LEGEND

Legend biography
Skal! LEGEND was a New Haven, Connecticut hard rock/heavy metal band formed in the late 70s by Ray FRIGON on drums, Fred MELILO on guitar and Kevin NUGENT on guitar and vocals. The band specialized in what might now be considered Viking metal, and released one album in 1979.

Although that description could bring up an image of a LED ZEPPELIN knock off (caught somewhere between 'Immigrant Song' and 'No Quarter'), thanks to Frigon's speedy, lively drumming and Melilo's chugging bass paired with Nugent's occasional screaming and crazed shredding, Legend sounds oddly closer to 70s JUDAS PRIEST and early IRON MAIDEN (many have marveled at the band's British-ness). BLACK SABBATH was no doubt an influence too, with particular note to that band's proggier moments; however, the band claimed jazz and blues influences as well, and live shows were said to be a blend of prog, metal and jazzy jamming.

Legend released one album, 1979's From the Fjords, an eight-track-ode to all things Norse. Only 500 vinyl copies were pressed, and it remains a collector's item to this day. The band members went their separate ways soon after (Nugent played with keyboard happy RUSH follower ARC ANGEL, but died in his sleep in 1983); fans of proto-Viking metal everywhere lit posthumous memorial fires. Raise a drinking horn to this treat of a band, assuming you can ever get your hands on the record.

Bio by the Whistler