Reviews: InPhaze - Back Again (2026)

This review was written by the Angels PR team and provided to us for publication on our website. We are pleased to share their thoughts on this release with our readers.

Returning eight years after their debut World of Lies, the Athens-based band does not simply reintroduce itself to the metal underground—they come back carrying the weight of everything they have survived.

Back Again is, at its core, an album about resilience. The personal struggles behind its creation are not used as a marketing gimmick; they become the emotional backbone of the record. Cancer, exhausting medical treatments, divorce, grief, and devastating loss are transformed into songs that refuse to surrender. Instead of hiding behind fantasy or distant metaphors, InPhaze confront reality head-on, delivering a record that feels remarkably human.

Musically, the band operates in the territory of melodic Power Metal while maintaining a strong connection to traditional Heavy Metal and hard rock. Speed, precision, and melody are constantly balanced, with sharp guitar work, driving rhythms, and memorable hooks giving the songs the kind of energy the genre demands. Yet there is something darker underneath the polished surface—a sense of urgency that makes the material feel lived rather than simply performed.

The production plays an important role in that impact. The co-production by Bob Katsionis adds a veteran touch to the band's sound, while André Boutos delivers vocals capable of moving between power, melody, and emotional intensity. The mixing and mastering by guitarist Ilias Gogakis at Vowlume Productions provide the album with a modern, clear, and aggressive sonic character without stripping away its organic metal identity. What makes Back Again particularly interesting is the contrast between its musical force and its deeply personal subject matter. These are songs born from difficult experiences, but the album never feels defeated. Quite the opposite. There is anger, pain, and darkness, but there is also determination. Every riff seems to push forward, every chorus feels like another step away from the past.

The title Back Again therefore becomes more than just a name. It represents a return—not only to the music scene, but to life itself. InPhaze have taken some of the most brutal experiences imaginable and forged them into something energetic, melodic and defiant.

This is not Power Metal built around dragons, distant kingdoms and imaginary battles. This is Power Metal about surviving the real world. And perhaps that is where Back Again finds its greatest strength.

InPhaze may have been away for years, but they clearly have plenty left to say. Back Again is a record of scars, survival and rebirth—and a convincing reminder that sometimes the strongest comeback is simply finding the strength to stand up and play again.

A powerful, honest and emotionally charged comeback from a band that has clearly earned its return.

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