Messiah Paratroops have been a name mentioned in the sagas of the Finnish underground with reverence at differing points over the last five decades since 1989 but remarkably this April sees the release of the band’s first-ever full-length offering!

Was it worth the wait? Well, that probably depends on whether you’re related to any members of the band or how deeply you are invested in the culture and lore of Finnish heavy metal. I score zero in both respects, so I’m coming in as a purely disinterested, non-com observer; and whilst the album in question, Legions Of Tomorrow, is never less than engaging – and sometimes really rather good – I couldn’t truthfully say that it’s been ‘worth the wait”…

Still, as I say I’ve no skin in the game. I’ve got ears, though, and tracks like the total track and the pleasing chug of Morbid Prayer certainly get then working. The production of the album is spot-on, allowing the band their head as musicians of some standing whilst still allowing a savage, unkempt edge to shine through. Standout track Bloodlust is particularly ‘authentic’, featuring fusilades of debilitating kick drum and some really nice, raw guitar work from Pete Airaksinen and Jani Vartiainen, both of whom know a thing or two about six string savagery.

And talking of savagery, well, it’s certainly present on the title track, where Aku Oksala gives his best performance behind the mike and the rhythm section (bassist) Jari Bäck and drummer Vilho Kananen really give it some hammer.

These are clearly musicians who know what the legacy of the band means, and of it’s place within the great scheme of things. Maybe if they didn’t we might witness a slightly ‘looser’ band, as there are times when everything sounds a bit hidebound by the historical baggage that comes with the name. But that said, it’s hard not to nod appreciatively when the band hits a groove (have a listen to Murders of The Lake and tell me you didn’t notice a few twitches happening invuluntarily), and if old school death metal played straight still gets you up in the morning then maybe you’ll get quite a lot of enjoyment out of LoT…

Legions of Tomorrow will be released on April 4th.