Legion

The soldiers of the Roman Empire were such fearsome warriors their reputation spread far beyond the confines of their conquered domains. In the Bible, when Jesus cast a demon from a man in Geresenes, that demon was called Legion. It is believed that name itself suggests the man was possessed by evil the size of a Roman Legion. It is fitting, then, that the most invigorating, powerful and determined new band to emerge from the realm of metallic hardcore has chosen Legion as their name, given the obvious fact that the five-piece metalcore outfit create music that will earn them a reputation beyond the confines of the established “scene” boundaries and the way they are looking to possess the underground community. Legion picked a name that also summarizes the ferocity of their musical delivery and the writhing, churning and burning underbelly of very heavy metal that pushes it all forward. The angry, pulverizing style of bands like Acacia Strain and Oceano combine with the polyrhythms and mathematical might of Meshuggah in Legion, who’ve consumed the strongest parts of these influences - reshaped and personalized them - to mold a sound of their own in an impressively short amount of time. Legion are extremely young and yet, extremely self-realized and talented. As Legion’s musical style has evolved, so has their vision and philosophy. Legion stands for freethinking, radical self-expressionism and steadfast individualism. Their music, lyrics and stage presence coalesce into an overall rallying cry that defies organized religions, narrow-minded groupthink and conformist ideology. To be yourself, think for yourself; that’s what Legion is about. Whether on nationwide tours with bands like Job For A Cowboy and Cephalic Carnage, garnering a ton of attention at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival or sharing stages with bands like I Declare War and The Plot In You, Legion makes a statement musically and stylistically with passion and self-guided purpose. The video for “Perverse Icon” has offered YouTube users a glimpse at just what Legion is capable of achieving on stage. Tracks like “Disclosure of Sin” and “Righteous Dictation” are emblematic of Legion’s skillful precision when it comes to balancing aggressive metallic destruction with trippy groove. Legion’s forthcoming debut album for eOne Music delivers upon the promise put down by their devastating EPs. No stone is left unturned when it comes to Legion’s targets, from the government to the church. Legion speaks their minds, musically and lyrically, without compromise. Legion could have done it another way. The Columbus, Ohio scene has produced many celebrated “scene” bands, but Legion actively chose another route. They didn’t base their career plans on the accumulation of Internet hype nor on cookie-cutter music designed to cater to a specific crowd. They went against the grain, on the path of resistance, decidedly choosing hard work and originality. No choreographed stage moves. Legion isn’t following the scene blueprint. Legion is all about a genuine connection with their fans through authentic expression. Ultimately, Legion looks to create music that inspires listeners to be themselves. They are believers in the power of creativity and artistic achievement. One thing seems assured: Legion will make a mark on the heavy music scene. Heavy Metal from Columbus, OH