LIONIZE

Nuclear Soul

THE END Clutch’s apprentices finally step out of the shadows Though there were benefits, Lionize have suffered a little from a close association with Clutch. Both bands hail from Maryland and the last Lionize album was issued via Clutch’s WeatherMaker Music, while Clutch’s Tim Sult has appeared in their line-up. The sole connection on this outing is that Jean-Paul Gaster handles the production. In the past, Lionize have struggled to find a cohesive sound, vanishing down reggae cul-de-sacs, but aside from a few mellower moments such as Ain’t It A Shame and Let You Down, this is a hard-rocking piledriver. The storytelling anthems are sprinkled with muscular Hammond organ and in the case of Fire In Athens, underlined by Thin Lizzy-esque guitar melodies. Election Year welds scorching social comment to sassy, rhythmic power. Nuclear Soul proves that Lionize are a great band in their own right.

FOR FANS OF: Clutch, Deep Purple, Monster Truck