Witchery - I Am Legion album review

Swedish speed thrashers get some illustrious friends onboard

By Dave Ling
( Metal Hammer )
published
Cover art for Witchery - I Am Legion album

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With its creators having belched out their blackened strain of thrash/speed metal for more than two decades, the chances are that you already have a good idea of what I Am Legion sounds like. Now onto their seventh studio set, the Swedes, known previously for a steady turnover of line-ups, retain the team responsible for last year’s praised 20th anniversary album, In His Infernal Majesty’s Service, also summoning Hank Shermann and Mike Wead of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond fame respectively, plus Nick Barker on the drums, as guests. The results are fast and furious, Chris Barkensjö hammering away at his double-bass kit, though the likes of Welcome, Night and True North reveal a welcome ability to moderate the tempos, the guitars of ex-The Haunted man Patrik Jensen and Rikard Rimfält savage yet with a cold, steely, clinical edge.

Dave Ling
Dave Ling

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.