When the new album by New Zealand’s Legacy of Disorder titled Last Man Standing arrived, I didn’t know what to really expect. Would Legacy of Disorder be another in a line of forgettable cookie-cutter post nu-metal bands? Or a cheesy faux metal band disguised as metal-core with sappy clean vocals? As it turns out Legacy of Disorder were neither. I was pleasantly surprised with their abrasive brand of modern groove metal that is clearly influenced by acts like; Pantera, Machine Head, Drowning Pool and Throwdown.

Legacy of Disorder brought producer Sterling Winfield on board to handle the production. As many of you might already know Winfield handled production on Pantera and Hellyeah records and he’s brought that explosive and intensity into this recording. Granted a great sounding album would be just a great ‘sounding’ album if it were not for top notch songs, which Legacy of Disorder have in spades. They kept things simple in the sense that they didn’t put too much music on the album; they went old school and narrowed it down to 10 solid cuts—which eliminates filler.

Last Man Standing is highly recommended it’s memorable, they have a fierce front man in James Robinson who at times channels Phil Anselmo and Dave Peters. There’s great musicianship showcased and the songs are well crafted. There’s a track called “Breed” that has too much of a nu-metal influence for my taste; it goes into Korn and Disturbed territory—which I’ll admit I didn’t like too much. It’s with songs like; the blazing opener “Thorns,” the military precision of “March of Death,” and the brutality of the title track “Last Man Standing” that could make this up and coming act a household name by year’s end.

Legacy of Disorder
Last Man Standing
Black Orchid Music 2012