Review by Felix on August 14, 2019.

Black metal from Finland is usually a good choice, even if it is disgraced with a childish artwork. Malum, another formation that intends to reach "purity through fire", has already recorded its third full-length and the opener illustrates blatantly that these guys are not able to present just one new tone. Everything has already been showcased a thousand times before. Or ten thousand times before, who am I to know the exact number? But there is one thing I know very precisely. I don't give a f**k about the aforementioned fact. Black metal has an exciting core which is immune against any kind of wear marks. Given this situation, there is no need to combine it with folk, ambient, suicidal or symphonic elements, even though a few bands have produced acceptable results while doing so. And no, Striborg is not among them.

However, Malum have only learned the basic rules of the sub-genre. This means they connect clanking guitars with clattering snare beats, or they bring lugubrious lines and slow drum rhythms together. They are not overly interested in creating atmosphere during the first two pieces, but the third, slightly Darkwoods My Betrothed-influenced track "Days of Slaughter and Destruction" finds a remedy. I freely admit that I did not expect it to do so in view of its pretty direct name... My misjudgment aside, Malum confirm the old rule that even black metal songs profit from a minimum of melody. It's not the first time and it won't be the last time that hoarse screaming and a poorly produced drum do everything in order to make it hard to find these melodic ornaments, but believe me, they exist. Sometimes I wish that there would be more bands that left the black metal university after having understood the basic rules and nothing else.

Perhaps with the exception of the third track, the songs do not differ very much, to express it mildly. Malum know the paths their more prominent compatriots like Horna or Behexen have already taken and they follow dutifully. Anyway, I only can say it once again: that's neither a shame nor a crime, because the quintet is good in what it is doing. The songs do not lack dynamic and they know for what they stand for. Pure, generic black metal is the name of the game and those who do not like this agenda - please f**k off (sorry for my vulgar language, but some things want to be expressed clearly). I am pretty sure that Malum do not disappoint any fan of the music Satan loves so much, even if a few parts sound like black metal by numbers. The devilish gang also does not add a new dimension to the sub-genre, but how many legions of Lucifer have been successful in doing so? Mayhem and Burzum, maybe two or three formations more, have defined the cornerstones and this has happened almost 30 years ago. Okay, I should not forget the heroes of the first wave, anyway, you can count the really innovative bands on amputated fingers as long as we speak about pristine black metal.

The closer cannot keep up with the remaining tracks, but all in all, this album delivers another tesserae to the overwhelming monument of the demonic style. A less sticky production would have been helpful, but the here presented mix does not ruin the compositions and maybe it is all just a question of the budget. Therefore, I have no serious problems with Legion, an album whose compositions constantly circle around the fiery core of the sub-genre. It's just Finnish or even very Finnish black metal, no more, no less - and that's a good thing.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Review by JD on March 11, 2013.

Brazil has a good history of giving the world some pretty fucking good metal over the years. Sepultura, Volcano and Mutilator to name a few have come out and pounded the world with its more extreme edge of metal. Now we have Darkside who want to follow in the Headbangers footsteps.

Playing some straight ahead Thrash Metal that has links to the whole American Bay Area styles. Sounding close to early Exodus, early Slayer and even Testament with some of the melodies seemingly ripped from Overkill’s playbook. It seems these Brazilians have the deepest passion for creating some infectious Thrash, have the ability to play it with blistering precision and yet never seem to define their own originality in it.

On listening to the album, one thing was clear. This was recorded amazingly while keeping the roughness needed for that Thrash feel. Songs like 'Bubonic' and 'Crossfire' are classic Thrash. Tight, fast, mean with razor sharp solos and gruff vocals. The songs are good, but because the melodies and some lines come so close to many songs that seem to be from the masters of Thrash rather than exploring a path where their style may live, seems to me like Darkside might have played it extremely safe rather than making their own thrashy blueprint to make it there own.

