Tag: white lion

This was White Lion’s fourth and final album, and yes I’m aware that there was an album put out under the band’s name in 2008, but basically that is a Mike Tramp solo album. They shone bright for nearly ten years and then they were gone like most of the melodic bands of the period. This album is often overlooked as it didn’t have the hit singles, but this is a killer record.

We open up with Lights And Thunder and Vito Bratta is ripping his guitar a new one at the intro. The song kicks ass with a killer riff and groove and a much harder edge to the sound. Broken Heart is the one song I do remember being released as a single, in the UK at least, and it has that typical mid-eighties sound with the big hook and chorus, and that solo is beautiful. Leave Me One carries on with that harder edge with an almost funky groove. Its riff is dirty and mean, plus the solo is wild, it’s my favourite track. Love Don’t Come Easy (I think) was also a single, and IMHO it’s the weakest song on the album, by ’91 I was all ballad-ed out. Side 1 closes out with You’re All I Need and it’s another ballad…

Side 2 opens up with Warsong, and this is what the whole album should have been like. A pounding beat and groove with Vito giving it the beans on the guitar, simple but fun and that middle section smokes. It’s Over follows and this should have been a single. The hook, chorus, and melody cry out for radio play. Till Death Us Do Part is yet another ballad, admittedly with a bit of crunch. The rock returns with Out With The Boys, a typical White Lion tune: big riff, catchy hook and chorus. The album closes out with Farewell To You, a lighters in the air big power ballad.

So, way too many ballads. The rockin’ songs are freakin’ awesome, and with what was happening around them (regarding the whole grunge thing), that should have been the way to go.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Of the four albums that the band issued in the 80’s, of which this is the 2^nd released, this is my favourite. Great songs and some unbelievable guitar playing from Vito Bratta.

Two singles from the album Wait and When The Children Cry were huge (especially on MTV), and they were riding high until the change in the musical landscape did for them as it did for most of the hair bands. This is such a great record I will just mention my favourite tracks (which is nearly all of them 😂).

Hungry is a monster opening tune with a great hook and ripping guitar. Lonely Nights again with a great hook and melody, and incendiary guitar. Lady Of The Valley, which I think is the best track they ever did, has a brilliant intro and some insane guitar. All You Need Is Rock N’ Roll with its monster riff and groove. The vibe is very early Van Halen throughout but with their own twist, which is fine by me. If you only own one White Lion album then it has to be this.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This was the band’s first release on the independent label, Grand Slamm Records, back in ’85 after having signed to Elektra Records who refused to release the album. Who knows why that decision was made? After the release, the band toured it to death and they were snapped up by Atlantic who released the Pride album – and we all know how huge that album turned out to be.

The first two tracks are pretty straight forward killer melodic rock songs with typical big hooks and catchy chorus’, but track three (the title track) starts with a very Van Halen/Randy Rhodes style guitar intro and sound. Absolute killer guitar from Vito Bratta! You think he would be huge and a household name right? But no, he gave it all up and hasn’t played guitar for years – totally disillusioned with the music business. Frankly I would have bought the album just for this track. In fact, it’s Bratta that makes the album for me as on tracks like In The City, Kid Of 1000 Face, and El Salvador, his guitar tone and sound are epic. There is plenty to keep the glam brigade happy as well with stomper tracks like All The Fallen Men.

I’m not the biggest Mike Tramp fan as that strained vocal tone doesn’t do it for me but this is still a good first album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.