band & crew
Maurice Swinkels - Vocals
Richard Ebisch - Guitars
Harold Gielen - Bass
Erik Fleuren - Drums
Luc van den Bossche - FOH / sound
Rob Dirkx - Merchandise
Andy Siry - A&R
biography
Legion of the damned unleashed their first thrashing metal storm on the 6th of January 2006. "Malevolent rapture" was an uncompromising slab of killer death/thrash reminiscent of the masters of the eighties packed in a modern killer sound by Andy Classen and received many killer reviews in the press. The band showed to be able to combine furious thrash mayhem with midpaced neckbreaking rhythms, translocating the realm of the eighties into the new millenium.
Since "Malevolent rapture" the band has been destroying the stage on the No Mercy Festivals together with Cannibal Corpse and Kataklysm, and playing festivals such as Rockhard Festival, Summerbreeze, Up from the ground and Wacken open air, as well as a minitour in September 2006 with veterans Destruction in the Netherlands. During the No Mercy Festivals Harold Gielen joined the band on bass, increasing the ferocious power of this well-oiled warmachine on stage. Between the gigs the band was busy writing new songs for the next album.
In December/January of 2006/2007 Legion of the damned joined forces with Sodom and Finntroll playing shows in Holland, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland showing the audience what they can expect in the future...
Legion of the damned returned with "Sons of the jackal" in January 2007, featuring 10 songs that surpass the previous material, more dark, more violent and more diverse but still delivering the razorsharp riffing with utmost precisions, tight as hell drumming by Erik Fleuren and hateful vocals by Maurice Swinkels which sound even more menacing and vicious than before. The production by Andy Classen at Stage one studio outdoes the job on the previous album. That Legion of the damned know the tools of the trade is displayed in the violent hammering of "Sons of the jackal", the devilish anthem "Diabolist", the primitive stomping of "Death is my master", the sinister midpaced power of "Infernal wrath" or the fast kreator style butchery in "Avenging archangel". The album "Sons of the jackal" even made it to the official german album charts on place number 54.
After a succesful tour with Kreator and Celtic Frost, and so, intentensivly playing shows all across europe in 2007, in 2008 Legion of the damned released "Feel the blade", a rerelease album from their previous band Occult's "Elegy for the weak", the album got superb reviews in all major magazines across Europe and not even entered the official album charts again in Germany, but also in Finland, Norway and Austria. "Feel the blade" got officially released in South America by NuclearBlast, Finland by Stay Heavy Records, North America by Season of mist , Norway by Indie and in Japan by Spiritual beast Records.
Statements of famous musicians about Legion of the damned
"The mistfits of Thrash! Amazing songs, great energy! I love it!" - Mille (Kreator)
"Legion of the damned is kick-ass Thrash done right! No bullshit, if you like your metal fast, hard and brutal, you will love this!" - Scott Ian (Anthrax)
"Great stuff, really tight! They bring something different to metal, innovative mood, good riffs, pick it up! - Snake (Voivod)
"This album pulls me back to when Sepultura was the best with "Beneath the remains", it's a kickass album and amazing musicians" - Peter (Hypocrisy)
"Killer death metal in an old school style, an aural holocaust, nice work, grind on!" - Karl (Bolt thrower)
"Legion of the damned - the name says it all, they come straight for the throat with a savage thrash/speed attack, real metal for real metalheads" - Maurizio (Kataklysm)
"Good power thrash metal with some excellent drumming!" - Jason (Shadows fall)
"Sure. This is a very good cd, it has some really cool influences in it that took me back when I was a kid. I heard influences from bands like Kreator and Destruction, very well done!" - Raymond (Fear factory)
"Ferocious, groovy and hard-pounding thrash - in your face! Killer" - Silenoz (Dimmu Borgir)
"Legion of the damned are the epitome of thrash metal in the new world today, an absolute must for all fans of the genre" - Nick barker (ex-Cradle of filth/Dimmu borgir/Testament, Lockup)
"Live, Legion of the damned are a force to be reckoned with. They have advanced formula for European thrash metal to a new and dangerous level and what is most important, they have always given us a good injection of violence and force before going onstage ourselves" - Martin Ain (Celtic Frost)
"Legion of the damned have all the energy, fun, rawness and spirit of the old school thrash-death classics, but reincarnated in the form of modern bulldozing machine! A real fucking beast" - Jason (Misery Index)
"The new definition of true, honest and brutal old school thrash is called Legion of the damned" - Martin van Drunen (ex-Pestilence / Hail of bullets)
Name: Maurice Swinkels, Date of birth: May 14th, Band duty: Vocals, Born: Venlo, the Netherlands, Hobbies: Music, Computers, Filming & Cameras, Cooking, Travelling, Watching movies, Gear: Shure Wireless Microphone, Favourite Legion of the damned experience(s): Wacken open air 2006, Dynamo open air 1997, touring with Kreator & Celtic Frost, being on the covers of Rocktribune Magazine, Legacy, Mindview and Scream Magazine, Favourite 10 albums: Slayer "Reign in blood", Kreator "Pleasure to kill", Sodom "Persecution mania", Possessed "Seven churches", Metallica "Kill 'em all", Mayhem "De mysteriis dom sathanas", Marduk "Panzer division marduk", Sanctuary/Nevermore "All albums", Slayer "Hell awaits", Devil doll "All albums".
