• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

This isn't the worst album I've heard this year, but it's just as far as from the best. I didn't mind 2006's Revocation, and I don't hate this one, but if The Legion want to pave a way for themselves that hasn't already been trampled to death then I suggest some major changes. Following in the footsteps of the likes of Keep of Kalessin and Marduk isn't the most advisable way to establish yourself as a force in Black Metal, especially if you fail to match the qualities that have propelled those bands to the relative stardom they enjoy. At any rate, I suppose you could do worse than A Bliss to Suffer if you're on the prowl for relentless and cleanly produced BM with a reasonable amount of melody.

The Legion are very clearly influenced by the aforementioned bands – especially KoK's Armada album – with a touch of Emperor in the mix as well. There's the occasional ceasefire in this album's standard thrashy tremolo-picked Black Metal for a haunting choir or an acoustic passage, but alas, far from unlistenable, this release comes off as uninspired more than anything. The Legion aren't incapable musicians, but there's a severe lack of polish compositionally that points to an inevitable conclusion: they aren't as good as the bands they want to emulate. That's not to say they're completely devoid of good ideas; a riff here and a lead there manage to impress, but the sum of this album's parts is ultimately underwhelming. Attempts at creating what sounds like an atmosphere of savage pandemonium – à la Emperor at their finest and Polish Black Metal band Vesania – fall mostly short of the mark. Get the latter band's Firefrost Arcanum instead; it features similar ideas with a more focused and commanding execution.

To those who have enjoyed The Legion's previous works: this is a step down, but you still may find things to appreciate. Anyone looking for an introduction would be better off exploring their past efforts, which are far from revolutionary but nonetheless competently played and less tedious than this band's 2009 offering.