Legion - Vo vlasti novogo vremeni (2026)

A new album from a cult, yet consistently underrated, metal band. The sound is very disjointed; the instruments feel isolated from one another rather than cohesive, though the lead guitar—mixed prominently in the foreground—is enjoyable. Overall, it’s a standard collection of Legion songs; Bulgakov has noticeably aged, even if he is still giving it his all. "A ty ne znal, kto ya" (You Didn't Know Who I Was) is relatively original. "Zhizni – da" (Life – Yes): the verse concept is reminiscent of Soviet cartoons, but the chorus is terrible—on par with the worst life-affirming tracks by the band Aria. "Strannik" (Wanderer) resembles Malmsteen’s successful late-90s work, with a touch of prog metal flair. The main issues plaguing the Russian metal scene are evident here: poor mixing and a low budget. Yet, the album isn't devoid of ideas—perhaps not always successful ones, but the band at least tried to make the recording interesting.