We Are Legend: Rise of the Legend

German Progressive Power metal band We Are Legend formed in 2011. In 2012, they released their self-titled demo. In 2013, they released their first full length album, Rise of the Legend. This March, a deluxe edition of the album was released with the bonus track, “Reach Out�. The album has received largely positive reviews since its initial release, but it doesn’t look like it has gotten an enormous amount of attention by the masses. I hope that this will change with this rerelease, because it is a phenomenal album! I must admit that I have only recently discovered the band, but I think that they are wildly impressive. They are ferociously heavy, complex, and catchy at the same time! The musicianship is top notch, and the lead and backing vocals harken back to some of the greatest harmonies of groups like Iron Maiden and Queensryche.

Firstly, I must appreciate how refreshing We Are Legend’s sound is. One of my favorite things that the band has going for them is the piano playing by lead vocalist Selin Schönbeck. The instrument sounds beautiful throughout the album’s run. At times it sounds soothing, and others it sounds haunting and sinister. It’s not often that you hear the piano work so well on a metal album (or even used at all), so this is something that sets We Are Legend apart. While we’re talking about Schönbeck, I must also mention how amazing of a vocalist he his. All his performances cut through the instrumentation without overstepping. He has a powerhouse voice that reminds me of Bruce Dickinson, Geoff Tate, Tony Martin, and even Rob Halford at a couple points. On top of his brilliance, the backup vocals from guitarists Siggi Maier and Dirk Baur also add so much. The harmonies that they come up with give me chills. While the band has a modern sound, the harmonies take me right back to the 70’s and 80’s with bands like Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and Queen at a couple points. While I hear these similarities, the band makes the sound their own. The riffs are much heavier than the other bands I mentioned, which changes the dynamic big time. The guitar tones are also huge! They are polished, but there is still an unrelenting heaviness to them. On top of the heaviness, the riffs are also very complex and up tempo. The rhythm section comprising of bassist Dominik Burgdöfer and drummer Heiko Burst add so much depth and urgency to the sound as well. The entire album is very sonically pleasing. It’s loud and heavy, but it’s also clear-sounding and very professional.

Another positive aspect of this album is that the track listing is remarkably consistent! While I have tracks that are my favorite, there isn’t anything on the album that comes even close to being weak. Running only 44 minutes (48 on the deluxe edition), the album never feels like it overstays its welcome, and the songs are varied enough to make sure it never feels redundant. Some of my favorite tracks are, “Hungry Mirrors�, “This Holy Dark�, “Enemy Within�, “Only Time Can Tell�, and “March of the Living�. One thing that I especially love about “March of the Living� is how aggressive Schönbeck’s vocals are on it. They remind me of Rob Halford at points.

Overall, this album is a hidden gem in metal! As I said before, I hope that this rerelease will get the band a bit more traction with the masses, because they totally deserve it. I hope that along with my review, many other people will hear this album and support it, because it is brilliant! It’s astoundingly heavy, well crafted, and full of masterful musicianship. I also look forward to future content that the band will release, and hope that it will maintain the quality of this amazing debut. Highly recommended!

We Are Legend is:
Selin Schönbeck- Lead Vocals, Piano
Siggi Maier- Guitar, Vocals(backing)
Dirk Baur- Guitar, Vocals(backing)
Dominik Burgdöfer- Bass
Heiko Burst- Drums

Track Listing:

1. Hungry Mirrors
2. This Holy Dark
3. Enemy Within
4. Birth Of the Legend
5. Rise of the Legend
6. God Is the Dreaming
7. Out
8. Only Time Can Tell
9. March of the Living
10. Reach Out

Added: March 28th 2022
Reviewer: Ryan Gavalier
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 757
Language: english

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