Pride of lions will always be special as far as this reviewer is concerned. The very first review I ever wrote for the site was for the bands stunning second album, The Destiny Stone. This, in itself, was the follow up to one of the best AOR albums in the last ten years, (IMHO) in the shape of the band's self titled debut. Last years 'Live In Belgium' opus was a good representation of the bands music with the added bonus of some Survivor tracks thrown in for good measure, and then, to top it all I was luckily enough to interview Jim Peterick. A fulfillment of a personal ambition.

With all that in mind I was really looking forward to hearing this, their new album. However after many listens over several weeks it has to be said that 'The Roaring of Dreams' does not grab me in the way that the either of the first two albums managed to do. 

The problem perhaps lies in the mission statement that sits at the heart of what Pride Of Lions have tried to produce with 'The Roaring Of Dreams. As the accompanying press release states “When we sat down with Serafino (President of Frontiers Records) last year, he suggested that Pride of Lions return to the more commercial and hook-oriented music of our first album and the Vital Signs album”.

Justifying the above statement runs the risk of it appearing that I am contradicting myself. I am after all seen as the AOR geek on HardRockHouse. Indeed many people will, on listening, think that they have died and gone straight to AOR heaven. However whilst 'The Roaring of Dreams' may very well be the best straight ahead AOR release this year the material it contains does not measure up the songs on the debut, furthermore it also misses the experimentation that I so loved on the sophomore release.

Stand out tracks for me are 'Book Of Life', a brilliant up tempo rocker with great vocal interplay between Hitchcock and Peterik and the fantastically overblown title track 'Roaring Of Dreams'. Elsewhere 'Turnaround' features some of the most outstanding guitar work this side of the 'Loneliest Place In The World' from Ten’s debut release and the acoustic driven 'Tall Ships' is reminiscent of the sort of stuff Danny Vaughn has done so well on his more recent albums.

Album opener 'Heaven on Earth', obviously has special meaning to Peterick, listen to the heart felt lyrics and it’s easy to see why. And for all you Survivor fans out there, check out 'Let Me You Go' and just listen to those keyboards. It's 1987 all over again.

'The Roaring Of Dreams' is by no means a bad album. How could it be with Peterik and Hitchcock involved. However it is probably safe to say that it is a safe album and not one to stretch any boundaries, or the talent of it's protagonists to any great degree. There have been rumours that this may be the last POL album, I for one hope this is not the case but if there is a next time lets hope the band just writes the album the band wants and not what the record company requests.

Let us know your views on 'The Roaring Of Dreams'

Track List

Heaven on Earth
Book Of Life
Love's Eternal Flame
Language Of The Heart
Let Me You Go
Faithful Heart
Defying Gravity
Roaring Of Dreams
Secret Of The Way
Astonish You
Tall Ships
Turnaround

Line Up

Jim Peterik - Guitars/Keys
Toby Hitchcock- Vocals
Ed Breckenfield - Drums
Klem Hayes - Bass
Mike Aquino - Guitar
Christian Cullen - Keys
Thom Griffin - Background vocals