After delivering a powerful preview of their upcoming album Phantom of Reality with the singles Scream and Istanbul, modern metal force CHONTARAZ now drops the title track itself — releasing Phantom of Reality as both a single and a full-length album, out since yesterday May 9, 2025. Buckle up and brace yourself to be captivated by their daring soundscapes and engrossing narratives as the uncompromising dark quartet leads you on an exhilarating adventure unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
The new single Phantom of Reality is a haunting audiovisual journey that blurs the line between illusion and truth. Drenched in deep purples and eerie light, the video unfolds like a waking nightmare: creeping forward with evil undertones and hypnotic momentum. Kaleidoscopic visuals fracture reality, mirroring the song’s disorienting pull between phantasm and fact. The track pulses with intense vocals, heavy guitars, as well as trance-like rhythms and as the distortion builds and the world distorts, Phantom of Reality invites you into CHONTARAZ’s dark, immersive universe – where nothing is quite as it seems.
CHONTARAZ makes a bold impression in the modern music scene by combining raw intensity with melodic sophistication. Their sound is driven by powerful, cutting riffs, enriched with electronic elements and eerie ambiance, drawing listeners into a dystopian realm where hope and hopelessness intertwine. For the new album, CHONTARAZ welcomed Fotis Benardo as both producer and drummer – and it’s undeniable that his role in shaping the sound and rhythm enriches Phantom of Reality with a powerful, immersive sonic landscape. This collaboration launches CHONTARAZ into new, uncharted realms, unleashing metal in its purest, most intense form. And the band has brought even more well-known guest musicians on board, such as Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) as guest vocalist on Scream, George Nerantzis for keys and industrial add-ons on all tracks, Kjetil “DeadBit” Lindløkken on additional keys for Spin The Wheel, Prayer To The Masses, and Dressed To Kill, and Noxaerias (Kostas Mexis) on bass for live performances and music videos.
CHONTARAZ delivers a sound that strikes with force while stirring deep emotions, drawing you into a strong, shadowy experience that’s bigger, and more powerful than yourself. It’s a musical voyage through places where unfiltered intensity meets modern technology, and heartfelt passion merges with darkness.
CHONTARAZ: Uncompromising Metal – Musical Pandemonium in Perfection Single SCREAM will be released on February 28th taken from the band’s long-awaited 3rd Album, coming out on May 9th!
Today, a few days ahead of the single release, Metal Shock Finland has a huge pleasure to premiere exclusively the video ‘Scream’ for Finland!
Produced by Fotis Benardo, the first single of CHONTARAZ’ Phantom of Reality, SCREAM, is a raw and intense track featuring a guest vocal appearance by Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ). The song embodies a burning desire and a relentless hunt, blending aggressive energy with soaring, cinematic choruses. With haunting melodies and primal intensity, the dark and visceral music video brings the song’s raw emotions to life. SCREAM is the first of three singles from the upcoming album and will be released on February 28, 2025.
Norwegian/Greek powerhouse CHONTARAZ resurface from the depths of their origins in Hell (Norway), igniting anticipation among fans of dark, dynamic music with their eagerly anticipated return. Their upcoming third album Phantom of Reality (Release: May 9, 2025) once again transports listeners into the distinctive universe of CHONTARAZ, delivering an immersive and captivating journey through their modern soundscapes and atmospheric storytelling.
Exploring the theme of authenticity, the album delves into the journey of embracing one’s true self while rejecting superficiality. Combining dark modern metal and industrial elements, CHONTARAZ masterfully blend intense energy with deep lyrical narratives, ensuring that Phantom of Reality resonates with fans on both a musical and emotional level.
During the production of Phantom of Reality, CHONTARAZ found both a new producer and drummer in the exceptionally talented Fotis Benardo — a seasoned musician renowned for his extreme drumming prowess, even gracing the cover of Sick Drummer Magazine. With his visionary approach to metal, Fotis has cemented his reputation through thunderous work with Septicflesh (for whom he wrote some of their most iconic tracks), Sakis Tolis, and other powerhouse projects.
