Three Lions: Three Lions

Any pairing of Dare and Ten duo Vinny Burns (guitar) and Greg Morgan (drums) is a reason for UK Melodic Rock lovers to sit up and take notice, for while neither of those bands received the attention they've deserved over the years (although truth be told, Ten never really did it for me - Dare on the other hand? Oh yes!), there's no doubt that for many they represent the pinnacle of what The UK had to offer in this musical sphere. However on Three Lions self titled debut release, there's an argument to suggest that the star performer is hard working, but up until now unknown frontman Nigel Bailey (even if his name suggests he was turned down for Spinal Tap...!). I mean, really, how can this guy have gone unheralded for so long? He's immense!

"Trouble In A Red Dress" sets the stall, an energetic riff and sprightly keyboard line (courtesy of Alessandro (I play on all Melodic Rock albums don't you know) Del Vecchio) hinting at days gone by when the likes of Kiss wore moon boots, Tyketto got Kerranged on a regular basis and Whitesnake gave you all their love - tonight. "Hold Me Down" reveals a Paul Stanley side to Bailey's voice, while Burns fires out fret runs, flicks and tricks at will - all the while sticking close to the tight riff that holds it all together. Think early FM and you won't be far away and to be fair Bailey even holds up when scrutinised against Steve Overland, although his delivery ain't quite so smoo-ooOOOoooOOOooo-ooth. Add in keyboard stabs that Lou Gramm and Mick Jones would have been running all the way to the Foreigner bank with and really, Three Loins are two songs in and I'm sold!

To be fair, "Just A Man" kind of hits as mid-tempo AOR on autopilot and "Made For One Another" verges on Michael Bolton schmaltz. However weigh that against "Magdalene" where Burns and Bailey hit heights that suggest mid-eighties megahit, "Winter Sun" where Burns' Dare roots are given fresh water and bloom into life, or the heavier, Eastern tinged surge of "Kathmandhu" and the odd missed step out of thirteen songs can be just about overlooked.

Bailey, Burns and Morgan have gone to great pains to point out that Three Lions is a fully fledged band (something I doubt the hardly prolific Burns would say without some substance). Their self titled effort is a cracking calling card capable of putting Three Lions on the Melodic map. Anything less would be a travesty.

Track Listing
1. Trouble In a Red Dress
2. Hold Me Down
3. Twisted Soul
4. Winter Sun
5. Just A Man
6. Holy Water
7. Two Hearts Beat As One
8. Kathmandu
9. Made For One Another
10. Magdalene
11. Don't Let Me Fall
12. Hellfire Highway
13. Sicilian Kiss

Added: May 9th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Three Lions on facebook
Hits: 2158
Language: english

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