Album Review: Legionary – Never-Ending Quest for Purpose (Self Released)

Never-Ending Quest for Purpose, the new full-length from New Jersey-based melodic death/thrash outfit Legionary, arrives on March 6th.

Never-Ending Quest for Purpose is the latest release from Legionary, the studio-focused melodic death/thrash project led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Frank D’Erasmo. Originally formed in NYC and now operating primarily out of New Jersey, Legionary functions as a one-man studio entity supported by specially selected guest musicians, with vocals handled by Chris Clancy and lead guitar by Tony Barhoum on this release. The five-track album follows 2024’s EP Prison Realm and continues the project’s recent creative direction, with mixing and mastering handled by Mike Low and artwork by Mark Cooper.

Multi-instrumental, composer, and founder, Frank D’Erasmo had this to say about the forthcoming album:

“This new album is a continuation of the path we took on our last EP, Prison Realm. For fans of that EP, this new album is in that style again, but on steroids! Things sound heavier, more epic, and more massive on this album. All of the same guys from the last release have returned, including vocalist Chris Clancy (As I Lay Dying, Invictus, Mutiny Within) and lead guitarist Tony Barhoum (Chaos Sanctuary, Condition Critical), but the big addition this time around was mix engineer, Mike Low. Things have never sounded this BIG on a Legionary release!”

Never-Ending Quest for Purpose gets underway with “Sentenced to a Life of Chronic Guilt”. It’s a short, to-the-point track that introduces the album and Legionary in waves of riffs and beats, dappled with fiery lead guitars. Being purely instrumental, it does a great job of getting your blood flowing and getting you in the mood for more metal.

“If the Judges Became the Judged” then delivers that with an emphatic melodic death metal track. The intro and verses deliver huge riffs and beats that are catchy as hell, with harsh vocals bellowed out alongside them. It’s headbanging music, hard and heavy. That transitions nicely into the choruses where the vocals switch to clean and the guitars drop classy melodies. There’s a really nice tempo change that sends the song into a frenzy, a really cool guitar solo, and some exciting vocal displays. The cleans are great, the harsh vocals have power and depth, and there are a few tone changes too. It’s a really strong song, not really doing anything that hasn’t already been done before, but doing it really, really well.

The title track, “Never-Ending Quest for Purpose”, comes next and delivers an energetic track that powers through the intro and verses with an assault of heavy vocals, drums, and bassy riffs. It’s superbly solid and very comfortable to listen to. I really like the sudden drop to a minimalist melody to help transition into the clean chorus, which is suitably singable and catchy. It’s a clever move, and these silky transitions show structural intelligence and keep things flowing. It’s very nicely put together as a song and, production-wise, treads the line between polished and authentic nicely. At just over six minutes long, we also get plenty of time for shifts in tempo, moving from a grooving beat to faster and harder before a screaming solo. It’s an exciting song and one I’ll be returning to a lot.

“Controllers of Perception” ups the aggression from the start, opening with bellowed vocals and crushing riffs. The drums are powerful and impactful. That classic combination of heavy drums, vocals, and riffs remains as exciting as ever. The song also packs plenty of groove, moving smoothly between heavier assaults and more measured, grooving beats. The chorus is fiery and probably the most instantly catchy moment so far, backed by very strong clean vocals. Overall, it feels comfortable and familiar stylistically, and that’s meant as a positive. The track is direct and straightforward, showcasing solid song writing and high-level musicianship.

Never-Ending Quest for Purpose closes with a bit of a surprise. The final track, “Story Without Closure,” runs nearly twelve minutes, a notable jump on an album averaging around five minutes per track. Epic in both length and scope, it delivers more variety and shows more of what Legionary can achieve creatively. Structurally, the song follows familiar patterns: riffs stacked upon riffs, heavy drums, intense vocals, and plenty of catchiness and groove. The flow and tempo are energising, and the clean chorus is instantly memorable.

You’ll bang your head, sing, and roar along, but even I can’t sustain that for twelve minutes. That’s where the variety comes in. It begins with a rich guitar solo that lowers the energy into a more emotional, almost melancholic mood. From there, a blast of extra intensity follows, highlighting the power of the vocals. Next comes a sustained instrumental section that lets the drums shine while locking in with strong riffs and melodic touches. Along the way, these shifts, even small ones, keep the song fresh and engaging. Later, a second solo shows off speed and technical skill. Finally, a harsh verse and clean chorus lead into a gorgeous violin solo, closing the album on a dramatic and satisfying note.

Never-Ending Quest for Purpose is an album I genuinely like. It’s comfortable listening, firmly rooted in familiar melodic death/thrash territory. While it doesn’t aim to reinvent the genre, it adds clear quality and craft. The songwriting is strong, the structures flow naturally, and the pacing keeps the record engaging without ever feeling forced. The final track, in particular, hints at what Legionary can achieve when given room to stretch, showing flashes of broader ideas and ambition. Overall, it’s a well-written, well-constructed album that delivers exactly what it sets out to do.

Track List:

1. Sentenced to a Life of Chronic Guilt
2. If the Judges Became the Judged
3. Never-Ending Quest for Purpose
4. Controllers of Perception
5. Story Without Closure

Legionary Links

Bandcamp | YouTube | Facebook | SoundCloud