Legend Pt.3:1 [IMPORT]

Saviour Machine (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Massacre
• ASIN: B00005O43U
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #169,030 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2001 album by the leading gothic metal band from the USA, part three of the apocalypse concept Legend. Produced, mixed and mastered by Eric Clayton and Michael Wagner (Hammerfall, Accept, Metallica and Skid Row).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legend III:I >Ominous & Beautiful, September 24, 2001

By	Vader "SG" (Kansas City, MO. United States) - See all my reviews

They've done it again! Saviour Machine continues to impress upon its listeners/fans both the terror and the majesty of the end of the age. Legend III:I opens up with "Twelve Hundred Sixty Days" pointing out the time span in which the Antichrist will reign in absolute power and the world will face tribulation the likes of which it has never, nor will ever see again. The following tracks take you on a trip marking the time of the "Two Witnesses", the "Image of the Beast" (which is a fantastic track full of plenty of heavy guitar and a chilling part in which Eric Clayton, playing the role of the beast, sings..."God is dead, His angels bleed, inside my dreams. Bow to thee, kneel before your violent King, all shall worship, me."), the album concludes appropriately with "The End of the Age". Each song and album really is a unique facet of the entire story of the Legend Trilogy, which of course gets its inspiration and storyline directly out of the Word of God. This one is not the dark, chaotic symphony of Legend II, nor the more straight-forward (yet classic and timeless) Legend I. It is a perfect combination of the two and takes on its own personality as well. Blending both melodic and beautiful orchestral movements and dramatic, metal riffing and drums. Musically, there's no other band out there that sounds like Saviour Machine, love 'em or hate 'em there's no denying their originality. This is only part 1 of 2 for the final recordings of the Legend series. Legend III:II is scheduled for release around Christmas time 2001. There's credible evidence to support many fans' theories on its "Happy Ending" theme because, after all, it will be a happy ending for the children of God. We can only anticipate the next release & know that Saviour Machine will once again astound their fans with a CD that was well worth the wait.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the Year anno 2001 ??, December 15, 2001

By	Claus Byrial (Denmark) - See all my reviews

The year 2001 hasn't been a vintage year music-wise... sure there has been a handful of good releases by band honing their specific musical style with success, but as far as real masterpeices, nothing really comes to mind this year...

That is, except "Legend, Part III:I"... Sure, like mentioned above, Saviour Machine has also honed their already unique musical style with this latest release in their ongoing "Apolyptic Trilogy", but they also bring a artistic level of class to the mix, both in the conceptual, lyrical and musical sense, that warrants the elusive tag : "Masterpeice!"

Overall, the whole "feel" of this release has to be adressed... decidedly sombre, sinister, yet at the same time sacral, grand and larger-than-life sounding, which fits the lyrical content perfectly... Moreover, this release, unlike the previous "Legend" releases, tend to be based more on actual song-structures, as opposed to especially "Legends, part II", who seemed more dense, "industrial sounding", and, dare I say, atonal in its attemt to create the "soundscape" nesessary to depict the specific part in the Book of Revelation, it was commenting on.

"Legend, Part III:I" seem to be more akin to the "Saviour Machine II" release, with it's more melodic, song-oriented structure, but of course augmented with the right amount of orchestral splendour, i.e. choir-arrangments, military snare drums, orchestral keyboards et al, befitting the lyrical content.

Well, delving into the actual matrix of the album, it starts with the beautiful "twelve hundred sixty days", where you wish the chorus would last forever... You can't help finding yourself singing along at the top of your lungs...
After a short, but sublime angelic intro ("Legend III:I")the first epic, moody "ballad", "The ancient Serpent" begins.... A chilling, hauntingly beautiful track... Awesome!!

Hereafter follows my favorite track of the album, "Abomination of desolation", which starts with the most victorious sounding choir singing, I have heard this side of a Bach oratorium!! (I can imagine a huge choir sing "We have made a covenant with death" in a german church, would have brought on some controvercy?!?) Then the track turns into the heaviest on the album, with a sinister hook-line... Chilling!!

Next highlight (Hmmm... there are actually nothing but highlights...) is "Antichrist III : The king of Babylon", which, perhaps, is to be considered to be the conceptual corner-stone track of the album; a collossal, text-dense track with a dramatic "feel" to it... Epic indeed, but never uncalled for!!

After a few more "soundscape", mood-creating tone-poem type tracks, "The Locusts" sets in with it's gloomy, dark-melodic tale of biblical plague presented in a creepy, dirge-like slow-winding gothic fasion...

The ending trilogy of tracks "The Plague and the darkness", "The fall of Babylon" and "The end of the age" brings the album to a stunning close in victorious, yet at the same time, melancholic way. Almost 80 minutes of genious music, where the level of greatness at no point drops below absolute brilliance!!

Credit has to go to Eric Clayton for his unique vision and stamina to actually dare even contemplating actually pulling it off... Not to mention his glorious singing, which is beyond words.. The production of the album has to be mentioned as well... Everything sounds just awesome; more detailed and dynamic than on, say, "Legend, Part II" and the choir arrangements, done in a german church, blends in wholly natural.
The drum are also better produced this time around, and the new drummer must get credit, as he "drives" the music forth more than the previous guy.

...And of cause Nathan Van Hala on orchestra keyboards must also get the highest praise...

I don't consider myself to be a believer in any sense of the word, least of all in the Christian sense, but even I can appreciate a vision like Eric Claytons, especially when it is carried out this consistent, and in an un-preachy, descriptive way, I might add....

Looking forward to the last chapter in the Trilogy...

Untill then get this!!!

Album of the year anno 2001 !!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Epic Story Nears Completion!, August 13, 2002

By	Jonathan Johannsen (San Gabriel, CA) - See all my reviews

I for one am happy that Eric decided to split up the third part of the legend trilogy...this gives us one more record to wait for! Legend III:I is decidedly more metal than the two previous Legend releases. The gothic elements are still strong, especially later on the album, but the guitar becomes a more prominent element in this release. The song structure is much more straight forward than on Legend II, even though the amount of layering is amazing. Strings, piano, choirs, are used throughout the album, adding to the emotions. The tone is more sombre than on the previous Legends as well.

The production level on this album is definitely a step up from previous releases. It all sounds much crisper. The drums are also stepped up a bunch more, and the guitar crunches are much heavier. CarlJohan of Narnia fame plays on this album as well as a guest, adding some great solos and higher pitched elements, adding more diversity to the sound. Dark and heavy at the same time is the best way to describe this album. "Apocalyptic gothic rock opera." But still, that doesn't do it justice.

While most songs are medium tempo, this album never gets boring. The first track starts off with just piano and turns into a rock-opera masterpiece. Then the album goes through metal songs, some more laid back songs with great acoustic guitar (courtesy of CarlJohan), and songs like "The Final Holocaust" which features just strings, a choir, and the operactic vocals of Eric Clayton. Some instrumental track later on "The Dead Sea" and "Three Angels" are quite unique for Saviour Machine, feature darker programming. And the final four tracks all tie together in such apocalyptic glory that it's almost overwhelming. Familar themes from the other Legends are present in certain songs as well, making it still feel like a trilogy, even though each album is wildly different.

Overall, this album is the most mature from the band to date. I can't wait for the release of Legend III:II...I'm expecting it to be the band's best! While you're waiting, pick up this release...but make sure you give it a few listens before deciding. Most people I know had to listen at least 5 times before fully appreciating it...it's too overwhelming to completely comprehend after one listen. Enjoy!