LEX LEGION – Lex Legion

Lex Legion are a new supergroup formed by four-fifths of the late ‘80s King Diamond lineup consisting of drummer Mikkey Dee, guitarist Pete Blakk, guitarist Andy La Rocque, bassist Hal Patino, and completing the lineup is lead vocalist Nils K. Rue. The worlds of Motörhead, Scorpions, and King Diamond collide. The project started in 2008 with La Rocque and Blakk talking about doing something together, but nothing serious came of it until the pandemic; Blakk continued working on songs for the project, eventually leading to Dee and Patino’s involvement. Though they certainly have nothing left to prove in the hard rock / heavy metal world, the band was solely formed to have fun while making the music that they wanted to make. “This is totally unique. No one is writing this kind of music and there’s a big hole for us to fill,” said Blakk. Lex Legion’s self-titled debut album will be released on June 12, 2026 through MNRK Music Group’s MNRK Heavy record label.

Simply for Fun

The album’s second single, “Gypsy Tears,” is an absolute banger with a good beat, wicked guitar playing, a thumping bass line, and ferocious drumming. The song title is also dope because it sounds like an ‘80s hard rock song title. Almost literally every hard rock / heavy metal band in the ‘80s had a song with “gypsy” in the title. “(I Am) the Resurrected” has a cool, evil-sounding guitar riff with a dark and mysterious vibe. The usage of different tempos elevates the song to another level, especially during the unapologetic guitar solo. Also, there’s a breakdown towards the end of the song with some menacing bass work going on. “Dreams of Darkness” features elements of speed metal, jumping back and forth between tempo changes, the vocal harmonies in the chorus are chilling, and the guitar melodies are feisty as heck.

“Saviours” is a slow headbanger with a memorable hook. It’s very dark and atmospheric, and the instrumentation is excellent. “Life Eternal,” in simplest terms, sounds like a human siren going off (Rue) amidst an explosive, machine-gun earthquake (Dee). It’s not bad. “Far Away,” the closing instrumental, is oddly the most interesting song on the album because it shows the band’s versatility. Almost all of the songs feature frantic guitar melodies, monstrous kick drumming, siren-like vocals, and hard-hitting bass lines. However, “Far Away” blends electric guitars and acoustic guitars to create a beautiful heavy metal symphony. Backed by a steady beat, the instrumentation is reminiscent of Metallica’s “Fade to Black.” Unfortunately, the song could’ve been two minutes longer because just when the grand finale was approaching, “Far Away” ends faster than Julie Andrews singing, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Final Assessment

Another issue with the album is Rue’s vocals. He’s not a bad singer; he’s just an acquired taste. He can hit notes higher than Ozzy Osbourne ever could, but whether that’s a good thing or not is up to the listener. Sometimes Rue’s vocals are digestible, most notably in the lower register, but other times, like on “When the Stars Align,” the dogs need to run for cover. As for the songs, the band was aiming for a “less-is-more” approach, and it works to some degree, but there’s not enough distinction to make listeners go, “oh my gosh, this is the greatest new metal record that ever existed!” Hence, “Far Away” is the most interesting song on the record. The musicianship is fine, but the hooks are lacking.

Still, with Mikkey Dee on drums, it’s a fun listen because he is a phenomenal drummer with an unmistakable playing style. As soon as the drums kick in, listeners will immediately go, “Yep, that’s Mikkey Dee!” Also, the record is only 35 minutes long, which is a reasonable length. For those who are interested in modern hard rock / heavy metal, give Lex Legion’s debut album a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. Sleep Eternally
2. Gypsy Tears
3. When the Stars Align
4. (I am) The Resurrected
5. Lost Inside
6. Dreams of Darkness
7. Saviours
8. Life Eternal
9. Far Away

Band Lineup

Nils K. Rue – lead vocals
Pete Blakk – guitars
Andy La Rocque – guitars
Hal Patino – bass guitar
Mikkey Dee – drums

Check out the music video for Lex Legion’s “Gypsy Tears” from their self-titled debut album!