Review BERZERKER LEGION ‘Chaos Will Reign’

Berzerker Legion is a collaboration that began in 2016. Tomas Elofsson and Alwin Zuur started the band and very quickly found some euphoric comrades-in-arms in Fredrik Isaksson, James Steward and Jonny Pettersson.

Together they released ‘Obliterate the Weak’, a debut album that hit record stores in 2020. Certainly, the upcoming pandemic wasn’t exactly conducive to getting the band’s name out into the world. Nevertheless, the guys didn’t let it get them down and now have with ‘Chaos Will Reign’ their second album in the starting blocks.

The sophomore album contains eleven songs and one can say firmly that Berzerker Legion continue their chosen musical direction. Based on a passion for Swedish death metal and spiced with influences from bands like Bolt Thrower, the five musicians navigate through 50 minutes of flawless death metal.

The guys get off to a good start with the title track. No compromises are made here and what blasts out of the speakers is really good. Groove and fast-as-an-arrow passages go hand in hand while the following ‘Choirs of Anguish’ comes along with the same heaviness, just a bit slower. I had to think of Amon Amarth while listening to this song; especially during the rather melodic chorus. The same applies to ‘From the Darkness Inside’ which is slower and very catchy. The song therefore forms a counterpart to ‘Worship all That is Dead’ and ‘Sheperds of War’, in which Berzerker Legion indulge in frenzy.

With ‘This is the End’ the guys also have a rather anthemic song on the album and although none of the eleven tracks is a bad one, the spark doesn’t really want to ignite.

All in all, ‘Chaos Will Reign’ is a well-made album, but it doesn’t quite reach the level of the debut. Overall, the band remains very true to their musical philosophy, which promotes continuity, but also takes away some of the thrills. Nevertheless, ‘Chaos Will Reign’ is perfectly suitable for headbanging.