After the huge success of LEGIONS OF THE NIGHT’s debut album in the year 2020 during the pandemic, “Sorrow Is The Cure”, and the sophomore release “Hell” in 2022 the Germany based Power Metal group now returns with the third full length release “Darkness”! I can tell you that "Hell" is part of my personal playlist and that achievement connected me with the new album!
The group still exists of Jens Faber (Dawn of Destiny, MalefistuM, ExoS), drummer Philipp Bock (Dawn Of Destiny” and exceptional singer Henning Basse (Metalium, ex- Firewind, Mayan).
“Darkness” continues exactly where the previous album has stopped – on this new release the typical Power Metal trademarks like huge melodies, powerful riffs and catchy choruses are present all over the released which is topped by an incredible performance of singer Henning Basse! There’s also again a stunning cover of a Savatage classic on this release, i.e. “Tonight He Grins Again”! “Darkness” once again was mastered by mastermind Dennis Köhne (Orden Ogan, Sodom, Lacuna Coil)!
No Control is a hard hitter with vocals that go from sweet, melodic to high pitched screams. The music reminds me of what I reviewed of them in the past, so it seems like they found their own sound and just follow that road. The guitar solo is excellent and will be loved by a lot of fans. The tempo goes up and down and sounds overall heavy.
Rebirth sounds a bit softer and has a more melodic sound. The story telling seems very important here. The tempo goes a bit higher towards the end.
Darkness starts softly guided by a piano and suddenly explodes and becomes a fast Power metal track (also sung very fast). I can feel the pathos. The slowed down parts boost the pathos.
Hate sounds as heavy as the title promises you. I’m pretty sure this one will be a nice one to perform in front of a huge crowd! Towards the end I even get a Wagnerian feel in the sound and hot guitar play.
One Moment mixes rage with sweetness and sometimes even sounds a bit like a ballad. It’s a very theatrical minded song (with great piano driven parts).
Another Devil is a high octane minded track, speeded up and sung with passion.
Let The River Flow is a real ballad with a piano and an acoustic guitar. It’s also a nice duet. It’s clearly a highlight!
Better Men is clearly a mellow track with a good melody and nice backings (adding that extra powerful layer). There are also some faster parts with highly pitched screams.
The Witches Are Burning could have been written for a folk pagan metal band but it’s one of their own and could be classified as combat metal track.
Leave Me is the second ballad. It’s clear that the band is really doing great with (power) ballads! I hope at least one of them becomes a hit (single)! This song show off all the great parts of this band: excellent singing (from soft to hard), the fuelled guitar play, the Wagnerian touch in the sound, the fire and the passion, the story telling … It all adds up in this song! It’s clearly a pearl!
I Don’t See The Light starts with rambling guitars, changes into a mid-tempo story telling song.
Last one is a cover: Tonight He Grins Again (Savatage). This song shows what band inspired them the most: a rock opera band! Their cover comes close to the original. Nicely done! It’s a nice end for this new album!
Well, I must say I loved Hell a bit more, but I also hear they found their own sound and own path and worked it out (a bit more). I loved the ballads the most, I just wished there where 2 or 3 real fast and heavy songs with a thunderous rage (some tracks came close to what I was hoping for, but got a bit too much break downs: no straight ahead banging). I know it’s nice from time to time to catch some breath, but sometimes it’s also great to burn it all in one go and that last one is something I missed here (a bit). For the rest: an excellent album, so keep on working on your own path and maybe one day I’ll see you on stage!
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