Lionheart are ready to raise the bar once again and leave nothing standing.
If you are a fan of hardcore music, I'm sure you have your tried-and-true bands that you throw on that are heavy on the rotation. That list could contain dozens of bands spanning not only the country but the world, but there is one thing for certain and that is that Lionheart should be at the top of that list. With a discography that spans almost 20 years, there is no denying the impact that Lionheart has made in the world of hardcore, and I am sure that this upcoming album, "Valley of Death II", will be no different as it continues to skyrocket the band to forefront of everyone's mind.
Let's start off by saying that if Lionheart stands for anything, growth should be at the top of that list. The perfect example is the expansion and progression of several of their album releases. 2014 saw "Welcome to the West Coast" which was followed up by "Welcome to the West Coast II" in 2017 and "Welcome to the West Coast III" in 2022. Each iteration of the trio showcased the bands immense talent in all facets of the genre. So, hearing that the newest album is called "Valley of Death II", with "Valley of Death" being released in 2019, you could only imagine just how happy and excited fans must be feeling.
Each song on this record is a punch to the face of aggression, chaos, and all the things that make you want to throw down in the pit with your best friends. Writing this review is proving to be the hardest thing I've ever done because are there words out there that can truly encapsulate the feelings and emotions that come from a Lionheart song? Songs like "Bulletproof", "Roll Call", and "Release The Dogs" are full of energy and showcase that energy the band is known for. The title track, "Valley of Death II", is sure to send me to the ER with how hard I've been head banging along to it. My favorite has got to be "Chewing Through The Leash (feat Kublai Khan TX)" and, I mean, can you blame me? In that iconic vocal style, the lyrics "Now I'm chewing through the leash / just to bite the hand that feeds" that balance so well with Matt Honeycutt's "Caveman shit / I let my nuts hang" make you want to just go as hard as you can in your very own mosh pit.
Credit: Photos 1 & 2: Facebook | Photo 3: Atom Splitter PR
The band is currently out on tour in Europe joined by Madball, Gideon, and Slope and I am sure that this will be the first of many tours for the band in 2026.
