Legion Within

Founded in 2000 by songwriter and vocalist William Wilson, Legion Within has weathered a few band-member changes. The line-up for Mouth of Madness, Wilson (vocals, guitar), Shannon Cole (guitars), Erica Butler-Branch (bass), Aaron Nicholes (percussion) and Jasyn Byrum (synth), is their strongest yet. Wilson’s romantic tenor vocals have been compared to David Bowie and Peter Murphy, while his minimalist and ebo-laden guitar style has drawn more consistent comparisons to Daniel Ash. Cole has been with Legion Within from its inception. His echoing “whale sounds” guitar style is evidence of his Pink Floyd and King Crimson influences.

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Long-time member Butler-Branch has been writing with Wilson for seven years. She’s been performing music since five years old, is a multi-instrumentalist (including clarinet and drums) and has played bass in punk, goth and prog bands. Recent additions Nicholes and Byrum create a hard-hitting, electronic and industrial base on which to build. Their modern foundation supports the darkwave soundscapes that Wilson, Cole and Butler construct.

Their first formal release thru KMFDM Records, Mouth of Madness displays Legion Within as a mature band who have blended darkwave and industrial into their own distinctive genre of dark rock. Crafting Mouth of Madness over two years was an arduous process. Written throughout a time when band member’s lives were rife with personal tragedy and upheaval, disquiet lays heavy within the music. The songs range from romance, escapism, and tragedy to tongue-in-cheek dark humor and flights of sadistic fancy. Bouncing back from the industrial political-angst of 07’s the empty men, Mouth of Madness embraces the current political and emotional climate with a firm hand. William Wilson calls it, “Courageous Nihilism. From day one we are all doomed. But that's just the way it is, we deal with it."