BRITISH LION
The Burning PARLOPHONE
Steve Harris’s blues-laden rockers return for a second bite BRITISH LION HAVE
been dormant now for close on eight years. Their 2012 self-titled debut left nobody in any doubt that the band were far from just being a means for bassist Steve Harris to pass the time between bouts of activity with Iron Maiden, but since then, those commitments to Maiden have kept Harris away from this project, and people were left wondering whether we’d ever hear anything again from them.
Thankfully, though, the boys are now back on the case, and The Burning is a fine return to action. As on the previous album, there’s a real live quality to the way the songs come across. There’s little sign of studio trickery, as British Lion once more pay homage to cult 70s British rock names such as Stray and Nutz.
Moreover, this is definitely not the Steve Harris show, with the bass kept in proportion to the requirements of the music rather than overwhelming everything. Guitarists David Hawkins and Grahame Leslie provide some effective moments, brightening up songs such as City Of Fallen Angels and Elysium. Vocalist Richard Taylor also displays real crooning conviction on Lightning, a track on which Harris also shines. Taylor shows his soaring range on Legend,
which has genuine anthemic clout. And if your taste is for more epic momentum, then Last Chance and Spit Fire will fulfil those desires. Both offer a mature and highly developed sense of musicality, and showcase how skilfully this band interact with one another.
Naturally, there are also times when this Lion bares sharp teeth, such as on Father Lucifer, which commandingly ups the pace. The title track also pleasingly gallops along, but even here, the emphasis is on making sure the hummable melody is at the heart of the performance. The Burning
is never fussy or bombastic. Its strength rests on joyous simplicity, at once celebrating a bygone era, while also being firmly entrenched in modern times. This album may not be an earthshaker, but it proves British Lion’s considerable worth. ■■■■■■■■■■
FOR FANS OF: Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Saxon, Thunder
MALCOLM DOME