What do you do when the editor of this site emails to offer you a CD in a genre of music he knows you like but by a band that you are totally ignorant of? The first thing you do is a little research on Myspace or the band website to listen to them. The chances are that with a release date imminent you’ll be treated to a couple of songs from the very album you’re being asked to review. If it gets you banging your head, tapping your feet or reaching for your air guitar then you agree to the task and use the internet to get a bit of background information whilst you wait for the CD to come through the letterbox. So as I was waiting for this disc what were my initial impressions? Well my first thought was what a great name for a hardcore band, Lionheart; it projects an image of strength, bravery and courage in a genre which extols these virtues. They certainly looked the part as well on their Myspace photos; standing there wide shouldered and barrel chested, looking down the camera bristling with menace and hardcore pride.
With the arrival of the CD it’s immediately evident that this is firmly from the metallic school of hardcore performed by mostly notably today by Hatebreed. I can clearly hear the influence in both the music and vocals. It didn’t surprise me then to learn that this mob from the Bay Area is signed to Jamey Jasta’s label in the States. Clearly it’s a case of Jamey likes as Jamey does. People with only knowledge of modern hardcore of this type will credit Hatebreed with being both the inspiration and the aspiration to a band like Lionheart. They would perhaps even accuse them of being a blatant rip off. However, I am probably much older than most and so can see that the seeds for this particular brand of hardcore were actually sown by Agnostic Front’s poorly received ‘One Voice’ album in 1992. Consequently, I see Hatebreed and bands like Lionheart as heirs to the same sound. The only relevant criteria for arriving at a judgment are how well they perform and not any perceived lack of originality.
This version of ‘The Will to Survive’ was the special edition which also contained 6 unreleased tracks from 2006’s ‘This Means War’ EP. Personally I don’t think they added anything to the disc apart from to show how far they have come since those days in terms of honing their songwriting abilities. The newer material is more direct and explosive, musically less metal and more hardcore. Overall the new component to this release is made up of 11 well played tales of love and hate, love for the scene and hate for its detractors. Fans of this kind of music won’t need me to tell them the range of subjects covered because they are the same for all bands across the hardcore genre but they include self affirmation, revenge, honour, confronting your critics and the fucked up state of the world today.
I enjoyed this CD and if you like Hatebreed, Throwdown and Born from Pain the chances are you will too.
http://www.myspace.com/lionheartbahc
http://www.myspace.com/iscreamrecords
