Lionville: So Close To Heaven

This is album number five for Italian AORster`s Lionville who are, it seems determined to keep the torch burning for those whose love for the likes of Journey, Foreigner et al has never been extinguished.

Over the bands career... they released their debut in 2010; they have steadfastly stuck to their guns, from their independently released earlier outings and where eventually they found a natural home in the form of Frontiers Records.

This is Melodic Hard Rock in the truest sense, opener `This Time` sets the tone with a sense of triumphalism, and it’s fair to say that the band don’t really let up throughout. It’s also fair to say that the band sound like they were having a whale of a time recording this album. There`s a briskness and sharpness to pretty much everything on show here. `The World Is On Fire` has an urgency to it that’s quite hypnotic, and `True Believer` takes the listener right back to the halcyon days for the genre, the band even find time to include a cover of Richard Marx `Arrow Through My Heart`, which is strange as I find the bands own material strong enough without having to rely upon covers, but I guess the band felt that the track was a good fit for them. There is of course the inevitable power ballad in the form of `Can`t Live Without Your Love` which is OK without going anywhere really, but that`s a minor issue. For me the band leave the best to last, the title track itself which really does take its starting point from the legendary Toto... and is an excellent radio friendly number with a smoothness to it that makes it all the most alluring with the whole band in perfect unison.

So, do you like your AOR/Melodic Rock that’s got both its musical feet firmly planted in the 1980`s? Well if so this is an album you won’t want to pass up on.

Track Listing
1.This Time
2.Cross My Heart
3.The World Is On Fire
4.Can't Live Without Your Love
5.True Believer
6.We Are One
7.Only The Brave
8.Angel Without Wings
9.I'll Be Waiting Tonight
10.Arrow Through My Heart
11.So Close To Heaven

Added: March 29th 2022
Reviewer: Malcolm Smith
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
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Language: english

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