I'm Jumping Into the "Prison Realm" with Legionary <REVIEW>

“…heavy and intricate, featuring blistering riffs and powerful vocals…”

Legionary is a one-man Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band from Bronx in New York. That one man is guitarist Frank D’Erasmo. Since 2007 he’s been doing a lot of this, including a full length called Arcane Divisions in 2012 with a remaster in 2014. So with this new EP Prison Realm out this Friday, I figured I’d take a dive in. Especially as the vocals on this album are done by Chris Clancy. If you don’t know who he is, he’s the guy behind Mutiny Within, a metalcore band I had listened to A LOT back in 2017 with their to-this-day-latest-album Origins. I’m excited for sure.

Let’s take a look at what we’ve got…

The EP opens with "Question Everything," featuring a haunting clean guitar intro that sets the stage for what’s to come before the distortion cranks up and kicks you in the nads and speeds off in a blistering fury. The interplay between Frank D’Erasmo and Tony Barhoum’s guitars are exceptional, blending seamlessly with Chris Clancy’s ferocious vocals. Fun fact, this track marks the first time Legionary incorporates clean vocals into their music, adding a fresh layer of depth and contrast. Frank’s drums are really well done as well. The mixing is stellar from the start, allowing each element to shine without overshadowing the others.

This marks the tone for the rest of the EP as a whole, with “Prison Realm” and “Neuroweaponry” following suit. All of which show great talent from everyone. Seriously, just listening to Tony’s just delectable guitar shredding is a great treat to have on this shredding album. Every element, from the ferocious drumming to the relentless riffs, contributes to a cohesive and exhilarating listening experience.

That’s really everything to say about the main part of the EP, but we are given a taste of a remake. Remember how I mentioned the full length Arcane Divisions? Well, the title track for that album was remade with new recording, new mixing and new vocals for this EP. This time featuring a new vocalist as well. Instead of Tim Rocheny (Mausoleum, ex-Morpheus Descends), we’ve got Brain Kingsland (Enthean, Nile). And this version was transposed up a whole step, so the pitch of the song is a bit higher than the original. And let me tell you, it works a lot better here.

This updated version benefits from cleaner production and a mix that breathes new life into the song. The guitar tones are better suited to the current EP’s sound, adding clarity and punch. Transposing the song up a whole step enhances its energy and urgency. Brian Kingsland's vocal performance is a standout, offering a more pronounced and dynamic delivery compared to Tim Rocheny’s original take. While the lyrics have been slightly revised, they retain the essence of the original, ensuring long-time fans will appreciate the changes. Overall, this remake is a massive improvement, enhancing every aspect of the original track.

Prison Realm is a remarkable EP that highlights Legionary’s growth and evolution. The songwriting is heavy and intricate, featuring blistering riffs and powerful vocal performances. The introduction of clean vocals adds a new dimension, while the technical thrash elements are executed with precision and flair. The melodic passages provide a perfect balance, ensuring the EP is not only aggressive but also richly textured.

Overall, a great EP for new fans, and a huge step-up for the loyal faithfuls. If you haven’t jumped into the Prison Realm with Legionary, now would be a good time to do so!

14/15

… because I’d like my prison cell to be 14/15 feet. Not a lot of space, but I like being able to walk in one direction and immediately run into the wall at every turn.

Tracklist:

Question Everything
Prison Realm
Neuroweaponry
Arcane Divisions (Remake)

Check out Legionary!

EP Credits:

All Music written by Frank D’Erasmo.
All Lyrics written by Frank D'Erasmo (Except "Arcane Divisions", which was originally written by Tim Rocheny, and revised by Brian Kingsland).
Guitar Solos written by Tony Barhoum.
Mixed/Mastered by Ben Karas.
Artwork: Frank D'Erasmo