It is always a pleasure to check out new material from Hot Mangu as you just never know what you are going to get. For those unfamiliar with this Aberdeen band, they are arguably the finest purveyors of Splat Metal (I don’t know either but it does fit after listening to them) and this single could be an eye opener. They remind me of a bizarre 3 way love triangle of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, System Of A Down and Iron Maiden meeting for a bunk up at the Bates Motel. Don’t try to imagine it as it will hurt your brain but when you listen to them you will get my gist. 

The title track “Legion” has a melodic, almost Muse, like start before kicking into a higher tempo and more metal sound. The lead singer, Fish (not that Fish) has very distinctive vocals that fit a wide variety of styles and it is shown off in this number song which has numerous timing and delivery changes. This is technical and clever number that is heavy but catchy. This isn’t one of the best Mangu tracks I have heard but it is still of the highest order compared to most of the up and coming bands around at the moment. 

The next track up “Funk The Dove” sounds like a funk rock song that out funks most pure funk acts. Again the vocals work very well indeed on this number and part way through you could swear you are listening to a jazz fusion act with metal guitars as the style deviates even further. A very unusual and entertaining number that pretty much sums up Hot Mangu’s flamboyance and is very danceable and shows a different side to the band away from their harder metal numbers.  

Finally we are left with the bizarrely titled “Magic Of Stovies” which is quite a short song at just over one and a half minutes. This one kicks in like a reggae song and you could imagine it from a beach band at a party in Montego Bay before it bursts into a harder sound half way through without losing any of it’s melody and boogyability. Not many metal bands could get away with a song like this but Hot Mangu’s charm and adept ability at fusing styles makes this work very well. 

All in all this isn’t the greatest material from Hot Mangu but it is still excellent and adds to their growing repertoire and reputation. Where they really shine though is in the live environment, where their eclectic, but heavy style really win through. If you like your metal a bit different, with a bit of humour, then you could do a lot worse than check this out.

Let us know your views on Legion

Track Listing

Legion
Funk The Dove
Magic Of Stovies

Line Up

Fish – Bass/Vocals
Corn – Guitar/Vocals
Sandy – Guitar
G.Dove – Drums