The Legion

"Unseen to Creation"

When you sense it at first, the intro is hardly started. Here’s a pretty darn good and utter brutal album. The style is traditional black metal of the more underground oriented kind. This album is the fourth in a row of little satanic masterpieces.

First release from The Legion was released app. 3 years ago and was titled “Bloodaenos”. 4 cuts with the most gruesome and brutal metal seen for a long time. Therefore it was no surprise that the release received a lot of good attention and reviews from metal press and fans ‘round the world.

2 years after the ”Bloodaeons” album, The Legion returns to the studio to make a record. This time with the legendary former King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRoque turning all the knobs. 4 songs are recorded and 3 of them ends up on the 7” vinyl “Awakened Fury” which is released by cooperation between Neodawn Productions and Ketzer Records.

I’m almost done listening to this album for the first time, and I’m about to play it once more – or even twice. It’s not that I have any doubt of weather I like it or not, but it’s in order to complete the picture, and getting the most comprehensive knowledge about the music – it means a lot when you’re doing reviews, I just have to know the entire album to the core.

As I wrote initially this album has caught me with surprise. I didn’t have any knowledge about The Legion being a rubbish band or anything like that. Hell, I’ve never heard of them before I listened to “Unseen to Creation”. But I immediately felt a good vibe from the album, which made me comfortable with the music and highly tuned into the band, as well as interested in listening to the rest of the songs.

The Legion had an eminent recording session while making “Unseen to Creation” – you can easily hear how the songs are played with such elegance, that any metal fan should raise their fist in respect and admiration.

In the beginning of 2003 vocalist Sune Hammarström decides to leave The Legion. After a period of auditions for the central role in the band, Anders Fäldt which at this time is unknown is chosen for being the voice of The Legion.

Later that same year the ”Awakened Fury” 7” vinyl is re-released via the US based Deepsend Record. Besides the same tracks as the vinyl edition, the song “On Swift Wings” that originally were on the “Bloodaeons” demo, was put on the re-release.

Shortly after the release of this mini-cd, The Legion again enters the record studio. This time with fellow Swede Tommy Tägtgren, who has worked with such bands as Setheral, Theory in Practice and The Forsaken. This work results in the first full length release ever. This new album is released on Oct. 27^th!

One single thing that I need to emphasize is the guitarist David Svartz who is responsible for a guitar sound so sharp and clean, yet diabolic and intense in its expression. It fits the rest of the music like a glove, and makes The Legion a very unique unit on the metal scene of today. 

“Unseen to Creation” is a huge leap towards fame and fortune for this Swedish metal crew, and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if fans could see The Legion live at either Wacken or Inferno in a couple of years.

Thumbs up for an album with equal parts of ferocious energy and melodic atmosphere.

My favourite cut on the album is ”On Soft Wings” which takes off acoustic. A very beautiful and melodic part, that suddenly changes expression into what can be best described as the true essence of The Legion. Fast and very tight played drums and the remarkable guitar handled so well by Dave Svartz. That generates a sense of admiration in any metal fan. Keep up the good work lads, and keep on rockin´!

Some time ago Metal Coven did an interview with The Legion - check it out here, and learn more about the band!