UMUR "Feel the Blade" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Dutch death/thrash act Legion of the Damned. The album was released in January 2008 by Massacre Records. Actually the album is a re-release of the 5th full-length studio album "Elegy for the Weak (2003)" by Occult, which is the band´s previous monicker. I´m not sure if everything was re-recorded or only some parts, but "Elegy for the Weak" featured vocals by Rachel Heyzer, while "Feel the Blade" features vocals by Maurice Swinkels.

It´s not in any way audible that "Feel the Blade" is not the natural successor to "Sons of the Jackal (2007)" as the two albums are very similar both in sound and style. We´re talking fiercely aggressive death/ thrash metal with a sneering caustic vocal delivery and an obvious influence from acts like early Kreator and early Slayer. It´s safe to say there isn´t much innovation going on but the intensity and conviction of the delivery shouldn´t be questioned. The band are very well playing and the raw production suits the music well too.

While Legion of the Damned deliver just what you´d expect from them I could have wished for a few surprises along the way, but that´s just not what you´re gonna get with Legion of the Damned. Three albums into their discography they have settled with a style they obviously feel comfortable playing and they never stray from that path. A 3.5 star rating is deserved.