ABOUT THE PROJECT

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 -González,  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 half a decade fine -tuning every detail.  

“Social  media  has  made  everything  about  quantity  versus  quality,”  he  explains.  “Bands  produce less compelling work compared to twenty or more years ago when it was realistic  to make a living selling records. I feel like it’s become a lost art, almost…

Everyone’s constantly obsessed with ‘posting’ and not actually creating.”

Recorded  between  Texas  and  L.A.,  New  Axial  Age (which  also  features Houston legend Nicolas  Greer  on  keys)  includes  nine  tracks  of  inventive,  soulful  rock  combining elements of acts like Don Caballero, Pink Floyd, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and of course Pridgen & Gonzalez’s old stomping grounds, The Mars Volta.

The Mask of the Phantasm is undeniably greater  than the sum of its parts. New Axial Age is played with extreme conviction, and made all the  more  convincing  through  the  standout  presence  of  vocalist  Alexa  Joan  Rae,  whose  performance brings to mind legendary frontwomen like Betty Davis and Patti Smith.  The Mask of the Phantasm is a group firing on all cylinders led by Ghaznavi’s unique vision.  Their debut album, New Axial Age, is a testament to the enduring power of musicianship, the  joy of collaboration, and the unique human ability to find renewal and meaning in tragedy.