I am a old thrasher, but Darkside’s music is too close in sound and style to all of the gods of Thrash for me to overlook. I liked what I have heard, but if I wanted to hear Bay Area Thrash I would pull out my collection and hear the masters at work. These guys have fucking talent underneath the near cover type of attitude. If they can find their own style of Thrash and perfect it they might be the next Exodus and being the genre to the next level if they can follow their own talents. Right now they sound like a Bay Area Thrash tribute that has pasted in some new lyrics.

Sad, ya know.... good band, needs a voice of their own.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 9.5
Originality: 3.5
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by JD on March 11, 2013.

Brazil has a good history of giving the world some pretty fucking good metal over the years. Sepultura, Volcano and Mutilator to name a few have come out and pounded the world with its more extreme edge of metal. Now we have Darkside who want to follow in the Headbangers footsteps.

Playing some straight ahead Thrash Metal that has links to the whole American Bay Area styles. Sounding close to early Exodus, early Slayer and even Testament with some of the melodies seemingly ripped from Overkill’s playbook. It seems these Brazilians have the deepest passion for creating some infectious Thrash, have the ability to play it with blistering precision and yet never seem to define their own originality in it.

On listening to the album, one thing was clear. This was recorded amazingly while keeping the roughness needed for that Thrash feel. Songs like 'Bubonic' and 'Crossfire' are classic Thrash. Tight, fast, mean with razor sharp solos and gruff vocals. The songs are good, but because the melodies and some lines come so close to many songs that seem to be from the masters of Thrash rather than exploring a path where their style may live, seems to me like Darkside might have played it extremely safe rather than making their own thrashy blueprint to make it there own.

I am a old thrasher, but Darkside’s music is too close in sound and style to all of the gods of Thrash for me to overlook. I liked what I have heard, but if I wanted to hear Bay Area Thrash I would pull out my collection and hear the masters at work. These guys have fucking talent underneath the near cover type of attitude. If they can find their own style of Thrash and perfect it they might be the next Exodus and being the genre to the next level if they can follow their own talents. Right now they sound like a Bay Area Thrash tribute that has pasted in some new lyrics.

Sad, ya know.... good band, needs a voice of their own.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 9.5
Originality: 3.5
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by JD on March 11, 2013.

Brazil has a good history of giving the world some pretty fucking good metal over the years. Sepultura, Volcano and Mutilator to name a few have come out and pounded the world with its more extreme edge of metal. Now we have Darkside who want to follow in the Headbangers footsteps.

Playing some straight ahead Thrash Metal that has links to the whole American Bay Area styles. Sounding close to early Exodus, early Slayer and even Testament with some of the melodies seemingly ripped from Overkill’s playbook. It seems these Brazilians have the deepest passion for creating some infectious Thrash, have the ability to play it with blistering precision and yet never seem to define their own originality in it.

On listening to the album, one thing was clear. This was recorded amazingly while keeping the roughness needed for that Thrash feel. Songs like 'Bubonic' and 'Crossfire' are classic Thrash. Tight, fast, mean with razor sharp solos and gruff vocals. The songs are good, but because the melodies and some lines come so close to many songs that seem to be from the masters of Thrash rather than exploring a path where their style may live, seems to me like Darkside might have played it extremely safe rather than making their own thrashy blueprint to make it there own.

I am a old thrasher, but Darkside’s music is too close in sound and style to all of the gods of Thrash for me to overlook. I liked what I have heard, but if I wanted to hear Bay Area Thrash I would pull out my collection and hear the masters at work. These guys have fucking talent underneath the near cover type of attitude. If they can find their own style of Thrash and perfect it they might be the next Exodus and being the genre to the next level if they can follow their own talents. Right now they sound like a Bay Area Thrash tribute that has pasted in some new lyrics.

Sad, ya know.... good band, needs a voice of their own.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 9.5
Originality: 3.5
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.4 out of 10