Recent Reviews

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Lionville: Magic Is Alive
Lionville - Magic Is Alive Album Art

Lionville: Magic Is Alive

AOR Melodic Rock
4.0/5.0

Facebook
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.08.2020 | Released: 07.08.2020

Established a decade ago by guitarist and songwriter Stefano Lionetti, Lionville has delivered three successful studio albums. 2017's A World Of Fools found the band signed to Italy's Frontiers Music label which gave the band more international recognition. A year later, Lionville performed at the annual Frontiers Rock Festival to some acclaim. Now the quintet, featuring Work Of Art vocalist Lars Safsund, returns with their fourth long-player, Magic Is Alive, still with Frontiers Music.

Lionville - Click For Larger Image

Lionville

For his songwriting and Lionville's musical style, Lionetti influences are self-evident: classic Eighties AOR melodic rock. And the necessary musical elements to create the same are self-evident as well: strong melodies, catchy hooks in the arrangements and refrains, pleasing vocal and guitar harmonies, a flourish of keyboards, solid groove from the rhythm section, and soaring guitar solos from Lionetti himself. Lionville is not reinventing their sound, merely expounding upon it. Magic Is Alive is AOR ear candy, plain and simple.

The album offers eleven songs to review, all of which every AOR fan will find both interesting and entertaining. Yet, here a few choice songs which I found most favorable. One is Nothing Without You, an AOR tune with strong riff and vocal harmony, an upbeat groove, and some spry keyboards. Another favorite was Every Little Thing (Leads Back To You), if only because it was more assertive as beefier and faster melodic hard rock. Living With The Truth offers a delightful piano and guitar solo intro before developing into something faster, slightly heavier, leading to a fine Lionetti guitar solo. Finally, I'll Never Give My Heart Away, in arrangement, turns upon a light and lingering piano line paired with spry and rhythmic drumming. It can rise heavy in parts, but the piano/drum duo is rather impressive. All things considered, Lionville's Magic Is Alive is another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended for AOR fans everywhere.



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

Lionville's Magic Is Alive is another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended for AOR fans everywhere.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Eclipse: Megalomanium II Album Review

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]