It seems that since its inception under the banners of Celtic Frost, Bathory, and Venom Mayhem, Kvist and so many others, that as the seed that grew into the tree of life for Black Metal has sprouted so many complex arrangements. In many ways Black Metal has now become and absorbent incorporation for many other bridge genres, as well as sticking pure to the Norse sound but adding complexities in their musicianship that warrant awe yet perspective given how much their talents have elevated the weave of the genre.

In some cases, progression has taken the genre to new heights, while in others, there are obvious plans to make themselves seem as technically proficient as possible without any substance. Revocation, by The Legion, has enough of that glue that sticks to the ribs of every fans appetite for heaviness but manage enough proficiency on their instruments to keep the listener guessing. Revocation was the Swedes second to last album before they put their project on hold, but it is clear that even in the latter stages of their career that their cohesion as a unit is upper class. The first track is Grotesque Savior, one of the most progressive on the album.

The song begins with a lengthy intro, however it is as exciting as any. It is not like the band droned on with some boring acoustic work or atmospheric keys to introduce Revocation. Instead there are flurries of double bass, tricky guitar work, and time changes galore. This flows into some extremely fast blast beats that rival anyone’s in the genre. Fast and technical guitar work punctuated by speed across the board mark the style of The Legion. Songs like Horror Vacui display the true intensity of the band, as each member carves a swath with their instruments, a true testament to intensity. Midway through the song, one of the more straightforward and heavy riffs take place. This riff in all its simplicity is one of the shining moments of an otherwise progressive album.

As stated before, this album simply does not follow the conventions of your typical Darkthrone-esque Black Metal, nor does it have the melodies that countrymen Dissection have. There is a lot to say about Revocation that has to be administered demonstratively. While the album is short of being something that is generational, it has more than enough musicianship coupled with intensity to become a regular spin in any fans player. These guys are a rare combination. Hopefully their career continues beyond their indefinite hold, as there is a ton of talent in this foursome. Unfortunately, sometimes the band take their talent too far, and headbanging, grind-it-out moments like that on Horror Vacui are often too absent. Overall, The Legion have a lot of talent and excellent ways of computing their skills. There needs to be a bigger sample size to assess The Legion on the unending ladder of Swedish Black Metal.