LionSoul – A Pledge To Darkness

LionSoul
A Pledge To Darkness
Rockshot Records
Out: April 29^th, 2022
Playing time: 48:00

They hail from Lombardy, from the provincial capital Bergamo. LionSoul were founded in 2012, but Encyclopaedia Metallum says 2009, but I trust the press release. Both sources agree on the musical style. European-style Power Metal. The debut album “Omega” (2013) was produced by the band themselves, as was the EP “The Throne” released two years later. Five years have passed since the second album “Welcome Storm”. And now the successor “A Pledge To Darkness” is on its way. The songs for it were written and recorded between 2019 and the beginning of 2020. Then Covid struck and delayed the release.

Let me understand doctor,
maybe you are telling me that this planet will no longer exist in 500 years?

Apocalyptic visions in the spoken words of the intro “Continuum”, but not at all unrealistic in the current time. The background music underlines these horror visions. The intro segues seamlessly into the first song “Exile To Arise”. So there is only the escape to the front. And this is performed with a lot of power and high speed. Ivan Castelli’s powerful vocals are impressive, supported again and again by epic choruses. Luca Mazzucconi (Eleventh Hour, ex-Lahannya) beats his drum kit as if there was no tomorrow. Calmer and very rhythmic is “Amber Of Illusion”. Despite the beautiful Power Metal Anthem, we should not be fooled by this deceptive amber. With “Wailing In Red” another Speed Metal banger follows. Also the song title “No Beginning (Nor An End)” spreads little hope. The sound is correspondingly hectic. And so it continues with “Skin 2”. Partly with industrial sounds, as can be heard in places in the title song “A Pledge To Darkness”. Although beautiful melodies are also inserted here again. All the more surprising are the ballad-like sounds in “Red Flame”. But this is not a typical contemplative ballad. Rather the calm between two storms. And such a storm follows with “Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme”. With dissonant guitar playing, dissonant vocals and heavy riffs. The album ends with equally hard riffs and double bass attacks (“The Strangers”).

“A Pledge To Darkness” is an album that leaves the listener somewhat disturbed. The lyrics are too topical. And the sound describes the current situation too well. But it is also an album that is meant to shake things up. Musically beyond all doubt, with a strong production. Every metal fan is advised to let the music have an effect on him or her.

LionSoul – Wailing In Red (Official Lyric Video): https://youtu.be/w-50helLg4M

Lineup:

Luca Mazzucconi – Drums
Aurelio Parise – Guitars, Vocals (backing)
Ivan Castelli – Vocals
Francesco Pedrini – Guitars
Giuseppe Lombardo – Bass

Label: Rockshots Records

Out: April 29^th, 2022

Playing time: 48:00

Track list:

• Continuum
• Exile to Arise
• Amber of Illusion
• Wailing in Red
• No Beginning (Nor An End) 
• Soldier Through Time
• Skin 2
• A Pledge to Darkness
• Red Flame
• Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme
• The Stranger