PHANTASM was a short lived outfit made famous on the Thrash underground for the inclusion of three notable figures in erstwhile HIRAX vocalist Katon W. DePena, METALLICA bassist Ron McGoveny andf DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan. HIRAX had garnered much laudable press but DePena quit to form PHANTASM, an act comprising of former bassist Ron McGoveney, HIRAX refugee John Tabares on drums and guitarists Rodney Nicholson and Carlos Guaico. Drummer Gene Hoglan, later of DARK ANGEL, DEATH and TESTAMENT fame, also had a term with PHANTASM in 1986. Others involved in the PHANTASM history included drummer Jim Korthe and guitarist Nathan William.

DePena, reportedly in union with Gene Hoglan- by then a member of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, resurrected HIRAX in 2000. With renewed interest in HIRAX and the retro Thrash scene in general a welcome Bill Metoyer live PHANTASM album 'Wreckage', recorded in 1987, arrived.