Dark Realms Magazine
Opus 2 is the second album from Sweden’s enigmatic solo artist, Phanatos. The album creates an air of mystique that is both sensual and soothing. The eight songs have a romantic and dreamy feel, highlighted by female vocalist Karin Ljungberg, who sings several duets with the smoothtoned Phanatos. The music is keyboard-oriented, comprised mainly of piano melodies accented by ethereal synth work and various percussive rhythms. Some of the instrumental compositions are reminiscent of the alluring sounds of Yanni, while others sound like romantic soundtrack themes. Opus 2 paints a lush soundscape of tranquil fantasies that may act as inspiration for some passionate pursuits in your life.
Camille Ambrose
Dark Realms Magazine »

Darknoise
El compositor Sueco PHANATOS trabajo con la vocalista KARIN LJUNGBERG en su obra OPUS 2, 2007, un trabajo que contiene 8 composiciones de una corriente Gotico-Ambient-Clasico, con buenos arreglos en piano y bateria, una obra que me hizo recordar bandas tales como LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH y BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL. Tracks como THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR y THE DROWNING AN RE EMERGENCE OF A LOVELORN HEART sobre todo este ultimo producen una verdadera adiccion a la banda, pero como dice su sitio en Internet solo son "relatos de amor y misterio".
Vascos Bustos
Darknoise Magazine »

Dark Spy
Hm, 37 Minuten Spielzeit ist wenig, wir wollen uns aber nicht beschweren, die erste Veröffentlichung hatte nur 15 Minuten. Opus 2 ist die zweite Eigenveröffentlichung des Schweden Fredrik Andresson, der sich neo-klassischer, Gothic- und Filmmusik widmet. Im Grunde genommen hat er alles drin: Chill out, Ambient, Easy Listening, Soundtrack. Magische Klänge bringen den Hörer in eine Klanglandschaft. Hohe Frauenstimmen offenbaren bei den ersten vier Tracks ein akustisches Elfenreich. Perlige Pianoklänge, Vogelgezwitscher, Möwenschreie. Verführung mit magischen Lauten. Ein bisschen Enya und Enigma. Mir ist das zu süß. Ich geh jetzt in die Küche und mache mir ein Salamibrot.
Anspieltipps: Awe and Woe
Alana Abendroth
Dark Spy »

Metal March
I found out about Phanatos pretty much by accident. I saw this flyer about their album which was able to get my attenion, so I decided to check out their music. After a couple of samples on their MySpace page I got in touch with the band and a few weeks later I got their album entitled "Opus 2". Well I said "band" but I believe the mastermind behind Phanatos is a Swedish man who pretty much handles everything here, minus some female vocals, which are obviously done by someone else (Karin Ljungberg).
I had noticed that Phanatos kind of reminded me of the releases from Swedish label Cold Meat Industry, but the music from this band is much less abstract, comparind with pretty much all releases I got from the Swedish label.
The music in "Opus 2" is beautiful and very well composed. There isn't much more I could say except that it sounds pretty damn good. The piano passages, the vocals, everything. The style itself is not easy to describe, or label, but it is described as Gothic/neo-classical/filmic music, so lets just leave it as it is.
Even if I tried to find a weak spot in "Opus 2", I don't think I would find anything. Some songs with vocals, others instrumental, everything sounds great, like an aspirin for the soul. Brings peace to my mind everytime I play this album, and it's definitely one of those I'll keep on my playlist for a long time to come.
It's raining outside, I feel like light a few candles and just listen to this album from beginning to the end. A great masterpiece which I have no doubt will get the kind of praise it deserves.
Pedro Santos

Music Extreme
"Voyage" opens this album with pure beauty and melancholy, showing how Phanatos can transport the listener into their dark world full of melodies and clever arrangements. Here the main thing are the keyboards that are all over the place, and also the pagan feeling that the tunes have. Here we have amazing vocals, both male and female that fit the music perfectly, adding more melancholy and an arcane atmosphere to the music. Each of this compositions takes the listener into a world full of woods, forests, lakes and wonderful things. There are here also 4 instrumental tracks that show really good technical and compositional skills. A must have for lovers of atmospheric and beautiful music.
Music Extreme »

NEGAtief
"Opus 2" ist das Eigenregie unter dem Projektnamen Phanatos veröffentlichte Werk des schwedischen Komponisten Fredrik Andersson und bewegt sich im weiten Feld der Neoklassik. Auch Einflüsse von Filmmusik unterstreichen die wunderschön warmen und atmosphärischen Klänge, die ihre wahre Tiefe erst beim genauen Hinhören offenbaren. Stellenweise erinnert Phanatos an die spacigen Ausflüge von Tiamat (auch stimmlich) und an die Klang-Ästhetik von Pink Floyd, ohne jedoch deren instrumentierung zu verwenden. Phanatos ist eine gelungene Mischung aus atmosphärischer Melancholie und traumhafter Romantik, die den Hörer in ferne Welten transportieren kann, wenn er sich darauf einlässt.
Müller
NEGAtief »

Spider’s Web Zine
This album has been played on my CD player over and over again, whilst I was writing parts of this magazine. It’s a beautiful album, dark yet relaxing for the mind. Enchanting piano tunes, hauntingly beautiful melodies.
Not much said in words, although the lyrics are powerful too, there is more meaning in the battle of instruments in the songs. A true mirage of passionate, hopeless, eternal love.
Spider's Web Zine »