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Lionville: Magic Is Alive

AOR Melodic Rock

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.08.2020 | Released: 07.08.2020

Established a decade ago by guitarist and songwriter Stefano Lionetti, Lionville has delivered three successful studio albums. 2017's A World Of Fools found the band signed to Italy's Frontiers Music label which gave the band more international recognition. A year later, Lionville performed at the annual Frontiers Rock Festival to some acclaim. Now the quintet, featuring Work Of Art vocalist Lars Safsund, returns with their fourth long-player, Magic Is Alive, still with Frontiers Music.

Lionville

For his songwriting and Lionville's musical style, Lionetti influences are self-evident: classic Eighties AOR melodic rock. And the necessary musical elements to create the same are self-evident as well: strong melodies, catchy hooks in the arrangements and refrains, pleasing vocal and guitar harmonies, a flourish of keyboards, solid groove from the rhythm section, and soaring guitar solos from Lionetti himself. Lionville is not reinventing their sound, merely expounding upon it. Magic Is Alive is AOR ear candy, plain and simple.

The album offers eleven songs to review, all of which every AOR fan will find both interesting and entertaining. Yet, here a few choice songs which I found most favorable. One is Nothing Without You, an AOR tune with strong riff and vocal harmony, an upbeat groove, and some spry keyboards. Another favorite was Every Little Thing (Leads Back To You), if only because it was more assertive as beefier and faster melodic hard rock. Living With The Truth offers a delightful piano and guitar solo intro before developing into something faster, slightly heavier, leading to a fine Lionetti guitar solo. Finally, I'll Never Give My Heart Away, in arrangement, turns upon a light and lingering piano line paired with spry and rhythmic drumming. It can rise heavy in parts, but the piano/drum duo is rather impressive. All things considered, Lionville's Magic Is Alive is another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended for AOR fans everywhere.

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Lionville's Magic Is Alive is another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended for AOR fans everywhere.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]