Decibel Magazine is currently streaming The Skull, the debut full-length from doom metal supergroup, LEGIONS OF DOOM, in its moving entirety. The premiere comes in advance of the recordâs official unveiling this Friday, September 13th via Tee Pee Records.
Where does The Skull end and LEGIONS OF DOOM begin? The answer might be âright here.â The 2021 passing of vocalist Eric Wagner (The Skull, ex-Trouble, Blackfinger) looms over LEGIONS OF DOOMâs debut, as The Skull guitarist Lothar Keller and bassist Ron Holzner (also ex-Trouble) pick up with material that would have been on that bandâs third full-length and realize it in a different form. With Wagnerâs involvement in the composition and the blessing of the singerâs family, LEGIONS OF DOOM shift further into supergroup territory by welcoming drummer Henry Vasquez (Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Blood Of The Sun), guitarist Scott Little (Leadfoot) and vocalists Karl Agell (Lie Heavy, Leadfoot, Blind-era Corrosion Of Conformity) and Scott Reagers (original frontman of Saint Vitus) to the fold, both celebrating Wagnerâs life and creativity and finding a path of their own as they do.
It is fitting to the brand of doom proffered by these Legions that Wagnerâs spirit is part of this record â not to mention his vocals on âHeavenâ â but LEGIONS OF DOOM are more than a tribute. Just as The Skull built on the legacy of its component members in Trouble and other outfits â Kellerâs contributions to songwriting have always been the secret weapon; that remains true on The Skull 3 â so too does the new group chart its own forward course. In the end, the record becomes as much a debut as it ever might have been a third album for The Skull, and the persona of LEGIONS OF DOOM is immediately distinguished through the performances of Reagers and Agell on vocals. Yes, itâs classic doom by veterans who helped define the form, but LEGIONS OF DOOM are vibrant in their revelry, and, to be blunt, they sound like a band with more to say. Donât go into the album expecting a one-off.
Writes Decibel Magazine, âMusically, LEGIONS OF DOOM donât stray too far from established territory and why should they? The Skull 3 is a celebration of Wagnerâs life and of doom, going so far as to include the late vocalistâs performance on seventh track âHeaven.â Thereâs a gallop to most of the songs on The Skull 3, giving the album a very retro doom feeling. The exception comes with the aforementioned âHeaven,â a quiet power ballad that drives home a reminder of what the album is all about. The Skull 3 concludes with the massive âHallow By All Means,â which features an organ performance by Paul Rau alongside the albumâs heaviest and slowest guitar playing.â
Stream LEGIONS OF DOOMâs The Skull 3, exclusively at Decibel Magazine, at THIS LOCATION.Â
Watch the video for the bandâs previously released single, âAll Good Things,â at THIS LOCATION.Â
âAll Good Things,â also serves as the A side of a limited edition LEGIONS OF DOOMÂ EP, releases on August 23rd. Side B features a cover of Deep Purpleâs âInto The Fire,â exclusive to the EP.
The Skull 3 was recorded by Sanford Parker at the late Steve Albiniâs Electrical Audio as well as Hyper Cube Studios, mixed by Quentin Poynter at QMP Audio, and mastered by John Scrip at Massive Mastering.
Preorders for The Skull 3, which will be available on CD, LP and digital formats, and orders for the All Good Things EP, which is available digitally and on Purple w/ Black Splatter 7â vinyl (limited to 500 copies), can be found at THIS LOCATION.
LEGIONS OF DOOM Live:
9/12/2024 Desertfest NYC Pre Party â Brooklyn, NY
9/13/2024 Widowmaker Brewing â Braintree, MA
9/14/2024 Chapel Of Bones â Raleigh, NC
9/20/2024 Ripplefest â Austin, TX
11/02/2024 Heavy Chicago @ Avondale Music Hall â Chicago, IL
LEGIONS OF DOOM:
Karl Agell â vocals
Scott Reagers â vocals
Henry Vasquez â drums
Lothar Keller â guitars
Ron Holzner â bass
Scott Little â guitar
Eric Wagner â vocals on âHeavenâ
Guests:
Sanford Parker â Moog on âAll Good Thingsâ
Alex Johnson â steel guitar on âBetween Darkness And Dawnâ
Paul Rau â organ on âHallow By All Meansâ
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The post LEGIONS OF DOOM: Decibel Magazine Premieres The Skull 3; Debut Full Length From Doom Metal Supergroup To See Release Friday, September 13th On Tee Pee Records first appeared on Earsplit Compound.