Review: “Grand Cosmic Funeral” by Thy Legion

For the past two decades Blackened Death Metal six piece Thy Legion have been swimming in the icy waters off the Island of Malta, their music soaked in themes of Satanism, Anti-Christianity, Evil and Blasphemy. Featuring in their ranks both current and former members of Martyrium, Animamortua and Victims of Creation they have passed the test of time, unveiling an unholy trinity of albums in 2007’s “Proclaimer of Chaos“, 2010’s “Venerato Diaboli” and 2017’s “World Stigmata” in the process. That third record even saw them share stages with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Vader and Destroyer666 around Europe over a two year period. Five years have slipped through their fingers but while they may have appeared to have been silent since 2019, the have instead been conjuring something malevolent in the realms of darkness and return with “Grand Cosmic Funeral“…

Foreboding atmospherics rise to the surface alongside trademark blackened riffs, blast beats and skull splitting vocals as “Black World Funeral” unfolds, a genre tour de force that instantly wipes the slate clean of the bloodstains of the past five years. A powerful statement piece, it’s offered up masterfully as a virgin sacrifice from furious minds, the fleeting melancholic bass solo from Kurt Dimech in the final moments a piece of musicianship that others seldom think of. That in turn allows “Midnight Malediction” to roar out of the gates like a beast calling from the depths of the void. Menacing, sinister riffs keep descend the shades of night before a spoken word transitions into a Doom laden moment that bursts into flames with a spontaneous solo. Drummer Clayton Cini deservers a lot of credit for his performance, which impresses throughout with thoughtful fills between passages of restless and relentless blasting. Haunting tremolo picking and tribal percussive battery give “Dark Mother” an almost ritualistic feel as it burns to be. Ethereal touches give it a majestic quality before they are shot down with the flaming arrows of scorching riffs. Vicious snarled vocals give life to “Those Who Are Awake“, a cut with a sombre melancholic sensibility as if born from the frozen northern territories of Scandinavia. They may have controlled, elegantly dark rhythms in their calloused hands but they have chosen a solo which feels almost frantic and frenetic by comparison. It’s as if it was captured in a single take, live from the floor and shines through the darkness with a uniquely vibrant quality.

Longer instrumental passages aren’t something that Thy Legion are afraid of with the melodic break for in the centre of “The Adoration of Omega” hauntingly majestic. Delicate picking transcends through an unhinged spoken word before the band return to their usual Black Metal filtrations, the whispers of insanity lingering in the air as they do so. A dance macabre of impeccable musicianship, this one leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of malevolent perfection, as if taking their inspirations from Dark Funeral. The shortest trick in the book at just under five minutes is “From Flesh to Spirit“, a cut that combines throat splitting demonic vocals with jackhammer footwork and macabre riffs of the highest order. At points it chills to the bone however there are warmer phrases that keep you mesmerised, frozen in a trance like state spellbound by what the six piece have created. An album of this stature demands a grand finale and the giant stone pillars of ancient Greece are brought crashing to the earth with “Upon A Wretched Throne“. A dark and twisted tale to raise the hairs on the back of your neck in rousing fashion, it ends with sombre synths to leave you wondering what you have just heard [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Black World Funeral
2. Midnight Malediction
3. Dark Mother
4. Those Who Are Awake
5. The Adoration of Omega
6. From Flesh to Spirit
7. Upon A Wretched Throne

“Grand Cosmic Funeral” by Thy Legion is out 29th November 2024 via Art Gates Records