From their record label’s website, “THY LEGION is a Blackened Death Metal band from the island of Malta formed in 2004. The band consists of Tonio and Mark on Vocals, Elton and Emanuel on guitars, Kurt on bass, and Clayton on Drums. Throughout the years, the band has performed with various artists both locally and abroad. Their latest album presented here is titled “Grand Cosmic Funeral.” The band comments, "In Grand Cosmic Funeral,” we aimed to craft a melancholic album, providing a spiritual experience while retaining an extreme sound.”

The album has seven songs, and “Black World Funeral” is first. It is slow, grinding, and dark. Layer are added slowly…first guitars, next double bass drums, and even some vocals. It makes an unexpected key change, letting a little light of melody shine into the dim room, but ends with the light extinguished. “Midnight Malediction” is much faster, blasting drum beats at a thousand times per second out of the gate. Somber tones make up much of the sound, and they make you feel a pain that you haven’t felt in a while. “Dark Mother” begins with clean tones that are still very somber. When the distorted riff kicks in, darkness gathers like moths to a flame, and much of the power comes from the heavy bottom end.

“Those Who Are Awake” is another powerful and dark offering from the band, and if devastation and desolation is what they are painting, I am a blank canvas. The dual vocal parts really allow the sound to expand into deeper and deeper chasms. “The Adoration of Omega” is a mid-tempo song that still drips with melancholy emotions like loss, regret, and despair. The acoustic passage puts a stamp on this sound as well, and it stamps all the way through your soul. “From Flesh to Spirit” is a another deep rumble of vocals and guitars, in a web of Black Metal. “Upon a Wretched Throne” closes the album, and they drag out the despondent elements into what seems like infinity. Do not look for absolution here, for it is forbidden.

Overall, this was an excellent album, that combined the might and power of blackened Death Metal with enough somber tones to bury even the brightest soul. Fans of the band will like their commitment to their craft, and they will no doubt win over some new fans with this horrid and hopeless sound.