Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Production: Daniel Flores
Release date: 01/25/2019
Album length: 47.16 min.
Genre: AOR / Melodic Rock
Toby Hitchcock is considered one of the finest vocalists of the new generation, walking in the footsteps of the rich AOR legacy (especially the “west coast” school). He was discovered by former Survivor member, iconic producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jim Peterik, when he formed his new band Pride Of Lions years ago. Hitchcock also released his solo studio debut “Mercury’s Down” back in 2011.
On every release he and Jim Peterik have put out together to this day under the Pride Of Lions banner, Hitchcock is literally a textbook example of outstanding vocal talent. With his technical polish, innate sense of sophistication and the incredible punch that comes with it (especially that sensual depth), he wins you over and seduces you in an instant with his vocal expression.
It would be a sin, then, to let such an accomplished vocalist get overlooked or forgotten on the modern melodic rock scene. The folks at Frontiers Music Srl. know this only too well. For his debut, the label’s A&R team set him up with Swedish “multi-task” wizard Eric Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), who took care of every last detail on the debut and played all the instruments.
After a solid eight years, Hitchcock is back with a follow-up to his studio debut. This time around, he teamed up with another outstanding “multi-task” operator from Sweden, Daniel Flores, known for his work in Murder of My Sweet, Mind’s Eye and Find Me. The new record “Reckoning” fixes that rather pale impression the debut left, which was lacking in dynamics, color and a feeling of life. That’s the feeling a real band lineup provides. In that sense, “Reckoning” sounds more compact and has a proper “band” feel. In other words, it feels like there’s a real group standing behind it, not a calculated “mp3-style” partnership of two individuals who sit far away from each other, writing and recording at opposite ends of the world.
The songs, too, are extremely strong and convincing compositions. There are no dips in quality among them. They’re tailor-made for the vocal character of Toby Hitchcock, who warbles like a nightingale. In that regard, comparisons to legendary singers like Bobby Kimball (Toto) and Jimi Jamison (Survivor) are possible, though Toby can be especially explosive, which makes him even more appealing. Especially when he builds up the vocal power within a given verse. In that punchiness, he can be compared to a singer like Kelly Hansen (Foreigner).
“Reckoning” is, then, an excellent album of eleven finely arranged bursts of energy, directed in a classic “west coast AOR” manner, and it’s quite interesting that the great Jim Peterik, who has always been considered one of the best and most prominent songwriters of the rock era in this field, had no hand in it. The album also delivers welcome variety in the songwriting and that aforementioned feeling that a whole band is present on it, with Toby’s infectious vocals sitting firmly front and center. In every respect, “Reckoning” is the right address for all of you who’ve been missing a new album from Pride Of Lions for quite some time.
author: Aleš Podbrežnik
rating: 9.0 / 10
Tracklist:
1.No Surrender
2.Promise Me
3.Show Me How To Live
4.Behind The Lies
5.Fighting For My Life
6.Serenity
7.Queen Untouchable
8.Gift Of Flight
9.Don’t Leave
10.This Is Our World
11.Someone Like You
Lineup:
Toby Hitchcock – vocals
Daniel Flores – keyboards, drums
Michael Palace – guitar, bass guitar
Yngve “Vinnie” Strömberg – drums, percussion
