The Legion - A Bliss To Suffer (CD)

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THE LEGION is nothing short but a brutal kick in the teeth, delivered from Sweden with much hate and stamped in blood. It's Black Metal that walks on the verge of its death sibling with unexpected success. It's angry, it's technical, and it's rotten and beautiful at the same time, one of the finest releases of this year so far, A Bliss To Suffer.
This is their third release following Unseen To Creation (2003) and Revocation (2006) with breaks in between each release for tours and other commitments, but this time it seems like they're back for good.
Music-wise it balances between BLOODBATH and early DIMMU BORGIR. Even though they consider themselves as part of the Black Metal kvlt, it's really hard to throw them in just one category. Kjetil Hektoen delivers hellish and sometimes softer grunts and Emil Dragutinovic's drumming can easily compete with a jackhammer drill set on the highest speed. Guitars and bass are top notch as well. The production was done by the band members and they did an excellent job; not too shiny and not too gritty, just the right amount of quality.
The concept seems heavily influenced by writers such as HP Lovecraft and Clive Barker in addition to the album's cover which is an excellent piece of art, fitting it well.
It's hard to single out just a song as an example, everything sounds unique which is a hard thing to do, every song is a new experience, an ode to the primitive side that resides in all of us and only this kind of music, executed in that manner, can bring out. This really is A Bliss To Suffer. And it will be a shame if those guys don't get a billing place in some of the major festivals, soon.