I
confess, I laughed out loud the first time I listened to this record in
the store. Young Mr. Belanger really sounds like he's shitting metal-plated
porcupines on crack in the first few lines of the otherwise decent "You
Have To Pay". Dave Mustaine ear yer heart out. Luckily he calmes down
a bit later on and his juvenile, nasal screech gets quite tolerable, even
charming after a few spins. The same goes for the album as a whole. It
sounds like a total mess the first time, but it really grows on you after
more than a few listenings, and suddenly one day you catch yourself humming
along to the intense, almost thrash-like "Spoiled Rotten", or the excellent
power-metallic "The Weak Must Die". When that last chorus goes into climax
and the now since-long-forgiven Dave does this... well, you've got to
hear it yourself. I'm not 100% sure of that title though. It says "Legion
Of Deth" on the edge of the sleave and I belive this was the name of the
band up until the album. I've also seen it listed like that, so I guess
that's the official, unofficial title. The production is primitive to
say the least, a 4-track basement rehearsal feel, but is free from particularly
annoying details like a shitty guitarsound, a too high snare or the likes.
Musically it could be the unheard, pre-"Hit the lights" METALLICA-demos*,
raw, hard metal not quite thrash, but in process of inventing it. SAVAGE
/ SWEET SAVAGE / BLITZKRIEG-like NWOBHM-style metal played by underaged
American white trash. They could be the best band Ebony Records never
released, but with good music. Yes, the sleave is one ugly fucker, but
I guess that's why I bothered to come back to this record again and again.
It's in the nature of a depraved metalhead like me to revel in filth and
ugliness. The cover and the band's tacky wardrobe may scare away most
orthodox True Metal fans, and those who passed this first ordeal will
have a hard time with the aforementined production, but what can you expect
when guitars & drums hasn't sounded like guitars & drums on most metal
records for the last 10 years. Of course sound, conservative Metal values
will grow corrupted! That's sad because LEGION had something that is far
more important in Metal than a millon-dollar budget and good looks: Passion.
They were young, dumb & full of cum and more or less a blueprint for what
I lovingly use to call "Brat Metal". On a good day they're almost as great
as DEVIL CHILDE.
*=just an expression, no mails from frustrated METALLICA-fans
please.
Originally written in German. Translate to:
I do not know how much this sells for now, but with a rarity grading of 3, I guess it will be at least 20.- Euro? Is it worth it? Well, the first song reminds me of early VAN HALEN, then continues on in an uptempo mode coarse vocals dominate from a young singer, in fact the entire band seems to be teens, probably living out their dream on this twelver, the other 2 tracks are mediocre 80s Hard rock/Metal, little bit DOKKEN little bit PANDEMONIUM. It is not the best stuff I have heard nor is it the worst, however I would not spend a lot of money on this one. OVERLORDE "Same" I remember searching frantically for this one a few years back then finally securing a copy directly from the band as they had a couple copies left from people that did not pay for them having reserved copies. I recall the joy holding this sealed record in my hands, carefully pryin it open, inhaling the smell, speeding to the turntable, carefully placing it on getting the fucker started and man it hit me choppy Maiden power metal, raging vocals, razor sharp axe attack, the title track is by far my favorite and the chorus will stick forever in you metal brains, the second side is more killer stuff live tunes that make you want to go back in time and see them play these. Killer stuff here a fine example as why true US metal will always reign supreme. The covers are already up on the reviews section you have. Thanks again guys.
"Cleveland rocks, Metal rules!" steht auf dem Backcover. Erklärt vieles, wenn nicht alles. Legion kamen aus dem Mekka des US Metal, Cleveland, und haben uns eine wuchtige Mini hinterlassen, die kräftig nach vorn geht. Spätestens bei den Refrains muss man mitsingen oder bangen, je nach Belieben. Leider ist die Produktion recht dünn und den Bubis auf dem Cover würde man einen solchen Sound nicht zutrauen. Nicht abschrecken lassen, kaufen!