That the ’90s had a major impact on the Black Metal scene has, of course, long been common knowledge. But what has evolved within the scene since then? In my opinion: quite a lot. Most notable are the bands that regularly step out of their comfort zone, moving away from the “safety” of Black Metal, and experimenting with new elements. There’s certainly no shortage of examples of that.
Legião Oculta from Portugal, however, is not such a band. They belong to the groups that passionately embrace the ’90s and make no apologies for it. This is clearly shown on their first release via Portuguese label War Productions, limited to just thirty copies and available in three colours (as far as the cover art is concerned).
We’re presented with an intro and four tracks that clearly harken back to mid-’90s Black Metal. Fairly straightforward riffs, occasionally seeming to lag slightly behind the tempo, but that hardly spoils the fun – after all, this is a demo.
As for the production, I think they could have spent another hour or so fine-tuning things. Again, it’s a demo, but the vocals could have been brought up a bit in the mix, while the guitars – which currently dominate quite heavily – could have been pulled back slightly.
Aside from that, there’s nothing to complain about regarding the songs themselves: solid Black Metal with a few Death Metal influences, effortlessly transporting you some thirty years back in time. The standout for me was “Legions of Death,” with its nostalgic build-up and execution; I even thought I caught echoes of old Celtic Frost in there.
All in all, a fine release, and I’m curious to see what else these Portuguese gentlemen have in store for us in the future.
A final compliment as well for the killer “old school” logo, which fits the whole package perfectly.
79/100
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