Name: Richard Ebisch, Date of birth: August 3rd, Band duty: Guitars, Born: Helden, the Netherlands, Hobbies: Music, Travelling, Guitars & touring, Gear: Engl Invader 100w head, Engl Cabinets, Morley - Bad horsie, Sennheiser g2 - wireless, Ran - Invader guitar, Ibanzed - rg guitar, Ernie ball strings, Favourite Legion of the damned experience(s): Wacken open air 2006, Rockhard festial, all the tours we did so far, Favourite 10 albums: Kreator "Pleasure to kill", Morbid angel "Altars of madness", Slayer "Reign in blood", Sodom "In the sign of evil", Vader "Revelations", Deicide "Deicide", Destruction "Infernal overkill", Pestilence "Consuming impulse", Behemoth "Demigod", Hate eternal "King of all kings"
Name: Harold Gielen, Date of birth: April 20th, Band duty: Bass, Born: Horst, the Netherlands, Hobbies: Music, Touring and making icecream, Gear: Schecter C-4, Dean, Warwick and Sans Amp, Favourite Legion of the damned experience(s): Wacken open air 2006, First gig with Legion of the damned at the 013 in Tilburg, touring with Kreator & Celtic Frost, Favourite 10 albums: At the gates "Slaughter of the soul", Death "Scream bloody gore", Immolation "Dawn of posession", Mastodon "Leviathan", Metallica "Ride the lightning", Motorhead "Inferno", Pestilence "Consuming impulse", Possessed "Seven churches", Slayer "Reign in blood", Terrorizer "World dawnfall".
Name: Erik Fleuren, Date of birth: November 13th, Band duty: Drums, Born: Helden, the Netherlands, Hobbies: Music, Watching movies, Going out Gear: Pearl - Masters Premium 2x22 Inch bass drum, 1x10 Inch, 1x12 Inch, 1x13 Inch tom, 1x16 Inch floor. Tama - Rockstar, 2x22 Inch bass drum, 1x10 Inch, 1x12 Inch, 1x14 Inch tom, 1x16 Inch floor, Paiste & Zildjan cymbals Favourite Legion of the damned experience(s): Wacken open air 2006, touring with Kreator & Celtic Frost, Favourite 10 albums: Slayer "Reign in blood", Metallica "Master of puppets", Death "Leprosy", Sodom "Presecution mania", Pestilence "Consuming impulse", Exodus "Bonded by blood", Kreator "Pleasure to kill", Destruction "Eternal devastation", Forbidden "Forbidden evil", Death angel "The ultra violence".
Ever wondered what the band did before being Legion of the damned ?
the band's TIME TABLE
1990 - Leon, Maurice & Erik get together, starting a new band under the name of Occult.
1991 - Sjors (ex-Crematorium), a friend of the band joins the threesome.
1992 - First performance in Elsloo, Holland and records an official live demo. Other bands playing that day are Countess and Apator.
1993 - 2nd performance in Rotterdam, Holland and records another official live demo. Other bands playing that day are Ancient Rites.
