Berzerker Legion ‘Obliterate the Weak’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Listenable Records/Melodic Death Metal
In rock music circles ‘supergroups’ are something still very much of a novelty. However, within a metal, it is certainly not uncommon for metal musicians to be successfully in more than one group and that is the case with Berzerker Legion. Formed by members of Dark Funeral, Wombbath, Asphyx and Vader, the band have released their debut album ‘Obliterate the Weak’.
There are no prizes for guessing that ‘Obliterate…’ sticks well within a death metal remit; this is a genre which its members know exceptionally well and because of this, they have a delivered a great album. What Berzerker Legion do with ‘Obliterate…’ is take a step away from generic death metal to take a stab at something more akin to melodic death metal and because of this, there is a huge overarching nod to bands such as Amon Amarth, Kataklysm and Hypocrisy with vocalist Jonny Pettersson delivering a tone so refined at times, the listener will be convinced that it is a guest spot from Johan Hegg himself, particularly during ‘The King of all Masters’, ‘In the Name of the Father’ and the title track. However, there is nothing here that is indistinguishable from any other band and that is one of the only gripes with ‘Obliterate…’; yet that is not always a bad thing and what the listener knows what they are getting and that is some top drawer, quality melodic death metal delivered through a real professional medium which shows that these musicians are capable of much more than their ‘home’ bands.
‘Obliterate…’ is an album which is a grower, at first listen it might feel quite generic and boring, but after a few listens, the magic begins to click and what is discovered is an album which just keeps on giving. This may be one of the melodic death metal albums of the year. Watch this space.
Rating : 85/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
