Review by Paddy Gallagher for MPM
Sit back and let me take you on a journey back in time to an era where the speakers vibrated to the thunderous pounding of drums, screaming guitars and soaring vocals of traditional metal; music from the era where most of us immersed our formative ears listening to new releases via Mr Tommy Vance on BBC R1’s legendary Friday Rock Show and a fortnightly (and subsequently weekly) issue of Kerrang!!!, at the time, the only mass distributed magazine devoted to our music.
Yes, let’s return to the 1980’s, an era now 40 years (!!!) past when life was much simpler and there were fewer genres and sub-genres to argue about.
“Lex Legion” is the self-titled debut album from a band whose personnel comprises 4/5 of the King Diamond line up responsible for the seminal “Them” album; Mikkey Dee, Pete Blakk, Andy La Rocque and Hal Patino are joined by the powerful voice of Pagans Mind’s Nils K. Rue.
Released on 15th May 2026, if you are growing impatient waiting on a new release from King Diamond, this could very well be your fix. All the trademarks are here including soaring to the heavens vocals that required someone of Nils K. Rue’s pedigree to pull off.
Nothing earth shatteringly new is invented here, and unapologetically so. We have a pure nostalgia trip of world-class straight down the middle Metal.
“Lex Legion is totally written the way we thought in the ‘80s,” said drummer Dee (Motörhead, King Diamond), “We wrote what we wanted, and if you liked it, that was a great bonus. If you didn’t like it, that was fine with us, too!”
“It has elements of everything on the album,” said La Rocque. “The right tempo and the right kind of vocals, starting out like a fist in your face!”
“This is totally unique. No one is writing this kind of music and there’s a big hole for us to fill,” Blakk concluded. “Welcome to our new journey of friendship and hard rock!”
“Gypsy Tears” and “Life Eternal” are classic 4-minute fists raised anthems, “Lost Inside” and “(I Am) The Resurrected” enjoy basslines full of vibrant melodies adding to the mix and filling the sound.
Anyone who has witnessed Mikkey Dee’s live will visualise the blur of arms and hair when listening to this work. Listen out for the guitar solo duels La Rocque and Blakk are famous for. And clocking in at 35 minutes, enjoy an album providing a fresh take on that classic 1980’s sound.
Track list:
1) Sleep Eternally
2) Gypsy Tears
3) When The Stars Align
4) (I Am) The Resurrected
5) Lost Inside
6) Dreams of Darkness
7) Saviours
8) Life Eternal
9) Far Away
Lex Legion are:
Nils K. Rue – vocals
Pete Blakk – guitar
Andy La Rocque – guitar
Mikkey Dee – drums
Hal Patino – bass
Lex Legion online:
https://lexlegionofficial.com
https://www.instagram.com/officiallexlegion
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLexLegion
