Tuesday 13 January 2015

Legion Of Andromeda - Iron Scorn (Album Review)

Iron Scorn cover art

Album Type: Album
Date Released: 20th February 2015
Label: At War With False Noise and Unholy Anarchy
Iron Scorn – Track Listing

1.Transuranic Ejaculation 05:42
2.Cosmo Hammer 06:20
3.Overlord Of Thunder 06:01
4.Scourge Of Pestilence 04:03
5.Sociopathic Infestation 07:30
6.Aim At The Starless Sky 06:13
7.Fist Of Hammurabi 07:03

Bio

At War With False Noise and Unholy Anarchy announce February 20th, 2015 as the international release date for Legion of Andromeda's debut album, Iron Scorn. Conceived, constructed, and assembled in 2012 by the demented minds of -M- (axe/machinery: Japanese) and -R- (vokills: Italian) and lurking within the inhuman megalopolis of Tokyo, Legion of Andromeda is blessed by the will of total war.

Sculpted in reiteration, repetition, and cyclical rotation, Legion of Andromeda’s impenetrable cacophony outbursts the breath of cosmic frost: raw, minimal, brutal; primitive, obtuse, barbaric. Albeit genuinely inspired by such diverse acts as Big Black, Suicide, Godflesh, Ildjarn, Swans, Khanate, VON, and Pan Sonic, among others, the band have crafted a totally original and unique sound.

The duo’s first offering, released in November 2013 and quickly sold out within a few months, was a four-track/32-minute self-titled demo comprising total aural disintegration, and was recorded, mixed, and mastered in August 2013 by Shigenori Kobayashi (Coffins/Sete Star Sept) at Noise Room Studio in Tokyo for maximum audial displeasure. While being favorably reviewed on several underground webzines such The Obelisk, The Sleeping Shaman, Black Metal And Brews, and featured by Kim Kelly on her own Necrolust Zine and in Decibel magazine, the demo was distributed by Obliteration Records in Japan, At War With False Noise in the EU, and Aquarius Records in the US.

In July 2014, Legion of Andromeda recorded their first proper full-length with the legendary Steve Albini (Neurosis/High On Fire/Nirvana) at his own Electrical Audio in Chicago. Titled Iron Scorn, the album is colossal, punishing, and devastating in terms of production, dynamics, and sound. Albini’s extraordinary engineering skills and unique genius brought to life a real monster, a huge sonic crusher of devastating proportions. The record, mastered by John Golden (Melvins/Om/Sleep/), will be released on February 20th, 2015 on vinyl format only by At War With False Noise in the EU and Unholy Anarchy in the US. On the artwork side, the insanely talented Tony Roberts (Conan/Electric Wizard/Unearthly Trance) provided visual aggression to the album.

Members

-M- axe/machinery
-R- vokills

Review:

Italian/Japanese Duo - Legion Of Andromeda - released an acclaimed demo in 2013, which was praised for its unflinching style of brutal noise matched with primal black/doom/drone metal fury. Now, Legion Of Andromeda have returned with their debut album - Iron Scorn. To start off, the album sounds incredible from start to finish courtesy of legendary music whiz - Steve Albini - who mixed and recorded this album. Let me say Iron Scorn can lay claim to being one of the heaviest, brutal and disturbing debut albums you are ever likely to hear. This is filth ridden dirge induced Death/Doom/Black Metal on a grand Drone Metal scale.

The tone of the album hardly changes through out the 7 songs on offer here. The vocals are barely understandable. It's more of an indecipherable chant set against an industrial based backdrop. The rattling sounds of hammers hit against a hidden object are present through out the album. The nightmarish music can be compared to Godflesh being taken over by an evil possessed force. I am trying not to do a song by song analysis or review. 

Truth be told it has been a very hard album to review as all the songs carry the same sort of nightmarish atmospheric dangerous environment for you to survive from. The music is more of a black/death/doom/drone/sludge metal hybrid with the industrial side of the bands music being the dominant factor as the album does not hold back with its unflinching brutality. 

The instrumental work is intense and quite painful at times as Legion Of Andromeda play very aggressively with different sounds noises combining that will take time to fully understand. However, it seems the drums are being hit with sledgehammers and guitars with Freddy Krueger's razor sharp gloves. Many people will be very scared to listen to this album and I do not blame them. It even scared me at times especially with the vocals. The last time I felt like this was with Primitive Man's classic debut album - Scorn. The music can be one-dimensional at times. However, to their credit, Legion Of Andromeda make it work as the sense of terror and fear is lurking everywhere.

Experience this album as one epic 46-minute song as it is the only way you are going to survive. Iron Scorn is going to be considered one of 2015's heaviest, disturbing, and depressing albums. If you are a fan of extreme metal then you are going to love this as Legion Of Andromeda leave no stone unturned. Hell On Earth would be a more accurate title for this album as you have no idea what is in store for you. Iron Scorn is not for the faint hearted. You need nerves of steel to listen to this. Legion Of Andromeda are the new harbingers of death and they are here to collect a few souls along the way. I need a rest after listening to this. Only listen to this if you are feeling brave enough.

Thanks to Nathan for the promo. Iron Scorn will be available to buy on CD/DD from Feb 20th 2015 on At War With False Noise and Unholy Anarchy

Words by Steve Howe

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