Berzerker Legion – Chaos Will Reign
Reviewed by: Jim Harrison
Review Score: 9.5
Belligerent death metal band, Berzerker Legion will release their sophomore album Chaos Will Reign on October 27, 2023 through Listenable Records. This much anticipated release brings fans a more professional sound of brutality, melody and harmony continuing from their debut album, Obliterate The Week from 2020.
Forming in 2016, guitarists Tomas Elofsson (Hypocrisy) and Alwin Zuur (Asphyx) recruited like minded, talented musicians James Stewart (Vader) drums, Jonny Petterson (Wombbath) vocals and Frederik Isaksson (Dark Funeral) bass to complete their vision. Adi Dechristianize created the fantastic album art and has worked with many other bands prior like Decayed Flesh and Chaos Fury.
The first track ‘Chaos Will Reign’ starts off the assault fast and furious. This track gives you the insight that this album is not only heavy but has great melodic groove. The vocals are killer on this track making this an outstanding song. ‘Choirs of Anguish’ is the first single release and what a treat for fans getting that early listen of a song that is so dark. The drums and bass thump the doom sound and it mixes great with the vocals. This is an epic death metal sound and has an Obituary vibe to it.
‘Nihilism Over Empathy’ is another fast track that doesn’t let up. The fast guitars keep this song flying and the death metal scream gives a nod to the old school death metal genre. This is one of my two favourite songs on this album and this would be an awesome track to hear live. ‘Towards Oblivion’ creates a chunky guitar sound which vibrates throughout your whole body. This has more of a signature death metal sound but has some thrash elements to it. Petterson’s vocals are so dark and heavy.
‘This is the End’ is my other favorite as this track has a killer vocal melody that slows this song down and creates a massive heavy sound. This song is very well done and I can see this being one of my top songs of 2023. ‘Damnation’ is the sixth song on this album and things start to get faster again. I love the heavy drum beat really pounding this song into oblivion. This would be another track that would be awesome live.
‘Eternal Void’ has a wicked beginning with some light guitar producing an ominous sound before the song kicks in. The guitars on this track are fantastic and the song speeds up and is super heavy and this is the longest track on the album being just over six minutes. ‘Worship All That Is Dead’ starts with a Judas Priest like drum beat that speeds this song up so fast. The heavy vocals sound so amazing combined with solid pounding. It is an exciting track and has a great thrash element musically with it.
‘Shepards Of War’ keeps with tone of this album fast, heavy but very melodic. This is another cool thunderous track. ‘From The Darkness Inside’ is the second last track and has a thick classic death metal sound and sets the stage for the last track ‘Warchant’. This song finishes the album off in style, it’s exciting right to the very end, you are feeling this was an experience rather than just an album. This song has doom sound and the vocals again keep to the death metal subscription.
What I love about this album and band is even thought it’s a fine representation of the death metal genre they took it a step further incorporating thrash, doom and a traditional element which keeps the listener engaged. All metal fans can relate to this album and this could serve as a conduit for fans venturing in the death metal genre. Musically and vocally this band is talented, leaning on a past sound but modernizing it making it their own.
I recommend this album and you definitely have to crank it to eleven!
Chaos Will Reign is out on October 27th via Listenable Records.