Once again, Dutch Death/Thrash Metal icons LEGION OF THE DAMNED unload hatred and anger into their remarkable depths of black and death metal, releasing yet another unmatched demon with the upcoming album, “The Poison Chalice”, out on May 26th via Napalm Records. Surrounded by pitch-black darkness and tortured souls, the demonic underworlds are ready to eat!
With title track “The Poison Chalice”, LEGION OF THE DAMNED embrace the Beast together with an official lyric video! For the first time ever on a studio album, the band hails as a five piece and brings their aggressive and brutally blackened soundscapes to a higher level – closing the album with a steel-breaking track.
LEGION OF THE DAMNED comment on the track: “Title track ‘The Poison Chalice’ praises the dangerous fruits of the left hand path and is straight forward heavy and furious Death Thrash.“
Founded in 1990 as OCCULT, the Thrash machine around founding members Maurice Swinkels and Erik Fleuren was reborn as LEGION OF THE DAMNED in 2005. On “The Poison Chalice”, the band unites with Fabian Verweij as second guitarist besides Twan van Geel and hails together with bassist Harold Gielen performing as a five piece for the first time ever on a studio album.
Conquering the European charts for decades, LEGION OF THE DAMNED crowned itself at #17 in the Official German Album Charts with predecessor “Slaves Of The Shadow Realms” (2019). For almost 35 years, they have formed their aggressive signature sound from the most horrific ingredients of Thrash and Death Metal, combined with Brutal Blackened influences, resulting in one of the most defined and unique sounds in the scene.
“The Poison Chalice” comes to life by spreading its eerily beautiful wings within the first few seconds, then dives headfirst into a hellishly furious storm before the second song “Contamination” absolutely kills. In classic LEGION OF THE DAMNED manner, there is no escape as the track relentlessly drives into the abyss.
The album spreads brutal and ice cold thrash soundscapes through relentless attacking drums and incredible guitar harmonies from both lead guitarists, underlined by angry bass lines. Infectious thrash treasures such as “Progressive Destructor”, and the almost seven-minute berserk “Behold The Beyond” break necks with hammering guitar riffs and bloody double bass infernos. “Beheading of The Godhead” delivers what the song title promises, before the past 48 minutes of hate closes with a final deep gulp from “The Poison Chalice” – leaving no one behind.
Together with producer Erwin Hermsen, the band has closed the gates of the underworld in Toneshed Studio and demonstrates that they remain the unchallenged masters of brute and unrelenting death-thrash metal in 2023.
“The Poison Chalice” track listing:
- Saints in Torment
- Contamination
- Progressive Destructor
- Skulls Adorn the Traitor’s Gate
- Behold the Beyond
- Retaliation
- Savage Intent
- Chimes of Flagellation
- Beheading of the Godhead
- The Poison Chalice
You can watch the official video for “The Poison Chalice” below:
