We’ve been to Hell …. So you don’t have to!

“We have traveled space and time with our well known, but very top secret, invention. Becoming, a tactically versatile and highly competent, scientific awareness unit. We know how to operate our equipment just about as well as we need to. I personally am far more satisfied, but ironically far less monetarily rewarded with phantom ratio than anything I’ve ever done musically… A progression from misery, to the evolution of life, all life.. and, ourselves, sacrifices must be made.” Industrial post punk trio, Phantom Ratio, formed in the not so distant past, and they have been kickin ass and taking names ever since.

Eric Stene is a long-time veteran of the San Diego music scene. He has played in countless bands from 1984 to the present. Prior to Phantom Ratio, he is best known for being the guitarist/noisemaker for the seminal San Diego band Night Soil Man, where he played alongside Mark Trombino and Mike Kennedy, who would go on to become the rhythm section of emo lords Drive Like Jehu.

Jimi Flynn is the stick man for PR. He played with ministry of truth in 1984 and 85, a band with a so-cal punk sound. He then played in Eminence from 1986 to 1989. Eminence moved more into the speed metal genre. Both bands were based in San Diego.Jimi has always been a music enthusiast in all of its forms and genres. For personal reasons, he put playing on the back burner. After getting clear and clean, he’s picked up his sticks again. Jimi said recently he feels as though he is playing better than ever and is more comfortable in his own skin(s)…

Brad Davidson, I knew back when I was a teenage punkette running rampant in Portland. Brad gained much local respect when he was recruited as the bassist for Portland favorites, the Wipers. Those of us who were on the younger end of the punk scene then, were quite proud that he got that gig, as the Wipers are near and dear to many a heart in the Northwest. Following much recording and several tours with the Wipers, Brad started a 3-piece Metal punk combo, called “Klaw.” In this band he began writing. He also was learning to sing and play bass simultaneously.

In 92, he was drafted into the Jesus and Mary Chain, while living in London. Brad is an old road dawg, who could do 28 shows in 30 days.. with the JAMC he went on to do the 92 Lollapalooza tour, the Rollercoaster II tour, and the Jools Holland show with Paul Weller taping that night. His contract was cut short due to his party like a mutherfucker attitude…a true Rocking Roller..

Brad ended up back in the US of A. He met Jimi Flynn and Eric Stene after moving down to San Diego.

Brad was lured by Eric’s guitar, where in parts he sounded like Helios Creed/ Chrome, one of his and Eric’s main influences. Brad says he was encouraged by the way they “jelled together and seemed to have an almost telepathic complimentary connection.”

The band soon after made their 1st recording with a friend, Theo Miserlis, who engineered the mechanical section of that session. The plan now is to release a second recording which was completed last summer. It is said not to be for the faint of heart.

The CD, recorded in 2010 at Chaos Recorders in Escondido, features:
§ Secret Invention
§ Skrew your face up
§ God Told Me
§ Gravity
§ Path of Least Resistance
§ The Growth

Phantom Ratio on MySpace
You can contact them here for gigs, tours and assorted craziness:phantomratio@gmail.com
Adam Marx of New Rock News 43, describes these guys like this,