ALBUM REVIEW: Valley Of Death II – Lionheart

That meme about the hardcore bark reaches its apex on the new LIONHEART album. The aptly titled Chewing Through The Leash includes a chorus which could very easily have been generated by putting a microphone in a Schnauzer’s kennel and pulling its tail. It’s not, it’s actually Matt Honeycutt from KUBLAI KHAN, but good lord it’s so canine-inflected that it makes KNOCKED LOOSE sound like cat lovers.

It’s also an absolute blast. It’s a hyper-masculine slice of metallic hardcore with thumping great riffs and a vocal performance so manly we had to check it isn’t managed by Don King. It’s a pit-igniting, bare-chested, sweat drenched manthem, and to the surprise of nobody, that description could apply to the other nine songs here too. Valley Of Death II isn’t a complex record, but it is an intense and honest roar of testosterone-addled pain. If it’s true that January sees a surge in gym memberships, say hello to the soundtrack to the weight-lifting sessions you’ll keep up until March.

And with luck, Valley Of Death II will finally see LIONHEART take their position among hardcore’s breakthrough acts. The Californians have been plying their trade since 2004, and while they’ve got a rabid fanbase at home, have struggled on the international level. The pressures of touring and staying afloat even saw them split briefly in 2016, but the road called them back and they are finally building some momentum this side of the pond. This is technically a sequel to their 2019 album Valley Of Death, but it works just fine as a standalone record.

It’s hyper-aggressive and borderline cliched, but LIONHEART have a grit and authenticity about them that other bands would kill for. The low-slung riffs and breakdowns of Bulletproof make it look like your average tough guy fodder but pay closer attention and Rob Watson’s lyrics take on a confessional quality. When they sing about juggling about jobs, they mean it. These lads have grown up hard and wear their hearts on their sleeves, and it gives them a distinct vulnerability.

But don’t be fooled, this isn’t sentimental emo music. LIONHEART embody the same survival-at-all-costs machismo as HATEBREED before them, hell, Ice Cold even opens with the familiar Steve Austin glass shattering effect. The title track comes across like a hardcore band performing during a wage riot, while Roll Call and Salt The Earth are the kind of ragers that’ll turn the Hellfest Warzone Stage into a…uh…war zone.

Granted, it is straight-up genre fare, but LIONHEART are undeniably good at writing catchy, high-impact hardcore. They’re rolling out the same wheel that we’ve seen a thousand times before, but hot damn, if it isn’t a bloody nice wheel. Valley Of Death II is uncomplicated mosh fun, shot through with a street level authenticity and uncompromising attitude. We can only assume they’ve been surpassed by similarly minded acts because they keep getting mistaken for the classic rock band of the same name. They’d bomb horribly if accidentally booked to support URIAH HEAP.

Rating: 8/10

Valley Of Death II is set for release on January 9th via Arising Empire. 

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