The Reality of Miracles
I love discovering new music and who would have guessed when I went to see Sweet last year in Warrington, (Read my review here) that it would lead me to discovering quite possibly my favourite ‘newly discovered’ hard rock bands of 2020. I was impressed by Lee Small’s voice at that gig and Steve Mann’s guitaring was incredible. Little did I know then, there was so much more to discover.
Lionheart are a band that have been around for nigh on forty years. Formed in 1980 by guitarist’s Steve Mann and Dennis Stratton, Rocky Newton and Clive Edwards they had regular slots at London’s Marquee club and enjoyed support slots with industry heavyweight’s Def Leppard, Saxon and Whitesnake, but other musical projects kept pulling the members in different directions, but the four core members kept coming back. Then in 2016, an invite to perform at Rockingham festival and the introduction of new lead singer Lee Small peaked interest in the band once more, a new album was put out in 2017, voted AOR album of the year by Classic Rock Magazine and this, The Reality of Miracles is the follow up.
Opening with an introduction track, ‘Salvation’, this is a dark and harrowing fifty five seconds, with gothic bells, reminiscent of that first Black Sabbath song! Lee declaring at the top of his voice that ‘Rock and Roll is gonna save you’, our only salvation is rock music and this leads us into the first song ‘Thine is the Kingdom’. I love bands that do duel lead guitar parts and Steve and Dennis’ double guitar work is stunning. The harmonies on the chorus are tremendous too. This is a solid opening track, I was expecting something a little darker given the opening track, but this is a bright uplifting track. Perhaps rock has saved us already!
Next up is ‘High Plains Drifter’, I absolutely love this track, the sweeping guitar is just out of this world. The track is rooted in that mid 80’s melodic rock territory, but it does have a modern kick. The lyrics are great too, this would make an excellent driving song. The guitar tone is absolutely sublime. A belting guitar solo, before returning to the main theme. This is a song I have to see live!
Now then, did I mention Lee Small has a brilliant voice? No? Well, Lee Small has a stunning voice! This guy can do anything. The title track is quite simply beautiful. Lee’s voice adding a tiny bit of soul to this rock outfit. ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore…. This is the reality of Miracles’. What a lyric. The rock ballad of rock ballad’s, this song could stand up and beat most of the heavyweights. Back in the old days, this is the lighters or phones in the air moment and I love it!
‘Five Tribes’ is up next and this is a top notch NWOBHM type track, with a slight departure from the melodic rock territory that we’ve heard up to this point and verging into Maiden stomping grounds! Again, guitar to die for, Steve and Dennis really are strutting their stuff on this one, but a band can’t be this good without a sold rhythm section and that is what Lionheart possess in bassist Rocky Newton and drummer Clive Edwards. The engine room really chomping away on this, bass and drums seams more prominent in this track than before, maybe due to the shift in style. OK, Lee’s vocals on this, on first listen I heard Bruce Dickinson, but then the more I listen to this track, the more I’m getting Dio coming through. Yes folks, he is that good!
‘Behind the Wall’ is yet another cracking track, building to a huge crescendo, starting off with just piano and building up to monumental power ballad by the end. Perhaps Steve living in Germany and having greater access to that European symphonic metal sound has influenced this one. Echoes of bands like Nightwish coming through here. Such a huge sound!
The album continues, this is an absolutely stunning album. The tracks keep coming ‘Widows’, ‘Outlaws of the Western World’ incredible songs and then you are stopped in your tracks. ‘Overdrive’ is a smack in the face, future hard rock classic. Yet another track that I have to see live, I can see this being played at an arena somewhere with the crowd bouncing along, air guitaring their way through!
‘The First Man’ is a real headbanger too and then the closing song is a real powerful finale. Opening with a real heart felt bit of spoken word, which is echoed throughout the song in the chorus’. This has a really positive message, as a human race we need to love and care for each other. That guitar work is hauntingly beautiful, this is possibly the song for 2020!
What an album, having listened to it a few times it leaves you feeling positive and good about yourself. There is a lot to be miserable about in these current times, but as Lee declared right at the start of the album, ‘rock is gonna save you’ and it has. Music has the power and this is such an uplifting album. The heavier songs were my favourites, ‘Five Tribes’ sticks out as album highlight. But the whole album is exceptional. If you are unfamiliar with Lionheart, this is a great place to start then go away and listen to their back catalogue. You wont regreat it!
Released By: MetalVille Records
Release Date: 31st July 2020
