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Album Review: Steve Harris – British Lion

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Steve Harris – British Lion
Release Date: September 24, 2012
Highlights: ?

Legendary Iron Maiden bassist/songwriter Steve Harris announced a few months back that he would be releasing a long anticipated solo album entitled British Lion. First off, I was definitely not anticipating a solo album from Steve Harris but ok. Steve Harris’ people sent out a press release to promote the upcoming album which boasted things like “growling riffage”, “breathtaking progressive elements”, and “dirge-like muscularity.” Once I got done rolling my eyes at this press release, I decided to put all bias aside and give ‘arry the benefit of the doubt. I’ve been an Iron Maiden fan/supporter for over 25 years so I was going into this album with hopes that it would be something really special. After giving this album three listens, I just have one question for Steve Harris. Why?

I knew that this album was going to be far from an Iron Maiden album. I mean, why make an Iron Maiden sounding record when you are in Iron Maiden already? I mean, looking to the past, Bruce Dickinson has an amazing body of solo work that sounds nothing like Iron Maiden so that wasn’t the issue. The standing issue here is that this album just isn’t good. First off, the mix on this album is so ridiculous. Steve Harris’ bass is so damn loud in the mix and up front. Yes Steve, we know this is your band buddy. We know you’re a great bassist but do you have to be so damn loud in the mix?

Second, there is nothing “classic” sounding about this album that beckons back to The Who or Deep Purple. For the most part, it sounds like an alternative album. The opening track, “This Is My God” just completely kills any chance of this album being any good. Musically it’s completely uninspired but what makes things worse is the vocalist. Richard Taylor? Who is this guy? Well, after hearing this guy sing I totally get why he’s unknown. There is absolutely no strength or even the slightest bit of soul to his vocal delivery. Taylor sings with all the enthusiasm of a karaoke singer who just took a handful of ambien and chased it with a pint of beer. On a song like “Karma Killer”, which could have been an amazing song, is just completely pulled down by the weakness of his vocals. “Us Against the World” literally sounds like something that was left on the cutting room floor of an Iron Maiden session. It actually sounds like it could have been a great song but again, the vocals are so weak that it just completely drains it of any life.

Musically, British Lion does have some pretty promising moments but again, not enough to completely salvage it and make it anything really worth listening. “The Chosen Ones” reminds me of something that Cheap Trick would’ve done but I couldn’t help but have a literal “LOL” moment when Taylor so unenthusiastically yells “C’mon!” at the opening of the song. One would think that the leader of the single greatest metal band of all time would pick a vocalist who had some gusto, some oomph, and some balls for Christ sake. Then again, as any Iron Maiden fan knows, ‘arry is a hard head and he’s made some pretty ridiculous decisions in the career of Iron Maiden. Hell, he’s the guy that picked Blaze Bayley of all people to replace Bruce Dickinson so I guess I’m really not all that surprised that he picked this guy to sing on his solo album.

I’m really curious to see how some of the other Iron Maiden diehards are going to react to this album. As a huge fan of Steve Harris, I just can’t get behind him on this one. It’s not the first time he’s let me down as a fan and it won’t be the last I’m sure. It doesn’t make me love him any less. It just makes him human. I really wanted to like British Lion and I really hoped for something really killer but instead I feel completely let down. It’s kind of like getting a big box for Christmas and while you’re expecting for it to contain a kick ass robot or something, you open it up and it’s a sweater. Steve Harris gave us all one big, ugly Christmas sweater and while I appreciate the sentiment, I will just accept it with a smile, say thank you and tuck it away never to look at it again.

About The Author

Don

I have been running this blog since 2009. AKA as the Great Southern Brainfart, Southeast of Heaven is my baby now and forever. I’ve had my ups and downs with bands over the years but they are all great experiences and memories. My Swedish friend Charlie said once, “Don is known for being one of the meanest bastards in American rock journalism.” It’s nice to be loved.

I also once took a shit in Anthrax’s dressing room toilet and didn’t flush.

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11 Responses

  1. I thought this album was terrible. I wasn’t expecting Maiden but I expected better than this. Maybe 2 songs that were alright. The lead singer blows. If Maiden fans didn’t like Blaze they’re going to really hate this guy. I assert that Blaze was underrated and if Bruce sang those albums no one would be complaining. And to the dude above me. If you didn’t listen to the Talisman more than once you should just stop listening. Just go put Run To The Hills on repeat.

