Legion of the Damned is a Dutch
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
/
death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...
band. The band was formed in 1992 as Occult, but changed their name in 2006 to Legion of the Damned. Lyrically the band tend to focus on horror motifs, dark
occult
The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism a ...
and religious themes and
apocalyptic events. They have recorded their albums ''
Malevolent Rapture
''Malevolent Rapture'' is a 2006 album by thrash metal/ death metal band Legion of the Damned. It was their first album since the demise their preceding band Occult with the loss of previous lead singer Rachel Heyzer. In common with later albums t ...
'' and ''
Sons of the Jackal
''Sons of the Jackal'' is a 2007 album by thrash metal/death metal band Legion of the Damned. Lyrical themes on the album include horror motifs, the devastation of nuclear war and occult and religious ideas and actions. Unusually for a Western m ...
''in the well known
Stage One Studio
Andy Classen is a German record producer, sound engineer and musician.
Holy Moses
He began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house i ...
with producer
Andy Classen
Andy Classen is a German record producer, sound engineer and musician.
Holy Moses
He began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house i ...
. The special edition of their 2008 release ''
Cult of the Dead
The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
'' comes with an item unique in metal merchandising (and possibly all genres of music), being a cheese block emblazoned with their logo. This is a nod to their Dutch origins.
Former band member Twan Fleuren committed suicide on 21 May 2011.
Members
Current Members
* Maurice Swinkels – vocals (1992–present)
* Twan van Geel – guitars (2011–present)
* Harold Gielen – bass (2006–present)
* Erik Fleuren – drums (1992–present)
* Fabian Verweij – guitars (2020–present)
Former Members
* Richard Ebisch – guitars (1994–2011)
* Twan Fleuren – bass (1999–2006; died 2011)
* Rachel Heyzer – vocals (1994–2001)
* Leon Pennings – guitars (1992–1999)
* Sjors Tuithof – bass (1992–1999)
Live Members
* Fabian Verweij – guitars (2017–2020)
* Hein Willekens – guitars (2012–2017)
Legion of the Damned Rockharz 2019 25.jpg, Maurice Swinkels
Legion of the Damned Rockharz 2019 14.jpg, Twan van Geel
Legion of the Damned Rockharz 2019 10.jpg, Harold Gielen
Legion of the Damned Rockharz 2019 23.jpg, Erik Fleuren
Legion of the Damned Rockharz 2019 04.jpg, Fabian Verweij
Timeline
Discography
Discography as Legion of the Damned (2006-present)
* ''
Malevolent Rapture
''Malevolent Rapture'' is a 2006 album by thrash metal/ death metal band Legion of the Damned. It was their first album since the demise their preceding band Occult with the loss of previous lead singer Rachel Heyzer. In common with later albums t ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Sons of the Jackal
''Sons of the Jackal'' is a 2007 album by thrash metal/death metal band Legion of the Damned. Lyrical themes on the album include horror motifs, the devastation of nuclear war and occult and religious ideas and actions. Unusually for a Western m ...
'' (2007)
* ''
Feel the Blade
Feel the Blade is a 2008 album by thrash metal/death metal band Legion of the Damned (band), Legion of the Damned. It is actually a re-release of Elegy for the Weak, originally released under the name of Occult, the prior incarnation of Legion of ...
'' (2008)
* ''
Cult of the Dead
The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
'' (2008)
* ''
Descent Into Chaos'' (2011)
* ''
Ravenous Plague
''Ravenous Plague'' is a sixth studio album by Dutch extreme metal band Legion of the Damned. It was released on 3 January 2014 through Napalm Records.
Track listing
Personnel
;Legion of the Damned
* Twan van Geel - guitars
* Harold Giele ...
'' (2014)
* ''Slaves of the Shadow Realm'' (2019)
;Discography as Occult (1992–2006)
* ''Prepare to Meet Thy Doom'' (1994)
* ''The Enemy Within'' (1996)
* ''Of Flesh and Blood'' (1999)
* ''Rage to Revenge'' (2001)
* ''Elegy for the Weak'' (2003)
References
External links
Official website*
{{Authority control
Dutch death metal musical groups
Dutch thrash metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 2004
Musical quartets
Dutch heavy metal musical groups