Rating: 8.1

Country: USA

Release Date: 2005

Record Label: Moribund

Track list:
1. Frenzy The Legion
2. Your Prayers Mean Nothing
3. Forest Of The Deceased
4. Inverted Crucifix
5. Precision Butchery [MP3]
6. Christian Genocide

Total playing time 33:22

Band Website: Infernal Legion

Infernal Legion - Your Prayers Mean Nothing

Doug Stern - Guitars, Vocals
Josh Smith - Lead Vocals
Rick Powel l- Bass, Vocals
Eric Armstrong - Guitars
Justin Thomas - Drums

You'd think that Moribund was breeding rabid death metal bands in their own basement at the rate they're going, what with Blood Ritual, Drawn & Quartered and now Infernal Legion issuing equally sublime efforts over the past few months. While their stable of black metal acts have proven somewhat underwhelming of late (Leviathan being amongst the primary offenders, Winter Of Apokalypse being a glaring exception), Moribund's grasp on Satanic death metal has proven to be much more dependable, last year's Drawn & Quartered record renovating putrescent temples once erected by Florida's foremost warlocks, while last month's Blood Ritual comeback married the hypnotic structures of Incantation with the dissonant psychedelia of Immolation, both modern masterpieces in their own right. Not lagging far behind is this stunner of a record, a blood-stained spiked gauntlet in the face of today's ultramodern, over-elaborated ‘'brutal'' death metal.

Aesthetically, this espouses the same philosophy as its two labelmates, Infernal Legion peddling a startlingly accomplished, atmospheric and darkly sophisticated brand of death metal that simultaneously recalls the ethereal harmonics of 'Covenant' era Morbid Angel, the oppressive claustrophobia of Incantation, the transcendental nefariousness of early Deicide and the labyrinthine arrangements of vintage Immolation. What this all amounts to is an orgiastic Satanic symphony that celebrates death metal in its truest form- an album that is an engrossing, mesmerizing EXPERIENCE as opposed to an erratically hodge-podge collection of riffs and weirdo time signatures.

Opening instrumental, “Frenzy The Legion” is positively MONUMENTAL, a barrage of ominous, bludgeoning double bass, repetitious, entrancing Azagthoth sludge and serpentine melodies that all coalesce into a bewitching demonic invocation that truly sets the pace for what is to follow. The spellbinding melody that materializes 03:30 into the track is absolutely mindwarping, exhibiting a melodic finesse that defies so much of today's faster-and-harsher-than-thou death metal crop. This slithering sense of harmony weaves itself in and out of this record, truly distinguishing Infernal Legion from so many of the tepid facsimiles that have formed in Morbid Angel's wake. The formula adopted throughout is largely uniform, but startlingly impressive- wondrously wicked riffage repeated to intoxicating, hypnotic effect, lulling the listener into submissive hypnosis before a subtle, devilish, almost Jon Nodtveidt melody bubbles to the brim, intersecting the droning soundscapes and injecting hefty dimension to the piece. While I could have done with better drum production (the kick drums sound a bit clicky for my liking, while the snare sounds a little too tinny), the drumming here PERFECTLY complements the diabolical aspirations of the band, typically hovering around mid-tempo territory and utilizing a Bolt Thrower-esque restraint instead of clouding the structures/mix with unnecessary fills. This is a band that understands the significance of TAKING THEIR TIME, allowing each idea the sonic space to breathe, flourish and establish its stranglehold on the listener.

Granted, songs are somewhat indistinguishable from each other when examined on an individual basis (apart from the opening instrumental, which I actually feel is the strongest track on offer here), but considering how absorbing each composition is, this makes little difference as this is a record that was crafted to be ingested as a comprehensive whole. Additionally, the brevity of the record truly works to the band's advantage, the 33 minute length begging continual taps of the repeat button. It is somewhat frightening to think that this is but the band's second record- it is fiercely disciplined, masterfully crafted, consummately executed in every imaginable sense, a fireball of torturous intensity that sticks a blade in your gut and turns it slowly, delighting at every grimace and wince it evokes. Sure, I could have done with better production, but as it stands, this is an orgasmic record that will tantalize all discerning connoisseurs of ancient death metal.

July 15th, 2005