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PRIDE OF LIONS
Fearless
Frontiers Music Srl - 2017
http://www.aprideoflions.com

Returning from a five year break following the 2012 release Immortal that saw ex-SURVIVOR keyboardist Jim Peterik and vocalist Toby Hitchock pursuing individual projects, the duo have reunited/reformed their melodic rock outfit and look to recapture the sound and vitality that their first four studio releases laid forth.

The group's return certainly doesn't skimp on the material either with a full 12 tracks that are written or co-written by Peterik. The classic AOR (aka melodic rock) sound is intact with a modern flair for the dramatics.

For the uninitiated, the lead vocals are shared between both Peterik and Hitchcock, usually within each song, but sometimes one track features one or the other as the sole lead.

The album kicks off with the first single "All I See Is You" (see the video on KNAC.COM HERE). It's an expected fast paced track with a solid chorus that has you pretty quickly singing or at least humming along.

Curiously enough, the next song in the running order is a song called "The Tell". If the song had been about the game of poker it might've been interesting but since that wasn't what it was about, it should come as little surprise that this one fell kind of flat upon my ears.

Peterik has a nice way with lyrics even though that is sometimes to his detriment when he grows a little too bombastic (see the closing track "Unmasking The Mystery"). But for the most part he avoids that lyrical trap and both the sound and lyrics here seem to be deeper and dare I say about a guy who's been in the business for decades, more mature.

When the band is rocking out (guitarist Mike Aquino gets to really spread out on this disc), the vibe of the whole record gels accordingly. "In Caricature", a song about lost loves, delivers itself in an intriguing manner with a killer chorus and one line in the main verse got my attention in particular: "A work of art in anime" when referring to one of those lost loves.

There's a different stylistic choice in Hitchcock's vocal performance on "Silent Music", where a more deliberate phrasing gives the overall sound a downtuned feel.

Reflecting on a long lived marriage, "Everlasting Love" may be a bit sentimental but doesn't go over the top. As the song's sound grows more in pomp, there's a big solo that keeps things on an even keel. "Freedom Of The Night" is Peterik's ode to his former SURVIVOR bandmate, the late Jimi Jamison. The in your face sound grows into a fiery delivery in the chorus. The song is good but also serves as reminder that the loss of Jamison came about to sheer stupidity on his part. That fact leaves me of two minds on this track as a whole.

You might think that a song about the dawning realization of a romantic breakup would overdose on sentimental theatrics, but the insanely cool titled "The Silence Says It All" has a breakneck chorus delivery and a stunning lyric in the line "My whole world is exploding through the prism of a tear". I don't get overly sentimental but anyone who has gone through such an unexpected breakup might be moved to reminiscing with that line and the song in total.

As mentioned above, the band really shines when they are playing straight ahead rockers and there are two track in particular that illustrate my assertion. "Rising Up" is an instant ear grabber from the opening drum fills and the riff filled guitar work. Meanwhile, the continuously aggressive pacing in the album's title track makes its case for the album's showcase cut. I'm almost ashamed with how much I love the ripping guitar work in the song. Throw in some killer lyrics (seriously, the whole song is an anthemic lyrical joyride) and you've got an amazing song. Since both Peterik and Mike Aquino are credited in the liner notes as playing both lead and rhythm guitars, I'm not sure exactly who handled leads on this one but whomever did blew me away.

It may have taken 5 years for PRIDE OF LIONS to get back in the saddle but the time apart didn't allow for any rust as the songwriting and performances are, for the most part, top notch. Fearless is an album that lives up to its title billing and rekindles once again the fandom flames for PRIDE OF LIONS.

4.3 Out Of 5.0

Pick up your copy of Fearless in the KNAC.COM More Store right HERE.