1993 - Occult records official 4-track studio demo at the Twin Studio in the south of Holland.
1994 - Occult signs to dutch recordlabel Foundation 2000 (Gorefest/The gathering).
1994 - Recorded and released first full length album "Prepare to meet thy doom".
1994 - Female gruntster Rachel joins the band.
1994 - Occult embraks on a tour together with Immortal & Marduk, without drummer Erik but replaced by Wim (Inquisitor)
1995 - Several shows played in Benelux and Germany with Cradle of filth and more bands..
1995 - Guitarist Richard joins the band!
1995 - The band embraks on another mini tour with Desaster through Germany, again without drummer Erik, but replaced by Roel (Inhume/God dethroned)
1995 - Occult records 2nd album "The enemy within" at Musiclab studio in Berlin with Harris Johns (Kreator,Sodom,Assassin,Pestilence & Voivod).
1996 - Occult Releases 2nd full length album "The enemy within".
1996 - Occult joins the Dutch Metal Night Festivals together with Osdorp Posse, Gorefest, Goddess of desire and Orphanage.
1997 - Dutch tour with Sinister, performance on Dynamo open air, Eindhoven, Holland, other bands sharing the same stage are: Goddess of desire, Dimmu borgir and Satyricon.
1998 - Occult leaves Foundation 2000 and records a studio demo for new a recordlabel deal.
1999 - Occult signs with Massacre Records Germany.
1999 - Occult says goodbye to Sjors and Twan joins the band on bass.
1999 - Recorded and released 3rd full length album "Of flesh and blood on Massacre Records, tour with Morbid angel, God dethroned, Krisiun, Gorgoroth & Amon Amarth, before the tour starts, Occult kicks out 2nd guitarplayer Leon.
X-Mass festivals 1999 with following dates
10.12.1999 Strassbourg - La Laiterie - France
11.12.1999 Gavere - Racing - Belgium
12.12.1999 Offenbach - Hafenbahn - Germany
13.12.1999 Essen - Zeche Carl - Germany
14.12.1999 Munich - Incognito - Germany
15.12.1999 Vienna - Arena - Austria
16.12.1999 Biella - Babylonia - Italy
17.12.1999 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
18.12.1999 Leipzig - Hellraiser - Germany
19.12.1999 Tilburg - 13 - Netherlands
20.12.1999 Hamburg - Markthalle - Germany
2000 - Occult leaves Massacre Records and signs to Painkiller Records.
2000 -Recorded & released "Violence & hatred" single cd.
2001 -Recorded & released 4th full length album "Rage to revenge" and kicks out the female gruntster.
2002 - On tour with Dark funeral, Tidfall, Ragnarok and Anorexia Nervosa.
European Dark Funeral tour 2002 with following dates
01.02.2002 Bradford - Rio - United kingdom
02.02.2002 Dublin - Temple music bar - Scotland
03.02.2002 London - Garage - United kingdom
05.02.2002 Paris - Gibus - United kingdom
06.02.2002 Drachten - Iduna - Netherlands
07.02.2002 Rotterdam - Baroeg - Netherlands
08.02.2002 Hengelo - Metropool - Netherlands
09.02.2002 Zaandam - Kade - Netherlands
10.02.2002 Vosselaar - Biebob - Belgium (On this day the tour came to an end for Ragnarok and Anorexia Nervosa because it was to expensive and not enough people coming to the shows, Occult however decided to continue the tour in a camper)
11.02.2002 Essen - Zeche carl - Germany (No Occult)
12.02.2002 Amneville - After club - France (No Occult)
13.02.2002 Toulouse - La mounelle - France (No Occult)
14.02.2002 Barcelona - Mephisto - Spain (On this day Occult arrived with the camper in Spain to continue the tour)
15.02.2002 Irun - Tunk - Spain
16.02.2002 Porto - Hard club - Portugal
17.02.2002 Madrid - Ritmo & compas - Spain
19.02.2002 Milano - Indian's saloon - Italy
20.02.2002 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
21.02.2002 Vienna - Arena - Austria
22.02.2002 Engelsdorf - Hellraiser - Germany (On this day it was Occult's last show and decided to travel back to Holland)
24.02.2002 Trier - Exil - Germany
25.02.2002 Osnabruck - Hyde park - Germany
26.02.2002 Hamburg - Markthalle - Germany
2003 - Occult records "Elegy for the weak" and tours directly after with Exodus, Agent Steel, Nuclear Assault, God dethroned, Grave, Callenish circle and Prospect.