Working together in his studio in Athens, the chemistry between the musicians was immediate and undeniable, leading Fotis (aka Narwhal) to join CHONTARAZ full-time. The result? A game-changing metal collaboration that showcases a groundbreaking fusion of songwriting mastery, elite musicianship, and world-class production — delivering an album that redefines modern metal.
Fotis Benardo’s dual mastery as producer and drummer shaped the sonic landscape of Phantom of Reality, delivering an immersive and crushing soundscape that elevates every track. All this is seamlessly combined with the songwriting brilliance of Ahkon (Herbjørn Anglen) and Chontaraz (Frode Kvarsnes), who together have co-written all the tracks, blending Ahkon’s guitar and bass mastery with Chontaraz’s spellbinding vocal delivery. The result is a sonic explosion: a powerful blend of dark modern metal with industrial elements, seamlessly merged with Fotis’ precision and sonic vision. The album achieves a sound that is both raw and refined, brutal and beautiful.
Phantom of Reality also features: ● Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) as guest vocalist on SCREAM (single release: February 28, 2025) ● George Nerantzis, responsible for keys and industrial add-ons on all tracks ● Kjetil “DeadBit” Lindløkken on additional keys for Spin The Wheel, Prayer To The Masses, and Dressed To Kill ● Noxaerias (Kostas Mexis) on bass for live performances and music videos
The collaborations result in a fusion of top-tier musicianship, visionary songwriting, and elite production, propelling CHONTARAZ into uncharted territory. With Ahkon and Chontaraz driving the creative vision through their joint songwriting efforts, and Fotis Benardo shaping the sound and rhythm, this is metal at its absolute peak. Brace yourself!
About CHONTARAZ Originally hailing from Hell, Norway, CHONTARAZ emerged in 2015 with a bold vision: to create music they truly loved, free from stylistic limitations, and to deliver it with theatrical live shows, signature makeup, and captivating lyrical storytelling.
Their debut album Rondamauh was crafted alongside legendary producer Daniel Bergstrand (known for his work with In Flames, Meshuggah, Dimmu Borgir, Devin Townsend), receiving widespread acclaim from heavyweights like Sweden Rock Magazine, Metal Observer, and Scream Magazine. It was also voted third-best international album of 2017 by Quebec-Metal and personally recommended by Kamelot’s Thomas Youngblood.
In 2019, CHONTARAZ premiered their second album Speed The Bullet during 70000TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise.
Produced in collaboration with George Nerantzis, the album received outstanding reviews and propelled them to tour with iconic bands like Sepultura and Soulfly, and to play as support for Kamelot and Cyhra.
With their third album, Phantom of Reality (Release: May 9, 2025), CHONTARAZ have ultimately transformed into a true Norwegian-Greek powerhouse, blending the dark rawness of Norwegian metal with the technological precision and industrial intensity brought by their newest member and producer Fotis Benardo.
Known for his visionary drumming and production skills, Fotis (aka Narwhal) has redefined the band’s sonic landscape, ensuring an immersive, crushing sound that elevates every track. This collaboration merges Ahkon’s (Herbjørn Anglen) guitar and bass mastery, Chontaraz’s (Frode Kvarsnes) spellbinding vocals, and Fotis’ precision drumming and production expertise, creating a dark modern metal groove bomb infused with industrial elements. Together, Ahkon and Chontaraz have co-written all the tracks, ensuring a unique fusion of heavy riffs, melodic finesse, and haunting atmospheres. CHONTARAZ delivers a truly unique soundscape, uniting the ferocity of heavy metal and the intensity of black metal with the mechanical pulse of industrial and the edge of modern metal. The result is a sonic explosion that pushes boundaries and crafts a musical landscape where chaos and order strike a perfect balance.
This Norwegian-Greek metal juggernaut stands out with a blend of brutal power and melodic depth, featuring massive riffs layered with electronic textures and post-apocalyptic atmospheres. Their music fills a gap in today’s metal market, venturing into dark territories where others hesitate to tread. For CHONTARAZ, it’s not just about playing music — it’s about delivering an immersive experience.
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
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