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  2. It’s a disgrace that someone we have loved and adored since Iron Maiden began would serve this up to his fans, and yes he did do this for his fans. Omly his fans would have been interested in the album,,,,not the American Idol MTV monkeys,,this was aimed at us. The worst sound production I have ever heard….Take a look at yourself STEVE HARRIS. The last Iron maiden I have listened to once….and that was a stretch. Get MARTIN BIRCH back….very fast.

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  3. I actually really liked Blaze Bailey as part of Iron Maiden and I love Steve Harris’s new album. You can’t listen to it expecting it to sound like Maiden, he even said in an interview that he could never do that sort of thing with Maiden. I think that is too harsh a review and looking at it from too much of a Maiden point of view. With Blaze Bailey it’s all about personal taste I guess, but even though Bruce has always been my favourite singer with the band, I thought songs like Lightning Strikes Twice and The Angel and the Gambler were epic. Just my opinion though.

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    1. See, this is where your argument is completely invalid. I never went into this listening for it to sound like Iron Maiden. I never listened to any of Bruce’s solo albums hoping they would sound like Iron Maiden. All I expected as a fan was for it to be good. British Lion is not a good album. It’s uninspired and the lead vocalist is weak beyond comparison. Steve Harry may like this guy but then again he liked Blaze and that guy sucked beyond all recognition as a singer for Iron Maiden. I know it’s all subjective but to use the argument “You can’t expect it to sound like Iron Maiden” is irrelevant. I don’t want it to sound like Maiden. I just want it to be good and this is not good.

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  4. LOLWUT? Steve’s sorry solo album is better than Master of Puppets and Kill ’em All? Metallica may blow goats now, but they used to kick all kinds of ass.

    And it’s not a good album “for classic rock”. The classic rock that I listen to is Van Halen 1, Led Zep 2, Animals, etc. Not even close!

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  6. the albums sucks, but please dont be going on saying virtual XL is shit, its one of the most underrated maiden albums

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  8. So Mistah Brainfart, I know you have been anxiously awaiting my review of the album. Here’s the track by track run down, as I listened through:

    1. This is My God – horrible mix, drums sound like ass, vocals are too far back in the mix. Bass sounds like it was recorded as an afterthought. Everything is so muddy. Lyrics are bad and the song is boring as fuck. An album opener? Holy shit, Steve.

    2. lost worlds – I’m already tired of this vocalist. so weak. The little bridge/pre-chorus is cool, but the rest of the song is boring. mix is still shit. Another false ending like the first song, a mark of poor songwriting. That last section has nothing to do with the rest of the song and is horrible.

    3. karma killer – someone loves his wah pedal. give it a rest. bad song, this is so boring. Horrible chorus.

    4. us against the world – sounds like maiden. And then come the weak vocals. intro doesn’t work with the sound and feel of the verse. Fucking A, his vocals are so incredibly pathetic. Hate this guy. Nice ‘wasted years’ ripoff moment in the solo. It’s not even that this sounds like a “couldn’t cut it to be a maiden song”, it sounds like a band trying to put maiden-type sounds into their otherwise weak song.

    5. the chosen ones – “come on!!!111!” holy crap, that’s lame. Jeez this song is awful. Sound like bad english. I could’ve NEVER imagined that a “Steve Harris solo album” would be this awful.

    6. a world without heaven – meh. of course, once the into is done we have a slow verse. Enough of this formula. “these days make me want to cry”….fail. I’m so glad I didn’t buy this album. The awful repeating of “heavunnnn” is a big mark against this song.

    7. Judas – same situation, slow down for the verse. Fuck these guys, fuck this album. What an awful chorus. Is there a bad edit in the middle of this? I’m listening on spotify and right in the middle of the solo it abruptly switches to a mellow part.

    8. Eyes of The Young – more 80’s pop rock. Could be on a Bad English album, but the guitar playing would at least be a lot better. And of course, a slow down for the verse. Possibly the worst song so far, and that’s saying something. HA! Another “come on!!1” near the end.

    9. These are the hands – is every song going to slow down after the intro? it’s painful to listen to this album.

    10. The Lesson – the lesson is, don’t do favors for your mates, Steve. If you’re going to put your name on a solo album, fucking do it right. I’m surprised that he allowed an entirely slow song on one of his albums. Regardless, it’s weak song that closes out a weak album.

    Yes, I know I used the word “weak” way too many times. I’m not interested in finding synonyms…that’s what this album and vocalist are. Comparing this with every other thing ol ‘Arry has been associated with, this is almost as bad as Virtual XI. I’m glad I didn’t spend any money on this and I’m also happy that I’ll never hear it again.

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