“It’s not about rising from the ashes or a chick with a dragon tattoo — or even the city in which the band was born. However, there is a story behind the name of the local progressive metal band Phoenix and Dragon — of the epic and non-epic varieties.. Since 2005, Phoenix & Dragon has emerged on the local scene,layering the intricacy of progressive rock, the delicate harmonies of classical music, the raw barrage of heavy metal, and the grandeur of opera.. You would never feel the band lacked a singer (think Animals as Leaders). But in 2014, when Phoenix & Dragon found a vocalist that could actually keep up with the musicians, it was apparent their sound was right on track to significantly expand their audience.”

“I’m a HUGE fan of instrumental acts…I feel that it takes a lot of talent to perform without a vocalist, you have nothing to distract the audience from the music itself, so it better be good. Phoenix and Dragon is THAT good. They are currently on the hunt for a new vocalist, but are still playing shows without one, because they can pull it off!”

“..finally the doors opened around 7:30, and the only local band in charge to open the show was Phoenix & Dragon. This prog/power metal youngsters put a great instrumental show, that even a well done version of Christmas Eve In Sarajevo of Trans Siberian Orchestra gained a huge ovation from the crowd. Regardless of lacking a singer at the moment, their show was full of good crafted musicianship that I really questioned the need of a singer at all. They can totally work as an instrumental progressive band on their own, so far that formula had worked pretty well for Animals As Leaders right?”

“PHOENIX AND DRAGON clashed with the still of the night with an abrupt force that that could only be challenged by a blow of the mighty Thor’s own hammer.. If you aren’t into fantasy, power, symphonic or prog metal, you most certainly would be after watching this band performs..As I watched this band play I closed my eyes for a minute and began to find myself in a fantasyland I have not visited since my youth and just smiled.”

“High octane, hair-flyin', volume-shredding. And they don't even sing! The Mesa-based metal band is instrumental with a heavy progressive speed.”

“The singer was top-notch, hitting those freaky operatic notes. The guitar players appeared to be very good players, based upon the speed with which their fingers flew across the fretboards during the many harmonized lead passages.. I enjoyed their set quite a bit though -- and they get extra points for their blue-jeans-and-white-sneakers 80s garage band attire.”