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Line-up:
Toby Hitchcock - Vocals
Jim Peterik - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Ed Breckenfield - Drums
Hilary Jones - Drums
Mike Aquino - Guitar
Christian Cullen - Keyboards
Clem Hayes - Bass
Release Date:
10 November, 2003
Tracklist:
1. It’s Criminal
2. Gone
3. Interrupted Melody
4. Sound Of Home
5. Prideland
6. Unbreakable
7. First Time Around The Sun
8. Turn To Me
9. Madness Of Love
10. Love Is On The Rocks
11. Last Safe Place
12. Music And Me
Website:
www.aprideoflions.com Check
also:
Surprise Of November 2003
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Maybe the name Pride Of Lions does not remind you anything or you have never heard it before. That’s why Pride Of Lions is a brand new band and for sure you all know the mastermind behind this super band who is Jim Peterik. Pride Of Lions “took” their name from a company of lions in Africa, which is called “Pride”. I do not know if there is any connection between the lions and this band but I can surely tell that Pride Of Lions can become (or they have already
become?) the kings of AOR/melodic rock music, and that’s for sure! We all know that Jim Peterik (Survivor/Ides Of March/38 Special/Sammy Hagar) is an excellent songwriter and producer, but I believe that no one could imagine how good his new band could be! The surprise here is that Jim decided not to work with a known singer, but to search for a new talented one and give him the opportunity to sing his great songs. So, when he listened to the young (he is only
twenty-six years old) and very talented Toby Hitchcock he thought that he
had found the guy that he was looking for, but he also decided to test him by recording with him the song “Love Is On The Rocks”. The result was simply amazing and the record company also agreed that he is the right person for the singer’s position! By the way, the vocal you hear on that song is
the exact first audition! Incredible huh?!
I strongly believe that Toby “inspired” Jim to write some of the best songs that has written for many years now! We can find out that, if we just listen to this awesome album. Everything seems to work just perfect between Jim and Toby. That is easy to understand after the first listening of “Pride Of Lions”.
I had many years to listen to such a strong album that reminds me, so intensely the 80’s era of AOR music, without being superannuated and the most important of all is that it has not a second-class song! All the songs are more than superb and surely you will not skip a single song! It is also difficult for me to choose some songs of this album and you will come in the same boat too if you listen to it! Just choose a song at random order, listen to it, and then tell me what do you think… you will believe that the clock has stopped in the 80’s! That sweet feeling of the 80’s music will fill your soul as it filled mine! And what a totally great voice! Everything is sooooo… perfect here!
The truth is that I cannot help but referring to the brilliant opener “It’s Criminal”, the excellent sensitive mid-tempo “Gone”, the outstanding ballad “Interrupted Melody” (the intro of this song, brought on my mind Europe’s “Carrie”, but one thing is sure… this song will touch your soul!), the big rocker “Sound Of Home”, the astonishing, mellow “Prideland” (where Jim and Toby share vocals), the tremendous, hard rocker “Unbreakable” (the best rock moments of Survivor are coming up on my mind!), the melodious, pop-ish “First Time Around The Sun”, the 80’s,ala
Survivor, up-tempo rocker “Turn To Me”, the astounding, catchy semi-ballad “Madness Of Love” (this song has a killer chorus!), the unique mid-tempo 80’s keyboard-based rock tune “Love Is On The Rocks”, the romantic, touching, classic ballad “Last Safe Place” (listen to this song and tell me that you do not feel nostalgic for the 80’s era), and finally the last but absolutely not least, first-rate mid-tempo rocker “Music
And Me”, which to all intents, describes Jim’s love for music. That’s why Jim also sings in the beginning of the song and then Toby joining in.
Your journey ends at this point, but for sure you will push the play far too many times… again…and… again…and… again! “Pride Of Lions” is that kind of album that is “damned” to be in the classics! After many years from now people will be searching for this album and will pay mints to get it! As we are doing nowadays with albums that were released ten or more years before and we did not buy them when we had the chance… besides that’s life’s games! I was never so sure, as eggs are eggs, for an album before, as I am for this one. Pride Of Lions simply, self-transcendence, in order to offer us this diamond! Do you still reading these lines? I can’t believe it! “Pride Of Lions” will surely show you its worth better than I can! When the words are not enough to speak, the music still “speaking” to our souls!!!
by Thanos Aggelakis 10/10
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