The Metal scene may be crowded, but there's definitely room for one more legion of lost souls. LEGION hail from Ohio in the US, and have been belting out the heavy since 2009. The 5-piece place emphasis on individuality in their music, and encourage their listeners to follow suit. Their latest release, "Woke", promises to be an accumulation of their best work, and listeners won't be disappointed.

The opening track "The Fear" is a mere 1 minute, and is almost silent until halfway through. Gradually, however, eerie sounds can be detected, becoming more piercing and haunting by the second, before erupting into sirens. The track that follows is far more abrasive, and certainly not shy on the drums, guitars or growls: "And Then, The Devil Said" introduces the relentless distortion of the guitars and the nonstop double pedal of the drums, making it clear that the devil said something very disturbing indeed. The "Righteous Dictation" righteously dictates the band's message of anti-conformity, through Michael Guilford's angry growls and wisdom. A breakdown overlaps with some clean riffs, creating an inventive dichotomy. "He Became Death" is a rather morbid concept, so it is only appropriate that it is conveyed through an equally morbid song. The drumming is as strong as ever, and the guitar work is very unique, depicting sullen thoughts into the ears and mind of the listener.

The fifth track makes good use of overlapping vocals. "Priest" consists of low growls blended with higher-pitched ones, layered over catchy riffs and fierce double-kick. "Disclosure of Sin" is rather subdued to begin with, but by no means quiet. The rhythm is slower at the start, and quickens as the song progresses. There are several moments where the metallic twang of the bass can be heard. The next track is very likely to scare you into obedience: "Kneel Before Order" presents the listener with no other options, with machinegun drumming and unforgiving distortion. "Perverse Icon" is far from innocent, with vocals that are intimidating to say the least, and alternating guitar riffs that will have you looking from left to right in terror as you seek out the source of the dreaded sound. There'll be no relief as track nine takes over: "B.R.F." opens with shrill studio effects and creepy muttering voices, which soon evolve into shrill distortion guitars and creepy muttering growls. The concluding track seizes the opportunity to end the album on a high note - literally. The final minute of "The Roach" consists of a breakdown, with an underlying piercing sound that will get your skin crawling.

LEGION are far from being a disappointment with "Woke", bringing originality and a strong message of defiance into their music. A recommendation for all Metal fans, regardless of preferred subgenre - this album is diverse enough to appeal to all headbangers, wherever they may be.