Legion is the second album by Florida death metal band Deicide. It was released by Roadrunner Records on June 9, 1992.
| Legion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 9, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Death metal | |||
| Length | 29:01 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Producer | Deicide, Scott Burns | |||
| Deicide chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThough the album is a favourite of fans, "Dead But Dreaming" is the only song from it to remain in the band's live set (though as recently as 2010 the band has begun playing "Trifixion" and "Holy Deception" as well). When the Hoffman brothers quit the band, Eric Hoffman stated that one of the main reasons was Glen Benton refusing to play longer sets and being unable to perform the technical bass guitar riffing required for Legion's material.[citation needed]
The first track, "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon", features a backward message. At about twenty seconds, a voice can be heard repeating the song's title.
Musical style
editKelly Simms of Invisible Oranges assessed that on Legion, Deicide deviated from the "extreme elements" that were abundant on their debut album and pursued a "more straightforward brutal aesthetic."[1]
Legion is one of Deicide's most musically ambitious releases, incorporating technical guitar riffs and song structures.[2] Unlike Deicide's first album, no pitch shifters or harmonizers were used on Benton's vocals. However, delay, reverb, and multi-tracking were among the studio manipulations used to achieve the vocal effects on the album.[citation needed]
The album's riffs utilize tremolo picking and have been described as "sinister", "chunky", "hooky" and "catchy". The album's guitar solos have been described as "chaotic". Benton's basslines follow the guitar parts of the Hoffmans.[3]
Reception and legacy
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Kerrang! | [5] |
| Metal Storm | 8.0/10[6] |
A reviewer for The Metal Storm said "in general a good album, some songs are well executed and with complex musical writing, but there are others that are just very simple and repetitive".[6]
Vincent Jeffries of Allmusic stated, "Legion stands out as a musically complex but familiar offering from the band. Live favorite 'Trifixion' is indeed one of the better cuts from the release, but it's easier to consider this disc (and most records like it) as a whole. Deicide's compositions and performances are solid and serious throughout". He also suggested, "newer death metal fans will do well to start off their collection with Legion".[4]
Frontman Glen Benton believes the album was "ahead of its time" and that the album's high tempos "caught everybody off-guard". He described the album's sound as "fuckin over the top".
Everybody fuckin hated it, all the magazines hated it; now it’s years later and everybody loves it.[7]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Deicide (Glen Benton and Steve Asheim).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon" | 4:26 |
| 2. | "Dead but Dreaming" | 3:13 |
| 3. | "Repent to Die" | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Trifixion" | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Behead the Prophet (No Lord Shall Live)" | 3:44 |
| 6. | "Holy Deception" | 3:19 |
| 7. | "In Hell I Burn" | 4:36 |
| 8. | "Revocate the Agitator" | 2:47 |
| Total length: | 29:01 | |
Personnel
edit- Glen Benton – bass; vocals
- Eric Hoffman – guitars
- Brian Hoffman – guitars
- Steve Asheim – drums
- Deicide – production
- Scott Burns – production, mixing
References
edit- ^ Simms, Kelley. "Deicide's Unholy Second Coming: A 30-Year Retrospective on "Legion" (Review)". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/legion-mw0000614503
- ^ Simms, Kelley. "Deicide's Unholy Second Coming: A 30-Year Retrospective on "Legion" (Review)". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ a b Jeffries, Vincent. "Legion - Deicide". Allmusic. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
- ^ Chirazi, Steffan (May 30, 1992). "Rekordz". Kerrang!. No. 394. EMAP. p. 20.
- ^ a b Deicide – Legion Review – Metal Storm
- ^ https://www.markprindle.com/benton-i.htm