There have been many occasions where I come to an album and find the instruments to be perfectly acceptable from top to bottom and then the vocals come in and they just simply don’t work. More often than not, it’s not that I find the vocals to be bad but more of the vocals not gelling well with the instruments. I vividly remember that being the case with the debut EP from Legendarium at the tail end of 2017, and while I still massive improvement can be made, it’s already been done as can be heard in every single track from Legendarium’s debut full-length.

It’s weird how simply listening to a few minutes can remind you of something that you heard for only a few hours years ago, and that was precisely what happened to me tonight as when I sat down to listen to “Astral Firestorm”, I was immediately reminded of how I felt about Legendarium’s first work. It was solid, yes, but needed loads of improvement with the vocals needing the most. While the instruments are still as tasty as they were before with more diversity and elements being showcased in “Astral Firestorm”, it’s with the vocals that I’m the most satisfied with. Whereas before they felt so incredibly monotone, it’s here that we get so many more peaks and valleys in the tone and pacing as well as how well they simply fit with the rest of the music. It’s through that we see Legendarium really come into their own as it’s with “Astral Firestorm” bringing everything up a few notches that make this first attempt at a full-length a quite enjoyable one as we get a solid array from different classic styles being brought together in a nice wrap of metal. The melodies, the diversity in sound, and the sheer enjoyment out of “Astral Firestorm” put to shame Legendarium’s previous EP, and I can only see this band getting better and better over time.

Even though they’re a new act in every way and only have two pieces of material to call their own, I firmly believe that time well spent will be a saving grace for Legendarium to becoming one that is sure to gather a decent following. Like I said earlier, “Astral Firestorm” has plenty of room for improvement, but damn if it isn’t an immense step in the right direction!

“Astral Firestorm” releases on April 26th!

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