Search - Saviour Machine :: Legend Pt.3:1

Legend III:I >Ominous & Beautiful

Vader | Kansas City, MO. United States | 09/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They've done it again! Saviour Machine continues to impress upon its listeners/fans both the terror and the majesty of the end of the age. Legend III:I opens up with "Twelve Hundred Sixty Days" pointing out the time span in which the Antichrist will reign in absolute power and the world will face tribulation the likes of which it has never, nor will ever see again. The following tracks take you on a trip marking the time of the "Two Witnesses", the "Image of the Beast" (which is a fantastic track full of plenty of heavy guitar and a chilling part in which Eric Clayton, playing the role of the beast, sings..."God is dead, His angels bleed, inside my dreams. Bow to thee, kneel before your violent King, all shall worship, me."), the album concludes appropriately with "The End of the Age". Each song and album really is a unique facet of the entire story of the Legend Trilogy, which of course gets its inspiration and storyline directly out of the Word of God. This one is not the dark, chaotic symphony of Legend II, nor the more straight-forward (yet classic and timeless) Legend I. It is a perfect combination of the two and takes on its own personality as well. Blending both melodic and beautiful orchestral movements and dramatic, metal riffing and drums. Musically, there's no other band out there that sounds like Saviour Machine, love 'em or hate 'em there's no denying their originality. This is only part 1 of 2 for the final recordings of the Legend series. Legend III:II is scheduled for release around Christmas time 2001. There's credible evidence to support many fans' theories on its "Happy Ending" theme because, after all, it will be a happy ending for the children of God. We can only anticipate the next release & know that Saviour Machine will once again astound their fans with a CD that was well worth the wait."

Album of the Year anno 2001 ??

claus_byrial@hotmail.com | Denmark | 12/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The year 2001 hasn't been a vintage year music-wise... sure there has been a handful of good releases by band honing their specific musical style with success, but as far as real masterpeices, nothing really comes to mind this year... That is, except "Legend, Part III:I"... Sure, like mentioned above, Saviour Machine has also honed their already unique musical style with this latest release in their ongoing "Apolyptic Trilogy", but they also bring a artistic level of class to the mix, both in the conceptual, lyrical and musical sense, that warrants the elusive tag : "Masterpeice!" Overall, the whole "feel" of this release has to be adressed... decidedly sombre, sinister, yet at the same time sacral, grand and larger-than-life sounding, which fits the lyrical content perfectly... Moreover, this release, unlike the previous "Legend" releases, tend to be based more on actual song-structures, as opposed to especially "Legends, part II", who seemed more dense, "industrial sounding", and, dare I say, atonal in its attemt to create the "soundscape" nesessary to depict the specific part in the Book of Revelation, it was commenting on."Legend, Part III:I" seem to be more akin to the "Saviour Machine II" release, with it's more melodic, song-oriented structure, but of course augmented with the right amount of orchestral splendour, i.e. choir-arrangments, military snare drums, orchestral keyboards et al, befitting the lyrical content.Well, delving into the actual matrix of the album, it starts with the beautiful "twelve hundred sixty days", where you wish the chorus would last forever... You can't help finding yourself singing along at the top of your lungs...
After a short, but sublime angelic intro ("Legend III:I")the first epic, moody "ballad", "The ancient Serpent" begins.... A chilling, hauntingly beautiful track... Awesome!!Hereafter follows my favorite track of the album, "Abomination of desolation", which starts with the most victorious sounding choir singing, I have heard this side of a Bach oratorium!! (I can imagine a huge choir sing "We have made a covenant with death" in a german church, would have brought on some controvercy?!?) Then the track turns into the heaviest on the album, with a sinister hook-line... Chilling!!Next highlight (Hmmm... there are actually nothing but highlights...) is "Antichrist III : The king of Babylon", which, perhaps, is to be considered to be the conceptual corner-stone track of the album; a collossal, text-dense track with a dramatic "feel" to it... Epic indeed, but never uncalled for!!After a few more "soundscape", mood-creating tone-poem type tracks, "The Locusts" sets in with it's gloomy, dark-melodic tale of biblical plague presented in a creepy, dirge-like slow-winding gothic fasion... The ending trilogy of tracks "The Plague and the darkness", "The fall of Babylon" and "The end of the age" brings the album to a stunning close in victorious, yet at the same time, melancholic way. Almost 80 minutes of genious music, where the level of greatness at no point drops below absolute brilliance!!Credit has to go to Eric Clayton for his unique vision and stamina to actually dare even contemplating actually pulling it off... Not to mention his glorious singing, which is beyond words.. The production of the album has to be mentioned as well... Everything sounds just awesome; more detailed and dynamic than on, say, "Legend, Part II" and the choir arrangements, done in a german church, blends in wholly natural.
The drum are also better produced this time around, and the new drummer must get credit, as he "drives" the music forth more than the previous guy....And of cause Nathan Van Hala on orchestra keyboards must also get the highest praise... I don't consider myself to be a believer in any sense of the word, least of all in the Christian sense, but even I can appreciate a vision like Eric Claytons, especially when it is carried out this consistent, and in an un-preachy, descriptive way, I might add....Looking forward to the last chapter in the Trilogy...Untill then get this!!!Album of the year anno 2001 !!!"

One of the best records ever made...no, I'm not kidding.

claus_byrial@hotmail.com | 11/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"[...] Saviour Machine with this record solidifies themselves as one of (if not THE) premier rock bands in the world. PLUS, the WORD of GOD is taught in their lyrics. Even if you are totally unfamiliar with the Legend series of records (actually one concept spread out over several years of releases), you will immediately be smacked with the epic "1260 days" upon playing this CD. You will hear all that you love about Queensryche, Therion, Pink Floyd, Evereve, Savatage, Dream Theater, the Gathering, Moonspell, goth rock, black metal, movie soundtracks, etc. etc. etc.
Much more "metal" than predecesor Legend 2 (which I also love), the guitars and drums are very much in the foreground, but when the majestic acoustic guitars of "Legend 3:1/The Ancient Serpent" play, you know there is something more to this band. The most haunting choral refrain of "O Lucifer" will never, ever leave your mind. "The final holocaust" will rend your heart with emotion as it could be found on only the best film score. The choral arrangements and actual orchestra will demonstrate the seriousness with which Saviour Machine plays and which is required to truely Listen. "The Locusts" pound with a pure MeTaL march - guitar heaviness which surprised even me, supported by the classical music instruments in the backgound. Then comes my personal favorites, the climax of this masterpiece, "Rivers of Blood" and "The plague and the darkness". There are just so many components of music and emotion and pure sound in these songs; so expertly done are they presented that words fail me.
I really do try and find weaknesses with every CD I listen to, I am still trying with Legend 3:1. All I can tell you is that the LORD JESUS has annointed my hearing of this music, weather you accept HIM or not, buy this record. You will not be let down."