Industrial / Metal / Electronic / Synthpop
Minot, North Dakota, USA
“Phase came into existence around August of 1995. Originally intended to be a “pure industrial” band, Paul McCormack, band founder, soon decided to delve in to murkier, less easily defined waters. He incorporated not only industrial and techno influences, but also some from classic rock, heavy metal, jazz and contemporary classical music into a single genre.”
From a later website:
“Phase was the original “band” I began in 1995. Originally conceptualized to be a techno/industrial band, I quickly realized that I had neither the equipment, budget or desire to get locked into such a specific genre. The original split EP was a compilation of the best tracks from a tape demo (which is, thankfully, more or less erased from memory…) After some very favorable responses from various independent press outlets, a limited pressing of Cathartica + Intrasphere was produced and did exactly… nothing.
It was followed up with the more aggressive (and also favorably reviewed) but ultimately unreleased and unrefined Who Loves Ya? in 1999. After which work began (again) on a more personal work tentatively titled Drown. Due to a series of personal events and financial setbacks, work was abandoned on all but a few Phase projects in 2000. An attempted double album of unreleased material (Reactor) and covers/remixes (Redactor) was also scrapped, although there are a fair number of tracks for both. Phase was officially pronounced dead with the development of the NEP in 2002, although no specific work began until 2003 when two teaser tracks and some original “sketches” were completed for the upcoming lilies of the field.”
McCormack also recorded more ambient music under the name Program One.
| 1995? | Phase | Self | |
| 1996 | Phase + Program One | Cathartica + Intrasphere (limited version) | |
| 1997 | Phase + Program One | Cathartica + Intrasphere | KFKOD Recordings |
| 1999 | Phase | Who Loves Ya? | KFKOD Recordings |
| 2000 | Phase + Program One | Reactor + Redactor | KFKOD Recordings |
1995? Independent
Paul McCormick
10 songs, including:
Review from the Christian Industrial Information List: “There seems to be a fine line these days between what is industrial and what isn't. Phase doesn't just walk that line, it stomps all over it. At times there's no mistaking the “industrial-ness” of this one-man band; in “Purge,” he creates an excellent piece complete with distorted vocals. Other times it's nowhere close. The opener is actually more folksy-blues than anything. Overall, if a comparison had to be made, the closest I could come would be Fell Venus. It's pretty good, but your opinion of individual tracks is likely to vary widely depending on your tastes.” (by Carson Pierce)
1996 Independent
Paul McCormick - Guitars, vocals, keyboards
The original pressing of the CD in 1996 was limited to 50 copies which sold out quickly.
1997 KFKOD Recordings (KFKOD001)
Paul McCormick - Guitars, vocals, keyboards
1999 KFKOD Recordings
Paul McCormick
2000 KFKOD Recordings
Unknown if this was ever released. From an update in October 1999:
“Reactor + Redactor has begun. As reported earlier it is planned to be a 2-CD set with disc one featuring a number of b-sides and other unreleased tracks from Phase, Program One, and special appearances by Ungenziefer. The original material is mostly finished and now work on disc two (consisting of cover songs and re-interpretations) has begun. Currently songs from such notable bands/individuals as Joy Division, Over the Rhine, Michael Knott, John Cage, Bob Dylan. and Pink Floyd are at various stages of completion. Final appearence will, of course, depend on approval by the various holders of the copyrights and the actual song (re)writing process. So far, the work done on disc one is still in the usual Phase/P1 strangeness. Disc two has been considerably more “pop-ish” and has combined a variety of influences not usually seen in a standard KFKOD release. Continue to check back (or e-mail us) for the latest developments.”
“A few rough tracks have been laid including a cover of the Michael Knott tune “Crash and Burn” as well as a few odd instrumentals and such.”
Ballistic Test 1 (1997 Flaming Fish Music)
Purge
Escape the Furnace 1 & 2 (1997 Blacklight Records)
07) Big Empty Space
Forensics Lab: Songs From a Crime Scene (1999 Flaming Fish Music)
10) Implode
Positively Charged Electrons (1999 Shock Wave Music)
16) Lover of My Soul
Escape the Furnace 3 & 4 (2000 Blacklight Records)
13) Empty Spaces
Four songs were shared on the old Phase website, but it is unknown if these tracks were released on any albums: