Style: Progressive metal, metalcore, thrash metal, melodic death metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Sylosis, Bleed From Within, Revocation
Country: USA
Release date: 6 March 2026

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If I ask you to imagine a thrash metal enthusiast, you’d probably picture a particular type of guy: luscious, long hair and clean shaven, or bald with a beard, a denim jacket covered in band patches, and, just maybe, a self-rolled cigarette that smells kinda herby. But you’re also likely picturing a certain type of personality: a dude who’s passionate about music, probably a nice guy, but after a couple of drinks and some weed, he’s also apt to tell you about his political opinions, and they tend to be a bit… strange. And I don’t blame thrash fans for being paranoid libertarian conspiracy theorists; they were scapegoats for the Satanic Panic and their role model growing up was Dave Mustaine. All I’m saying is, never go to a second location with a thrash fan because he’s either going to push a copy of Atlas Shrugged onto you, or he’s going to tell you about his ancient aliens theory.

New Jersey trio Legionary bear a resemblance to thrash metalcore mainstays Sylosis—that same fusion of metalcore, melodeath, thrash, and prog influences. Main songwriter Frank D’Erasmo (rhythm guitars, bass, and drums) grounds the project with a forceful rhythm section, while vocal duties are handled by Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within), who combines formidable growls with a surprisingly bold tenor. Rounding the trio off is lead guitarist Tony Barhoum (Critical Condition), who delivers reliable shred soloing, throwing in some more mellow licks when the time is right. Introductory track “Sentenced to a Life of Chronic Guilt” opens strong with a brief instrumental showcase of D’Erasmo’s talents, even if it feels somewhat like a fragment of a larger idea. Nevertheless, this two minute overture gives you an idea of what’s in store over the course of Never-Ending Quest for Purpose. 

And what that amounts to is some solid thrash-influenced proggish melodeathcore! Barhoum’s solos are always highlights, and it’s hard not to enjoy D’Erasmo’s consistently interesting riffing, the metallic thrum of his bass work, and the measured kit mastery which consistently enlivens tracks. Some moments are more cliched, such as the introductory guitar duel on the title track or the somewhat wasted guest violin solo by Ben Karas, whose brief foray comes before a fade out at the album’s close. But it’s worth the price of entry to hear Barhoum’s shred, particularly on closing epic “Story Without Closure”, which features a climactic solo where he makes the guitar shriek like some dread creature halfheard in the deep of night. 

What doesn’t work for Legionary are the hooks and the tonal whiplash between the songs at large. Clancy’s gravelly, emotive cleans are undeniably strong, but they’re at complete odds with the band’s overall aesthetic. Time and again, Never-Ending Quest for Purpose veers from frenetic riffing into a sudden lighters-in-the-air, saccharine, noughties butt metal chorus, and it never suits the song. At times, D’Erasmo goes major key with the instrumentation, such as in the bridge on “Controllers of Perception”—such a change doesn’t really blend with the subject matter implied by the title. These moments are brief exceptions to an album that mostly rips like a Sylosis record, an odd juxtaposition which only ever detracts from the totality of the vision. 

D’Erasmo’s lyrics are, in a word: thrash. A paranoiac sensibility infuses Never-Ending Quest for Purpose. I have a certain amount of sympathy for assertions that all our leaders need to be in prison. But as the album wears on, we get talk of ‘rigged elections’¹ on “Story Without Closure”, and outright conspiracism on “Controllers of Perception”, which asserts that: 

• Any new technological progress is a mere leak relative to the utopian wonders that ‘They’ are hiding from us all.
• That we’re all being watched all the time which is largely true in the age of surveillance capitalism, but also that watching is largely passive unless you’re buying, I don’t know, bomb materials.
• And that history is largely fabricated which brings us to the D’Erasmo’s cringiest line: ‘Written history is full of lies / might as well have been written by AI’. Another point that has a kernel of truth to it but can quickly swerve into some pretty insane territory if we entertain it too far.

I’m not interested in analysing the political bent of the lyrics because it’s unimportant, but I will say: I don’t know, Frank, you think you might be smoking too much weed? Maybe limit it to weekends? Just think about it. 

Legionary won’t give you a headache, but they will give you a neckache from all the headbanging you’ll do. An outstanding rhythm section makes up for some cliched cleans and cringey lyrics, delivering a thrash-influenced record that hits many of the genre’s tropes and hits them well. Clearly, Legionary are on to something; let’s hope their quest for purpose doesn’t end here. 

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Recommended tracks: Never-Ending Quest for Purpose, Story Without Closure
You may also like: Blasteroid, Polaris Experience, Cryptosis
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent

Legionary is:
– Frank D’Erasmo (rhythm guitar, bass, drums)
– Tony Barhoum (lead guitar)
– Chris Clancy (vocals)

With guests:
– Ben Karas (violin)

1.  There’s no evidence that the 2020 or 2024 elections were stolen, but if we’re talking about the 2000 election then: go off, King. ↩︎