Another proclamation of war has been announced with a Metal mission to kill. Who better than Sweden's own LEGIONS OF WAR to sound the call of the death brigade. "Forced To The Ground" marks their sophomore effort and it is quite an improvement from the debut. The 2011 release "Riding With The Blitz" (Single) showed promise, with its grandiose visions and shell shock capabilities, but this album is leaps and bounds better.

Fans of HAIL OF BULLETS, RAZOR OF OCCAM, VORGUS, or WITCHERY, will be enticed by its morbid visions. The songs have melody and character. Picture AT WAR with NOCTURNAL BREED or NOCTURNAL FEAR with MERCILESS. The vocals are harsh, but audible, the guitars are menacing and thunderous. "Pile Of Corpses" and "Death Brigade" even have some shouting and gang vocals. Given the new clear winter storms of late, I be amiss to not mention BLIZZARD, SODOM, BEWITCHED, or BRIMSTONE, just so you can get the idea of the potential this holds. Deep in the dark frost, the master of war know how to deliver the goods for a night of revenge.

Remember how good the OLD MAN's CHILD albums were towards the late '90s? This ensemble of fear knows how to evoke that Black / Thrash attack that works quite effectively. These reapers know how to take command and break through the barricades. Sure, this is nothing novel, but if you like Black Metal and Thrash then this is the perfect melodic blend. Add to that war torn diaries of past valor, and you have a memorable experience.

They still choose to hide behind their stage names, so I have no idea who the musicians actually are, but I suspect that they play in some other better known Swedish acts. Unlike the over-rated GHOST, LEGIONS OF WAR support the true Metal Milieu with the mettle might of revenge. Tanks for the barrage of brutality!