The Mask of the Phantasm

The Mask of the Phantasm is the timely moniker adopted by Austin based guitarist and songwriter, Omar Ghaznavi, who channels the devastation and loss felt in the wake of his father’s cold -blooded murder into a thunderous debut album unlike anything released in the past decade.

An explosive, boundary -pushing statement of intent indebted to progressive rock and embellished by the soaring, searing vocals of Alexa Joan Rae, New Axial Age is a work of rare sophistication. Over the course of the past several years, with the help of Grammy -winning collaborators like drummer Thomas Pridgen and horn player Adrian Terrazas -Gonzales, Ghaznavi has slowly crafted an epic, poignant response to an unthinkable tragedy, his father’s meaningless death at the hands of a stranger on July 5, 2011. Seizing the opportunity to pour his anger and hurt (“…a form of therapy,” as he says), into conjuring an expression of timeless resonance into existence, Ghaznavi has spent considerable time fine-tuning every detail in an attempt to hold a candle to the work that inspired him.

Along side Pridgen, Terrazas, and Rae - Ghaznavi reached out to long time friend and Houston legend, Nick Greer, to assist with piano & organ duties felt throughout the record. The Mask of the Phantasm is undeniably greater than the sum of its parts. New Axial Age is made with extreme conviction, and is a force to be reckoned with.