There are musicians who spend their lives inside one band and feel no need to look elsewhere. Doug Scarratt is very clearly not one of those people. You might assume that playing heavy metal on arena stages with Saxon would more than satisfy any six-string urge, but Times Of Legend proves there’s still plenty of fire left to burn.
Venger’s origin story is refreshingly unforced. Scarratt and James Fogarty hadn’t even met before Fogarty introduced himself at a gig in Brighton. From that chance meeting came a band that feels less like a side project and more like four musicians discovering a shared obsession. Fogarty’s background, rooted in darker, more extreme territory with In The Woods…, brings a fascinating counterweight to Scarratt’s classic metal instincts.
That push and pull defines Times Of Legend. Fogarty doesn’t deal in flashy solos; that’s Scarratt’s domain. The result is a clear yin-and-yang: shadowy atmospheres and weighty riffs colliding with bright, melodic lead work. Opener “From Worlds Unknown” sets the tone immediately, sounding like ancient myths rendered in steel. “Pharaohs Curse” leans darker still, its edges frayed and ominous, while remaining unmistakably European metal at heart.
“Navigate The Labyrinth” feels like it could have been scribbled into a notebook sometime around 1982, full of early-era Bruce Dickinson energy and galloping confidence. “Crystal Gazer” begins slower and more epic, but the way it builds is pure metal theatre—measured, patient, and hugely satisfying. These are songs that understand pacing as much as power.
“The Legend Still Remains,” sitting just off-centre as the near-title track, feels like the album’s thematic anchor—heroic, resolute, and steeped in classic metal DNA. From there, “Séance” and “Throw The Switch” strip things back to the essentials: four musicians, locked in, playing metal because that’s exactly what they want to do. Franz Bauer’s vocals fit the material perfectly, commanding without ever drifting into parody, while Sven Rothe’s drumming keeps everything driving forward with purpose.
Venger have described the album as being inspired by old 1950s boys’ adventure books—short stories full of daring, mystery, and drama. That idea makes perfect sense here. Tracks like “Tower Of Babel,” complete with atmospheric touches and biblical imagery, feel like self-contained tales, vivid and punchy without overstaying their welcome. “Impaler Of Souls” does exactly what the title promises, with no irony and no apology.
It’s also telling that Times Of Legend runs to just nine tracks—like all the classic old metal records. No filler, no bloat, no modern need to pad things out for streaming maths—just a tight, disciplined statement that underlines its metal credentials with absolute confidence.
There’s no sense of ego here, no feeling that this exists to prove anything. It simply sounds like four musicians who wanted to make old-school metal and did so exceptionally well. Scarratt’s solos are phenomenal throughout, sharp and expressive, while Fogarty’s darker instincts give the album real depth.
We don’t yet know whether this is the beginning of something long-term for Venger or a one-off collaboration—but if it’s the former, this is a hell of a start.
8.5/10
