Description

Black vinyl with lyric insert

Featuring a setlist that encompasses tracks from both of the band’s full length albums, Storming Bestial Legions Live ’96 transports fans back to the tail end of Bestial Warlust’s run through the Australian war metal scene. For newer fans and nostalgic veterans alike, this live album should be the closest thing to hearing Bestial Warlust the way they were meant to be heard, in a small crowded venue. That is, unless you can make it to a Holocaust Wolves of the Apocalypse show, but that really doesn’t negate the cool factor of this album. Storming Bestial Legions aims to serve as a companion to Bestial Warlust’s short but sweet existing discography and, for the most part, hits the mark. Considering the nature of the band and the ‘bestial black metal’ scene globally, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that the audio quality on this release is far from perfect. The performance is extremely raw, which gives a nice, warm, and personal feel to the album, but in turn drowns the bass and guitar in each other, muddling a few riffs together. The vocals also feel a bit sloppy; they are unquestionably less refined than those heard elsewhere, but that’s simply the reality of performing live. This quality issue becomes more prominent as the recording of the show progresses, and it leaves a lot to be desired in regards to certain pieces of the music being audible. There’s something lost in the murk and the music increasingly suffers as you can’t help but wish for something more. That said, the quality isn’t a far cry from what can be heard on Vengeance War ‘Till Death, and it’s likely that fans will be already be accustomed to the abrasive and unpolished nature of this specific concert. But there’s still this air of imperfection, this raw, lo-fi sound that distinguishes it from either of the other two albums. Storming Bestial Legions is probably the most accurate representation of what a Bestial Warlust show would sound like in person, and flawed or not, that’s the whole point. Of course, this glimpse into the past also benefits greatly from the banter slipped in by vocalist Damon Bloodstorm between songs. Banter is a staple of live recordings and isn’t an unusual inclusion by any means, but it’s always appreciated and ultimately what separates a live release from any other album. Bloodstorm made sure to throw in some profanity-laced crowd interaction whenever he had the opportunity, and while he may not have had anything particularly important to say, the banter adds a critical and captivating dynamic to the band’s set. The set itself is a great selection, but with only two albums to their name, it’s less of a matter of choice than it is of limited availability for Bestial Warlust. Still, it doesn’t matter why the line-up is great, just that it is. Storming Bestial Legions is a supplemental addition to Bestial Warlust’s established collection of war metal, but it is able to do everything a live album exists to do and should prove to be a valuable resource for fans now that it’s been two decades since the band split up.

Track list:
1. Death Rides Out
2. I, The Warrior
3. Storming Vengeance
4. Barbaric Horde
5. Prelude: Descention Hells Blood
6. Heathens
7. Orgy Of Souls
8. Beerz And Blood
9. Blood And Valour
10. Massacre