Exodus, Nuclear assault & Agent steel European tour 2003 with following dates
07.10.2003 Rennes - Antipode - France
08.10.2003 Scheffield - Corporation - United kingdom
09.10.2003 London - Camden palace - United kingdom
10.10.2003 Eindhoven - Effenaar - Netherlands
11.10.2003 Antwerp - Hof ter Lo - Belgium
12.10.2003 Paris - La locomotive - France
13.10.2003 Essen - Zeche carl - Germany
14.10.2003 Berlin - Columbia Halle Fritz - Germany
15.10.2003 Hamburg - Markthalle - Germany
16.10.2003 Munster - Live Arena - Germany
17.10.2003 Bischofswerda - Hangar - Germany
18.10.2003 Munich - New backstage - Germany
19.10.2003 Brno - Babylon - Czech
20.10.2003 Inssbruck - Hafen - Austria (On this day it was decided that 3 bands should leave the tour because the expenses were to high and not enough people visiting the shows. The 3 bands selected were Callenish Circle, Occult & Prospect, but because God dethroned called it quite as well, Occult managed to get unto the bus of God dethroned and finish the tour anyway, God dethroned, prospect and Callenish circle left the tour)
21.10.2003 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
22.10.2003 Milano - Alcatraz - Italy
23.10.2003 Barcelona - La capsa - Spain
24.10.2003 Madrid - Aqualing - Spain
25.10.2003 Porto - Hardclub - Portugal
2003 - "Elegy for the weak" still not released by Painkiller Records.
2003 - Maurice's own video company releases official documentary DVD of Occult entitled "Occult - to be thrashed"
2003 - Occult leaves Painkiller Records and signs to Karmageddon Media Records.
2004 - Karmageddon Media Records releases "Elegy for the weak".
2005 - Occult records "Malevolent rapture" for Karmageddon Media Records.
2005 - After several discussions the band leaves Karmageddon Media Records and signs to Boomer Entertainment with License to Massacre Records.
2005 - Last performance with Occult at Party San open air.
2006 - Occult changes into Legion of the damned.
2006 - "Malevolent rapture" gets released on Massacre Records under the name Legion of the damned with massive promotion campaign.
2006 - The band says goodbye to Twan and Harold (ex-Mangled/Inhume) joins the band on bass.
2006 - Legion of the damned joins Sodom and Finntroll on a mini tour. Performances at Wacken open air, Summerbreeze, Up from the ground, Rockhard and another tour with Cannibal corpse & Kataklysm and records "Sons of the jackal" at the Stage one studio with Andy Classen.
Sodom & Finntroll mini tour 2006 with following dates
26.12.2006 Amsterdam - Melkweg - Netherlands
27.12.2006 Osnabruck - Eventcentre B 51 - Germany
28.12.2006 Bochum - Zeche - Germany
29.12.2006 Antwerp - Hof ter Lo - Belgium
30.12.2006 Karlsruhe - Substage - Germany
31.12.2006 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
No Mercy Festivals 2006 with following dates
04.04.2006 Essen - Zeche carl - Germany
05.04.2006 Ludwigsburg - Rockfabrik - Germany
06.04.2006 Berlin - Fritz - Germany
07.04.2006 Glauchau - Alte Spinnerei - Germany
08.04.2006 Prague - Abaton club- Czech
09.04.2006 Vienna - Planet Music - Austria
10.04.2006 Munich - backstage - Germany
11.04.2006 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
12.04.2006 Strassbourg - La Laiterie - France
13.04.2006 Frankfurt - Batschkapp - Germany
14.04.2006 Dornbirn - Spielboden - Austria
15.04.2006 Paris - Locomotive - France
16.04.2006 Antwerp - Hof ter Lo - Belgium
17.04.2006 Tilburg - 013 - Netherlands
Festivals in 2006 + other gigs
27.05.2006 Eternity of rock - Italy
03.06.2006 Rockhard Festival - Germany
09.06.2006 Chronical mosher Festival - Germany
29.06.2006 Stonehenge Festival - Netherlands
04.08.2006 Wacken open air - Germany
18.08.2006 Summerbreeze Festival - Germany
25.08.2006 Up from the ground Festival - Germany
08.09.2006 Burgerweeshuis - Deventer - Netherlands
09.09.2006 Dynamo club - Eindhoven - Netherlands
10.09.2006 Patronaat - Haarlem - Netherlands
16.12.2006 Last night on earth Festival - Germany
2007 - Legion of the damned releases "Sons of the jackal", on tour with Kreator & Celtic Frost, several other festival performances such as Inferno / norway, Tuska / Finland, Bloodstock / UK, Earthshaker / Germany, Graspop / Belgium, Kaltenbach / Austria / Rockarea / Metalbash, Queens of metal festival , Hellraiser Festival and more...
