Legion Of The Damned – Ravenous Plague.

 @PlanetMosh reviews .@legionotdamned – Ravenous Plague out now on .@NapalmRecords

The thrash metal gauntlet has been thrown down in 2014 for others to challenge for by a band from the Netherlands called Legion Of The Damned with their 7th full length studio album titled Ravenous Plague, released on Jan.3rd 2014 via Napalm Records. It can only be described as sheer unadulterated rage and when the guitars, drums and vocal lock together they could possibly blow your speakers!

Following the brief, sedate intro ‘Howling For Armageddon hits hard from the off as the drums pummel like a road drill, the guitar thrashes and buzzes intensely and the unhinged vocals of Maurice Swinkels come over like Schmier from Destruction. The anger is kept going as ‘Black Baron’ is even faster as the riffs churn and chug over punishing blast beats and a guttural vocal delivery. Other raging numbers are the 4 minute metal adrenaline rush of ‘Mountain Wolves Under A Crescent Moon. At 6 minutes long, its surprising the band are not breathless by the 1st minute of Ravenous Abomination’s frenzied rhythms but there is a respite with a heavy chugging break halfway through but that is soon smashed by yet more dizzying speed metal. ‘Doom Priest’ lives up to its title as the spoken word and crashing chords intro give way to intense mid paced thrash.

‘Summon All Hate’ is an almost melodic Megadeth stomper but is given a boost by some insane drumming from Erik Fleuren. The clinical razor sharp intro riffs of Bury Me In A Nameless Grave and as they gain in speed the clarity is still there. One of the most fist clenching, headbanging songs on the album. Personal favourite of Ravenous Plague is the final track Strike Of The Apocalypse so when I first saw the title, was expecting another fast one but its abrasive pounding metal like classic Flotsam And Jetsam.  A fine way to end a faultless thrash metal album!

Ravenous Plague is available in a regular jewel case, a limited digibook inc. a bonus DVD, on black vinyl, on limited golden vinyl and a limited yearbook with a 48 page booklet and bonus DVD. The golden vinyl and limited yearbook formats are only available from Napalm Records and Legion Of The Damned will be touring with Sepultura, Mortillery  and Flotsam And Jetsam during Feb/March.

Album track listing :-

The Apocalyptic Surge.

Howling For Armageddon.

Black Baron.

Mountain Wolves Under A Crescent Moon.

Ravenous Abomination.

Doom Priest.

Summon All Hate.

Morbid Death.

Bury Me In A Nameless Grave.

Armalite Assassin.

Strike Of The Apocalypse.

Legion Of The Damned line up :-

Maurice Swinkels – Vocals.

Twan Van Geel – Guitars.

Harold Gielen – Bass guitar.

Erik Fleuren – Drums.