In a recent interview with The Metal Crypt, legendary guitarist Andy La Rocque discussed the formation and creative direction of Lex Legion, the new metal supergroup featuring four-fifths of King Diamond‘s classic late 1980s lineup.
The band recently released the music video for their debut single, “Sleep Eternally“, directed by Patric Ullaeus of rEvolver Film Company. The group features Andy La Rocque (guitar), Pete Blakk (guitar), Mikkey Dee (drums), and Hal Patino (bass)—musicians whose combined resumes include stints in Motörhead and Scorpions, alongside Pagan’s Mind vocalist Nils K. Rue.
Reflecting on the band’s long gestation period, the guitarist explained that the project’s roots actually date back nearly two decades.
“The story is kind of long because it started back in 2008 when me and Pete talked about maybe doing something together. Maybe just put together an album and start writing some songs. We started to write a few songs back in 2008. We had a few riffs here and there, and then it just turned into nothing because we were kind of busy with other things,” Andy shared. Then, many years later, I think this was during the pandemic, Pete continued writing a few riffs, and he played some of the riffs and songs for Mikkey, who thought, ‘This sounds really good. I want to be a part of this.’ Then Pete said, ‘Yes, maybe we should ask Andy too, but I guess he’s too busy with King Diamond and everything.’ At the time, during the pandemic, nothing was really happening. They called me and asked me if I wanted to join that project. I said, ‘Sure, man. We’re doing nothing really with King Diamond because we have a pandemic now, and let’s do it.'”
Once the lineup was solidified, the creative process accelerated significantly.
“During that time, we put together a few more songs, and that’s how it started. Then Hal Patino was also asked during that period. It took us about — I don’t know — many years. If you count it from 2008 up until now, that’s many years. For the final maybe three or four years, we put everything together. In the very end, everything went quite fast. We got a record deal, and everything was really smooth in the very end.”
Regarding the decision to launch the band with “Sleep Eternally“, the guitarist noted that the choice was a collaborative effort with their label, MNRK Music Group.
“We actually asked the record company what they thought would be the first single to release. We went through it. We had a few suggestions, too, of course, but we all agreed on, at the very end, that this would be the first single. They also came up with the suggestion of the second one, which we all agreed on. I’m not going to say which one it is if you don’t know it already, but you’ll hear it in a couple of weeks because the second single is going to be released, I don’t know, somewhere in May, I believe. People who have heard that say, ‘No, I like the second one even better.'”
While the reception to the new project has been overwhelmingly positive, Andy La Rocque was careful to distinguish Lex Legion‘s material from his primary band, ensuring fans understand this is a completely separate creative entity.
“The response has been absolutely overwhelming. I also think it’s important to say here that the songs we write and the songs from my side of it, it’s nothing that — it’s no leftovers from the King Diamond songwriting, if you know what I mean, from the library I have with King Diamond. This is completely different and has nothing to do with King Diamond in that sense. King Diamond is King Diamond, and I write songs for King Diamond, and then I write songs for Lex Legion. I don’t want people to believe that, oh, he has some songs that were intended for King Diamond that he’s using here. No, not at all. It’s not the other way around, either. It’s two very different and separate things,” he concluded.
Lex Legion‘s self-titled debut album is scheduled for release in June 2026. Following “Sleep Eternally“, the band is expected to release their second single, “Gypsy Tears“.
After the album’s summer release, Lex Legion plans to begin touring in 2027.
Lex Legion Tracklist:
- “Sleep Eternally”
- “Gypsy Tears”
- “When The Stars Align”
- “(I Am) The Resurrected”
- “Lost Inside”
- “Darkness”
- “Saviours”
- “Life Eternal”
- “Far Away”
