Lionheart “Undisputed” Review
Lionheart
Vocals- Rob Watson
Earl Pitts- Guitar
Rob McCarthy – Guitar
Evan Krejci – Bass
Jay Scott – Drums
Review by Stanley Stivers
@DeadIcons
We have PWV’s second official GUEST REVIEW! Stanley Stivers from Bullet Tooth’s DEAD ICONS was cool enough to review the upcoming Lionheart record, Undisputed. Considering he plays hardcore himself, I was intrigued to see what he had to say when critiquing another hardcore album. Check it out!
Available 4.24.12
Track List:
Undisputed
Lifer
From Nothing
By Any Means
End Of My Rope
That’s Real
At Your Door
Can’t Hold Us Down
Better Days
Concrete
How I Was Raised
Never Break
Letting Go
California’s Lionheart brings us their third full length record which is entitled “Undisputed” released on Mediaskare Records. This is Lionheart’s third full length to date and arguably their best. “Undisputed” delivers to the listener thirteen tracks of driving and brutal Hatebreed-esque hardcore fury that any fan of the genre should be able to appreciate. This album picks up where their previous album “Built on Struggle” left off, and anyone who was pleased with that record will be relieved to know that Lionheart didn’t stray too far from their unique brand of heavy hardcore.
Musically, “Undisputed” is an air tight mass of driving guitar riffs, bouncy mid tempo parts, and machine gun drum patterns that assault the listener in an undeniable way that is reminiscent of their hardcore predecessors. To be specific, songs such as “Lifer” and “By Any Means” offer up thrashy and galloping fast parts that pay homage to “Perseverance” era Hatebreed, and then on the beginning of songs such as “From Nothing” and “End Of My Rope” there are touches of the melodic elements of “Master Killer” era Merauder. It is evident that Lionheart has done their hardcore homework, and especially with help from Nick Jett (Terror, Carry On, etc.) at the producer’s helm they were able to improve on their unique brand of heavy hardcore and craft their best record to date.
Lyrically, the record is a testament to the D.I.Y. “pull yourself up by your own boot-straps” attitude that is consistent with most hardcore albums. Vocalist Rob Watson urges the listener to barrel through this world with the attitude of a lion (No pun Intended) on the hunt and defy the forces that will undeniably try to drag you down. On songs such as “Can’t Hold Us Down” Rob wants you to know that he is unaffected by what he perceives as the fakes in the music industry (“Ex members of what? I don’t give a fuck!”), and that those parties will soon regret their attempts to hold him back. Then on songs such as “Lifer” he touches on the importance of breaking through other people’s expectations of you and making your own way in this world.
Some reviewers would say that the downside to this record is that the music didn’t “progress” as much as most bands do from album to album. In some ways I can see the validity in that argument, but I am of the opinion that if it ain’t broken then don’t try to fix it. Hardcore at
it’s most basic form is supposed to be raw and pissed, and while I understand some band’s desire to experiment with their sound I also commend those who know who they are and keep it simple. In the end I think that’s the true merit of “Undisputed,” When you pick up a
Lionheart record you know what you are getting- same as a Madball or Terror album, and that’s what I like best about hardcore. Lionheart keeps it simple and follows their own special formula of hardcore that has allowed them to carve out a corner of the metal and hardcore industry where they can rest comfortably as a force to be reckoned with.
Catch them on tour in the upcoming months on their “Undisputed” tour:
Dates w/ Volumes, King Conquer
3/18 Lubbock, TX @ Jakes
3/20 Mesa, AZ @ The Underground
3/21 Las Vegas, NV @ The Junkyard
3/23 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
3/24 Cupertino, CA @ The Refuge
3/25 Walnut Creek, CA @ Red House
3/26 Ogden, UT @ Mojoes
3/28 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
3/29 Minneapolis, MN @ The Beat
3/30 Chicago, IL @ Mojoes
3/31 Portage, IN @ Camelot Hall
Dates w/ Naysayer
4/1 Lansing, MI @ Macs Bar
4/4 Jackson, MS @ The Carter
4/5 Decatur, AL @ Planet Avalon
4/6 Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
4/7 Orlando, FL @ H20 Live
4/8 Douglasville, GA @ 7 Venue
4/9 Virginia Beach, VA @ Shakas
4/10 Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
4/11 Trenton, NJ @ Championship
4/12 Brooklyn, NY @ The Moran
Lionheart Facebook
Lionheart Twitter
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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