Kreator & Celtic Frost tour with following dates
08.03.2007 Koln - Live music hall - Germany
09.03.2007 Antwerp - Hof ter Lo - Belgium
10.03.2007 Heerhugowaard - De waerdsetempel - Netherlands
11.03.2007 Tilburg - 013 - Netherlands
13.03.2006 Glasgow - Garage - Scotland
14.03.2006 Bradford - Rio - United kingdom
15.03.2006 Wolverhampton - Wulfrun hall - United kingdom
16.03.2006 - Cardiff - Solus - United kingdom
17.03.2006 Nottingham - Rock city - United kingdom
18.03.2006 London - Koko - United kingdom
20.03.2006 Paris - Elysee montmartre - France
21.03.2006 Bordeaux - Theatre Barbey - France
22.03.2006 Madrid - La riviera - Spain
23.03.2006 Bilbao - Rockstar - Spain
24.03.2006 Barcelona - Razzmatazz 1 - Spain
26.03.2006 Pratteln - Z7 - Swiss
27.03.2007 Milan - Rolling stone - Italy
28.03.2007 Stuttgart - Longhorn - Germany
29.03.2006 Berlin - Columbia Club - Germany
Festivals in 2007 + other gigs
05.01.2007 Winterbreath Festival - Germany
19.01.2007 Groningen - Simplon - Netherlands
10.02.2007 Thrash assault festival - Germany
01.04.2007 Faust metal night - Germany
06.04.2007 Inferno festival - Oslo - Norway
21.04.2007 Mannheim metal meeting - Germany
28.04.2007 Walpurgis metal days - Germany
05.05.2007 Rockstyle - Evolution Festival - Swiss
26.05.2007 Leipzig - Hellraiser Festival - Germany
08.06.2007 Protzen open air festival - Berlin - Germany
15.06.2007 Queens of metal Festival - Germany
16.06.2007 Summerblast Festival - Germany
23.06.2007 Graspop Metal meeting - Belgium
01.07.2007 Tuska Festival - Helsinki - Finland
07.07.2007 Baden in blut festival - Germany
13.07.2007 Kaltenbach Festival - Austria
21.07.2007 Earthshaker Festival - Germany
28.07.2007 Metalbash Festival - Germany
18.08.2007 Bloodstock festival - United kingdom
01.09.2007 Joch 'n roll festival - Hameln - Germany
2007 - Legion of the damned records 2 new tracks and 1 cover track at Stage one studio.
2008 - Legion of the damned rereleases "Elegy for the weak" under the name "Feel the blade", this album will be officially released in Finland, Norway, South & North america and Japan, and entered the official album charts not only in Germany, but also Norway, Finland and Austria.
2008 - Legion of the damned embraks on a mini tour through Finland with The Scourger, & Axegressor
Legion of the damned Invading Finland 2008 with following dates
06.02.2008 Henry's pub - Kuopio - Finland
07.02.2008 Lutakko - Jyväskylä - Finland
08.02.2008 Hellä - Tampere - Finland
09.02.2008 Nightlife Rock - Helsinki - Finland
2008 - Legion of the damned plays Party San open air exclusively, Metalcamp and Hellfest in France.
