I spent quite a while thinking about how to start this review of Lost Legion from Chicago. Since no clear concept came to mind, I’ll go with a more intuitive approach.

The first thing that caught my attention was the small poster included with the record. Along with its artwork, it carries the slogan „Endless Destruction And Creation“—and to me, that perfectly sums up everything this album revolves around, both musically and lyrically.

Musically, I would describe it as dark punk with strong influences of streetpunk, Oi!, and post-punk. The result is an extremely intriguing cocktail. The lyrics are original, unconventional, and don’t fall into any predictable categories. Altogether, it creates a mixture that is not only unusual but also incredibly listenable.

Behind The Concrete Veil is, in my opinion, one of the best records of recent years that touches on streetpunk and Oi!—even though it’s by no means a typical representative of those genres. On the contrary, for me it’s proof that the most exciting music often comes when a band steps outside of established paths and builds its own character, one that can’t easily be boxed in.

The album consists of ten tracks, five on each side. The lyrics are highly distinctive, and I have to say that I perceive them a bit differently with every listen—which is exactly the kind of response good art should evoke. The absolute highlights for me are „War Machine,“ „Behind the Concrete Veil,“ and above all the absolutely stunning „The Animals We Used to Be.“ That track belongs among the very best songs I’ve ever heard, and certainly among those that have ever spun on my turntable. Thematically, the lyrics revolve around evolution, inner struggle, and conflict within one’s own kind—whether in modern times or throughout evolutionary history. The music itself is difficult for me to describe, because what it really does is stir up emotions and play with them—and that, I think, is this record’s greatest strength.

As for the visuals, I’d say the album’s artwork is heavily inspired by black metal—purely in terms of aesthetics, which perfectly matches the dark tone of the music. The booklet includes not only the poster but also all the lyrics on the inner sleeve. From it, I gathered that Lost Legion is made up of two musicians—Dave and Ian—who bring in additional members for live shows. The songwriting, however, seems to be their work alone.

The album was released by Mendeku Diskak, a label that in recent years has established itself as one of the most exciting, consistently releasing music from bands unafraid to push genre boundaries. That’s why I highly recommend adding this record to your collection. Behind The Concrete Veil is an incredible album that offers a powerful experience with every listen.