In one aspect, refractory coatings are described herein having multiple cubic phases. In some embodiments, a coating comprises a refractory layer of TiAlN deposited by PVD adhered to the substrate, the refractory layer comprising a cubic TiAlN phase and a cubic A1N phase, wherein a ratio of intensity in the X-ray diffractogram (XRD) of a (200) reflection of the cubic AlN phase to intensity of a (200) reflection of the cubic TiAlN phase, I(200)/I(200), is at least 0.5.