Since January of 2023, I have had the pleasure of working on creative projects with the Toronto-based alternative metal band, Phantom High. Phantom High has always had a strong visual presence, thanks in bulk to the eerie stage mask worn by the frontperson, Peril Erinyes, so their branding needs to be just as strong. In working with Phantom High, I have taken charge of their art direction, growing the band’s visual sphere to complement the audio environment created by their innovative, genre-bending music.

Working with Phantom High has been a unique experience with unique creative challenges. Through visualizing a blend of horror, eroticism, and radical self-expression, Phantom High and I have worked together to create the image and public identity of an unforgettable rock n’ roll experience. Many more projects are in the works with Phantom High, including merch designs, brand identity elements, and narrative-based marketing strategies set to increase audience engagement.

The logo design was modeled after a mid-2010s cartoon aesthetic to allude to the uniqueness of Phantom High within the metal music spaces the band operates within, as well as the fact that the band does not take themselves too seriously. Peril is an electric character and the face of the band, so the branding needed to reflect that energy.

The font denotes both the fun in the bands performances, but it includes sharp angles, mimicking fangs or daggers, to also allude to harsher, more dangerous-sounding elements that metal music includes. The colors were chosen to allow for flexibility in the band’s branding. Because Phantom High is a versatile band, the colors needed to be just as versatile, combining to make other colors through halftones and layering. The branding runs parallel to CMYK colors without being exactly CMYK, keeping the color palette fresh and unique.

This rebrand has not been launched yet, but the images are included in this portfolio with the band’s permission. It is only the first step of the future of Phantom High, and more band-related projects are in the works.