Legend II

Recently, i got my hands on Saviour Machine's Legend Part II, and right from the first listen, i found myself wandering in the apocalyptic world of Saviour Machine. The music is a tasteful mix of Atmospheric music and Rock, ornamented by Eric Clayton's deep vocals ( Arcturus anyone ? ). The album, as a whole, is a conceptual one, and it deals with the Apocalypse from a stritcly Christian point-of-view, revolving around prophecies such as the coming of the Antichrist, the war between Heaven and Hell, and i have to say it's very well done, i really have no words to describe how well-crafted the songs are, and how deeply the music is entwined with the lyrics.


The album starts with "The Covenant", a perfect opener for an equally perfect album, there's so much going on in Saviour Machine's music : synthetized effects, choirs, Clayton's astonishing vocals, epic orchestrations, in addition to many aspects revealing the album's complex songwriting. Next is " The Whore Of Babylon " with it's memorable chorus and beautifully inserted Oriental touches. As the songs continue, the intensity builds up, reaching it's epitome in the tracks "The Mark Of the Beast" and "Behold a Pale Horse" . After the latter song, the albums follows a different direction, melancholy being replaced by hope. The progression continues until reaching "The Promise", a 10 minute epic, followed by "The Sixth Seal" ,another great song. After an instrumental prelude, comes the experimental "The Bride Of Christ" ( literally wedding music ), in which Eric Clayton sings 'angelically' . This particular song showcases SM's talent to communicate their ideas through music. "Rapture Of The Seventh Seal" and "War In Heaven - The Second Fall" are the album finishers, as they perfectly serve to set the mood for Saviour Machine's next album, witnessing the continuity of the apocalyptic musical saga signed by Saviour Machine.

A highly recommended album ...

Highlights : The Covenant, The Whore Of Babylon, The False Prophet, Antichrist - The Balance Of Power, The Promise, The Bride Of Christ.

Similar Artists : Arcturus , Devil Doll ... can't think of more right now .



originally written for : www.Lebanesebands.com

Eric Clayton is a musical genius. Legend II is my favourite album by Saviour Machine, tied with Saviour Machine I. This is probably THE darkest most chaotic album I have ever heard. I get massive chills up my spine every time I listen to it. This music is definatley not for everyone. There is no death/black here nor any catchy pop tunes. This, the second album in Saviour Machine's Legend Trilogy, has everything and album about the end of the world would need: Beautiful and ever-so-chilling classical compositions, doomy but powerful operatic vocals, and it even rocks in places!

Some more things that add to the chaos are the female choir and also sound samples from (I don't know, movies?) and other apocalyptic...uh...sounds (usually placed at the winding-down of a very intense track). The sound effects/samples are NOT cheesy at all but very well placed and make for some very insense and even downright scary listening.

The lyrics deal heavily with the end of the world (the biblical apocalypse) and they are utterly chilling at times.

"...And the king of the North will come with his armies
Cursed to fall ...
I will annihilate them all ...
And their flesh be consumed from their bones ...
And their eyes be dissolved in their heads ...
And the tongues from the mouths of the dead
Will scream in silent horror of defeat
As they stand on their feet ... all the world will weep ..."
-(from Antichrist II: The Balance of Power)

Not ALL the lyrics are that macabre, some are very beautiful and moving.

The sound is just so huge and truly epic. Truly some of the most powerful and emotional music I have ever experienced, just check out the last track, "War in Heaven, the Second Fall" to see what I mean. Some other highlights are "Behold, A Pale Horse" (some very nice drumming and guitar-work) and also "The Whore of Babylon" and "Antichrist II: The Balance of Power".

The only downfall I can think of is that it might take some time to get into. There is so much to take in, the songs so thickly layered with beautiful chaos. The fist time I listened to the CD I was just like WHAT THE FUCK?! (in a good way). It took several listens to be able to comprehend it all. Something new can be discovered with each listen, that's for sure. To listen to it from beginning to end can be draining.

I highly reccomend this release as well as any other album by Saviour Machine. If this album is too chaotic for you, Saviour Machine I (not Legend I) is much more rock/metal, and less classical/opera/apocalyptic.