Albums You Should be Listening to: I Legion - Beyond Darkness

I Legion - Beyond Darkness
Independent release - 2012

I Legion is the mastermind of Canadian Frederic Riverin, who got some help from Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within) to produce this foray into melodic death alongside Bjorn Strid (Soilwork) and Jon Howard (Threat Signal).  Additionally, some songs feature some additional guitar work from Andy James, Peter Wichers, Angel Vivaldi, and Brandon Jacobs.  If that doesn't give you a slight caliber of the music presented on this album, I'm not sure what will.  This is melodic death metal of the highest quality.

The 13 tracks provided, there is one instrumental opener ("Hexagram") and the remaining tracks are broken up between Chris Clancy (5 songs), Bjorn Strid (4 songs), and Jon Howard (3 songs).  One of the strongest features is how easily the songs mesh with each other despite jumping from vocalist to vocalist, and I believe this is a real credit to the songwriting strength of Riverin.  The songs themselves aren't really anything out of the ordinary for the genre in theory, ranging from the mid-tempo to the occasionally quicker bursts, but again, the execution is basically flawless.  All three vocalists are on top of their game, giving the growls and sung vocals they are known for.

I find it hard to come up with favorite tracks, but I thought I'd comment on a few tracks.  "Night Calls" (Clancy) has to be the album's catchiest number and features some of Clancy's best vocals on the disc.  I cannot get enough of their cover of "Love is a Battlefield" (Strid).  The song has been metalized and Bjorn's vocals are a perfect fit.  "Despite Your Grace" has some major toe-tapping groove going for it along with possibly Speed's best chorus.  One of the faster numbers has to be "Escape as Deliverance" (Howard) and shows the riffs are just as gorgeous at top speed as they are with the more mid-tempo melodies.

Perhaps the best testament I can give to the album is that it has been out now for almost a year and I am still listening to it fairly consistently, despite the banner year that we have been having in 2013.  While I am not sure whether there will be another I Legion release, I can certainly cross my fingers and hope, though Frederic is currently involved with another project with Bjorn Strid by the name of Bear River.  One of 2012's greatest hidden gems, this is not to be missed!

I Legion Bandcamp page (you can listen to the entire album here for yourself)

Signs from Above (Bjorn Strid)

Snippet of Night Calls (Chris Clancy)