri Warmerdam and is completed on tour by bassist Siebe Sol Sijpkens (Blackbriar).
==History==
===Formation and debut album (2016–2018)===
The band is initially formed in 2016 when Sander Gommans gathers young musicians to perform the songs of HDK on stage, leading to the birth of Phantom Elite. The band’s name comes from lyrics of HDK’s song Eternal Journey. The successful alchemy between the musicians leads to the release of their first album, Wasteland, on April 15, 2018. The album is positively welcomed by critics and followed by a tour in western Europe. With the album are released one lyric video (Siren’s call) and one music clip (Wasteland) on Phantom Elite’s own YouTube channel.
===Frontiers Music and second album (2019–2022)===
In November 2019, Phantom Elite signs with the label Frontiers Music. On October 30, 2020, they release the single Diamonds and Dark, followed by The Race a month later and in January by a visualizer for Deliverance. On January 22, 2021 they release their second album Titanium simultaneously with the music video for Glass Crown. The album features Amanda Sommerville (also vocalist for Exit Eden and married with Gommans) in the songs Silver Lining and Eyes Wide Open, as well as Another Now’s vocalist Stef Rikken in the growls of Worst Part of Me. It was mixed by Hannes Braun, lead singer of Kissin' Dynamite and producer of Beyond the Black, Exit Eden, etc. Titanium receives warm reviews and is reportedly appreciated by the public.
In June 2021, Phantom Elite announce their first European tour as support for the Italian symphonic metal band Rhapsody of Fire at the beginning of 2022, which is cancelled a few days before its start. Phantom Elite only returned on stage for the first time after the beginning of the pandemic in July 2022 at Muze Misse.
===Third album and European tour (2022–present)===
On January 11, 2023, Phantom Elite release the single Inner Beast and announce their third album Blue Blood for March 17. To promote it, they release three other singles: Skin of My Teeth, Black Sunrise and Apex. The album is mixed by Hannes Braun and Julian Breucker from Südland Music. Unlike most music videos of the genre, the one for Black Sunrise is a 4-minute animated film designed and animated by the band’s guitarist Max Van Esch.
Following the release of Blue Blood, Phantom Elite goes on tour as a support band for Temperance in Europe in March and April, and again in autumn 2023 to support The Euphonic Downfall with Ad Infinitum and Blackbriar in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Between November and December, they support Xandria in The Wonders Still Awaiting Tour 2023.
==Members==
Current members
* Marina La Torraca – vocals (2016–present)
* Max van Esch – guitar (2018–present)
* Joeri Warmerdam – drums (2018–present)
Former members
* Goof Veelen – guitars (2016–2018)
* Siebe Sol Sijpkens – bass (2016–2018)
* Eelco van der Meer – drums (2016–2018)
* Erik van Ittersum – keyboards (2016–2019)
* Ted Wouters – guitar (2016–2019)
* Vincent de Bruin – bass (2018-2019)
Session musicians
* Siebe Sol Sijpkens – bass (2020–present)
===Timeline===
==Discography==
Singles:
* Serenade of the Netherworld (2019)
* Diamonds and Dark (October 30, 2020)
* The Race (November 30, 2020)
* Deliverance (January 5, 2021)
* Inner Beast (January 11, 2023)
* Skin of My Teeth (February 1, 2023)
* Black Sunrise (February 22, 2023)
Albums:
* Wasteland (April 15, 2018), Painted Bass Records
* Titanium (January 22, 2021), Frontiers Records
* Blue Blood (March 17, 2023), Frontiers Records
Category:Musical groups established in 2016
Category:Dutch symphonic metal musical groups