Photo by Gene Ambo
Stream LEGIONS OF DOOM’s “A Voice Of Reason” HERE.
“A Voice Of Reason” is the latest single from doom metal supergroup, LEGIONS OF DOOM. The moving track, dedicated to late bassist Dave Sweetapple of Witch, Eerie, and Sweet Apple as well as Tee Pee Records and Mag Wheel Records, comes off LEGIONS OF DOOM’s debut full-length, fittingly titled The Skull 3, set for official release September 13th via Tee Pee Records.
Where does The Skull end and LEGIONS OF DOOM begin? The answer might be “right here.” The 2021 passing of vocalist Eric Wagner (The Skull, ex-Trouble, Blackfinger) looms over LEGIONS OF DOOM’s debut, as The Skull guitarist Lothar Keller and bassist Ron Holzner (also ex-Trouble) pick up with material that would have been on that band’s third full-length and realize it in a different form. With Wagner’s involvement in the composition and the blessing of the singer’s family, LEGIONS OF DOOM shift further into supergroup territory by welcoming drummer Henry Vasquez (Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Blood Of The Sun), guitarist Scott Little (Leadfoot) and vocalists Karl Agell (Lie Heavy, Leadfoot, Blind-era Corrosion Of Conformity) and Scott Reagers (original frontman of Saint Vitus) to the fold, both celebrating Wagner’s life and creativity and finding a path of their own as they do.
It is fitting to the brand of doom proffered by these Legions that Wagner’s spirit is part of this record – not to mention his vocals on “Heaven” – but LEGIONS OF DOOM are more than a tribute. Just as The Skull built on the legacy of its component members in Trouble and other outfits – Keller’s contributions to songwriting have always been the secret weapon; that remains true on The Skull 3 – so too does the new group chart its own forward course. In the end, the record becomes as much a debut as it ever might have been a third album for The Skull, and the persona of LEGIONS OF DOOM is immediately distinguished through the performances of Reagers and Agell on vocals. Yes, it’s classic doom by veterans who helped define the form, but LEGIONS OF DOOM are vibrant in their revelry, and, to be blunt, they sound like a band with more to say. Don’t go into the album expecting a one-off.
Offers Holzner on the band’s latest single, “I’d like to dedicate the song ‘A Voice Of Reason’ to the late Dave Sweetapple who we just recently lost. He was instrumental in my returning to play music again after the death of Eric Wagner. I would talk with him, bounce ideas off him and he was greatly supportive. He was my ‘Voice Of Reason’ getting back on the horse and finishing what we started. This was a tremendous loss for the Sweetapple family, the Tee Pee family, and the music community as the whole! There is a big void that will never be filled. Dave was truly special and will be greatly missed.
“‘A Voice Of Reason’ was one of if not the first song written for the new Skull record,” Holzner continues. “Lothar Keller and Eric Wagner wrote this one a while ago. The song had different lyrics and was the only song that we had a melody vocal line to that we had on tape. Eric decided to use the lyrics on this for one of his solo record songs and swapped the existing lyrics to it. We never got the chance to work on it before Eric passed away. Once Lo and I started putting this record together for LEGIONS OF DOOM, this song was finished musically and I paired the new lyrics that I got from his family onto this song. The new lyrics gave it a completely different feel and the vocal melody we had didn’t work.
“Scott Reagers was the first and only person I thought of to sing these new lyrics. The tempo got sped up a bit to fit the energy of Reagers and the song was reborn. I can’t picture anyone else singing this song but Reagers. The song is about that voice or voices inside your head that tell you what or what not to do and won’t let up giving you grief about your wrong choices. Disgruntled conscience, ha!”
Stream LEGIONS OF DOOM’s “A Voice Of Reason” at THIS LOCATION.
Watch the video for the band’s previously released single, “All Good Things,” at THIS LOCATION.
“All Good Things,” also serves as the A side of a limited edition LEGIONS OF DOOM EP set for release on August 23rd. Side B features a cover of Deep Purple’s “Into The Fire,” exclusive to the EP.
The Skull 3 was recorded by Sanford Parker at the late Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio as well as Hyper Cube Studios, mixed by Quentin Poynter at QMP Audio, and mastered by John Scrip at Massive Mastering.
Preorders for the “All Good Things” EP, which will be available digitally and on Purple w/ Black Splatter 7” vinyl (limited to 500 copies), as well as The Skull 3, which will be available on CD, LP and digital formats, can be found at THIS LOCATION.
LEGIONS OF DOOM Live:
9/12/2024 Desertfest NYC Pre Party – Brooklyn, NY
9/13/2024 Widowmaker Brewing – Braintree, MA
9/14/2024 Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC
9/20/2024 Ripplefest – Austin, TX
11/02/2024 Heavy Chicago @ Avondale Music Hall – Chicago, IL
LEGIONS OF DOOM:
Karl Agell – vocals
Scott Reagers – vocals
Henry Vasquez – drums
Lothar Keller – guitars
Ron Holzner – bass
Scott Little – guitar
Eric Wagner – vocals on “Heaven”
Guests:
Sanford Parker – Moog on “All Good Things”
Alex Johnson – steel guitar on “Between Darkness And Dawn”
Paul Rau – organ on “Hallow By All Means”
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