Search - Lion's Share :: Emotional Coma

Melodic HEAVY metal

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 04/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After a long absence, Swedish heavy metal band Lion's Share is back! Lion's Share plays heavy metal. Period. In this era of specialized genres within heavy metal, it's refreshing to see a band that doesn't venture too far into any genre, whether it's the technical showmanship of progressive metal or the fantasy obsession of power metal. Instead, Lion's Share offers up straightforward heavy metal that is clearly influenced by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and most especially the Dio-era Sabbath albums.



Released in 2007 (but not licensed for US distribution until earlier this year), Emotional Coma is the band's sixth album. Vocalist Nils Patrick Johansson (Astral Doors, Wuthering Heights) really sets the tone for this album, with a vocal style like a very angry Ronnie James Dio. Lars Chriss's punishing guitar riffs reinforce the angry vibe, though the band's good use of melody keeps the music somewhat accessible. The album is downright doomy at times as well. The title track sounds like the best doom anthem Solitude Aeternus never wrote.



Emotional Coma should appeal to a good chunk of metal fans. It's got elements of power metal, thrash, and doom, but above all it has that traditional heavy metal sound that fewer and fewer bands deliver these days.

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