Dark Hours [Enhanced]

Lion's Share | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 24, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: BLISTERING RECORDS
• ASIN: B001S7ILF0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,793 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Judas Must Die

2. Phantom Rider

3. Demon In Your Mind

4. Heavy Cross To Bear

5. The Bottomless Pit

6. Full Metal Jacket

7. The Presidio 27

8. Barker Ranch

9. Napalm Nights

10. Space Scam

11. Behind the Curtain

12. Judas Must Die (Video)

Editorial Reviews

Review

BLABBERMOUTH (9/10)

If you love melodic heavy metal (or muscular power metal) and you haven't heard of LION'S SHARE, then you really must start researching now! Dark Hours represents what this band is all about: great riffs, diesel-fueled rhythms, and spectacular melodies, and I mean every one of these 11 tracks. The band sets its sights on the target and annihilates it every time. Few do it better.

Forty four minutes flies by in no time, thanks to the band's immense songwriting talents. It is their keen ability to pack so much power into a three-to-four minute track that makes the material so damn engrossing. Every member contributes to the powerfulness of the whole too. Guitarist Lars Chriss' playing is familiarly classic, yet fresh; his riffs sharp and chunky, no matter the speed at which they're played, his solos burn hotter than the sun, and the melodic twin leads are so well placed (The Presidio 27). The duo of bassist Sampo Axelsson and drummers Conny Pettersson (ANATA) and Richard Evensand (CHIMAIRA, SOILWORK, THERION) is trampoline tight, rhythmically varied (within the confines of generally fundamental structures) and textured. But it is the commanding vocals of Patrik Johansson that can turn a good melody into a great one and make a song soar high above clouds. His Dio-esque style is smooth and gritty at once, as he navigates a range of styles that gets the most out of each song. Lyrically, the band explores the dark side of the turbulent 60s.

Then there is the essence of the songs themselves. We sometimes forget about those albums that made you want to revel in the glory of each song, never skipping around to find that one special track, and always desiring front-to-back listens. Dark Hours is one of those albums. It is the kind of album where you'll know every lyric and join in on every memorable chorus. Judas Must Die is the grand opener, a heavy metal scorcher that is in fact reminiscent of early DIO. Joining it in the category of fire and brimstone heavy metal is mid-paced cruncher The Bottomless Pit, one of several songs that feature an eerie verse with a dark vocal treatment, including some spine-tingling whispered/spoken vocals. Another is the Phantom Rider, one that has Chriss shredding from the start. An epic chorus explodes in glory before Chriss restarts the rip. Album closer Behind the Curtain, the longest track at 5:19, is a tough customer that also spooks with light picking and sinister vocals. Keyboard melodies on the up-tempo Napalm Nights and the quick-stepping, DIO-driven Demon in your Mind are brilliant touches, while the atmospheric keys on a slow-paced behemoth called Heavy Cross to Bear are one of several aspects that give the song a sort of Tony Martin era BLACK SABBATH vibe. Topping it all off is the superb talent of guest player Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X).

The album is rounded out by a collection of songs with massively impacting melodic choruses, including Full Metal Jacket, The Barker Ranch, Space Scam, and The Presidio 27. The album is just overflowing with heavy metal grandness. If you want to split hairs you could complain about LION'S SHARE adding nothing new to a tried and true formula, but when a band does it so convincingly and with such heartfelt passion, who really gives a s**t?


- Scott Alisoglu --Blabbermouth

Product Description

One of Sweden's leading Metal bands.

Tours with DIO, Manowar, Motörhead, Saxon, Iced Earth, Nevermore, U.D.O. etc.

Mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Symphony X, Amon Amarth). Guest appearance by Michael Romeo of Symphony X.

For fans of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, DIO, Megadeth etc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Metal History, April 14, 2009

By 

alpha128 (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Hours (Audio CD)

"Dark Hours" (2009) by Lion's Share is a concept album about one of the most turbulent decades in U.S. history. But while the lyrics address the 1960s, the music is firmly rooted in the heavy metal of the 1980s.

The album begins in the best way possible with the outstanding "Judas Must Die". This song is simple, but incredibly powerful.

Such a commanding start would be difficult for most bands to maintain. But Lion's Share keeps going strong on a historical journey through topics such as the Vietnam War ("Full Metal Jacket"), the Manson Family ("Barker Ranch"), and moon landing conspiracy theories ("Space Scam").

An album like this could come across as self-indulgent if the songwriting and performances weren't equal to the ambitious concept. Fortunately, they are.

Patrik Johansson gives another outstanding Dio-esque vocal performance. Unlike his work in Astral Doors, this music has strong Judas Priest influences. However, "Heavy Cross to Bear" has a Dio-era Sabbath sound that would not seem out of place on Astral Doors' Evil Is Forever.

Meanwhile, Lars Chriss does extremely proficient double duty as both guitarist and producer.

Highlights include the aforementioned "Judas Must Die" and... everything else. The lack of standout songs is actually a testament to how consistently good this album is.

In conclusion, for a Swedish band Lion's Share is remarkably well versed in American history. I didn't know what "The Presidio 27" and "Barker Ranch" were until I consulted Wikipedia. Who knew that headbanging could be so educational?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Dio, then you're bound to enjoy Lion's Share., April 13, 2009

By 

Ghost In The Ruins "A Savatage Fan" (The Volunteer State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Hours (Audio CD)

If you enjoy Dio, then this is a no brainer for you! With that said, it's not a generic effort. The songs are well written, constructed, and produced. In addition, this isn't a generic form of power metal either. In other words, it's not fast, repetitive riffing from start to finish. Most of the music is crunchy, mid-tempo anthems, with catchy choruses to boot.

5.0 out of 5 stars A metal classic in my book, September 3, 2009

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark Hours (Audio CD)

The Good

Raise up those devil horns because Lions Share hits you with all their metal power and might on the opening track "Judas Must Die." "Phantom Rider" stars off subtle, but quickly fires off a twin thrash-style guitar attack. "Demon in Your Mind" not only delivers another furious twin guitar attack, but now the rapid-fire percussion section joins in the onslaught. The chorus is melodic yet still evil in its delivery. "The Bottomless Pit" is both haunting and intense. "Full Metal Jacket" is epic in its presentation and it full of heavy riffs and powerful vocals. "The Presidio 27" displays the group's diversity by slowing things down to almost a commercial sound. The focus is on vocal melody here, but the guitars still kick you in the teeth.

The Bad

Nothing

The Verdict

If heavy metal music was a poker game, then Blistering Records has been holding four aces. Lions Share's latest release has had a long promotional period. Their label has been pushing it for quite some time prior to it's release. And it was well worth it! Lions Share have come out of literally nowhere and delivered a thrash metal masterpiece. Drawing on the legends of the past (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer), the group delivers what metal lovers crave. The riffs are heavy, the music is powerful, and the twin guitar attacks will make anyone bust out their air guitars. Dark Hours is intense and already .