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Return Of The Pride

White Lion - Return Of The Pride Audio CD

A fair review of the White Lion "Return Of The Pride" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all White Lion reviews here, or go back to the White Lion tabs.

Band: White Lion
Title: Return Of The Pride
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-04-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sangre De Cristo 2: Dream 3: Live Your Life 4: Set Me Free 5: I Will 6: Battle At Little Big Horn 7: Never Let You Go 8: Gonna Do It My Way 9: Finally See The Light 10: Let Me Be Me 11: Wait (live) - bonus track 12: When The Children Cry (live) - bonus track

I wanted to like it! Really I did!
When most 80's hard rock bands sounded just like everybody else, you could always count of the scruffy, accented voice of Mike Tramp to be so recognizable and melodic. Back in the hair-band heyday, I was White Lion's biggest fan. As far as the "comeback" album, "Return of the Pride", I cannot understand why Tramp thought this album was ready to be released. The lyricism is atrocious, to say the least. The "epics" are too long and pretty much irrelevant. The fast tracks seem sloppily put together, and the ballads are unimaginative and unoriginal.

When I think back to Lady of the Valley or Road to Valhalla, I remember being in a moment. . . you could get inside those songs and feel like you were there. There is nothing remotely engaging in any of the songs on this new album. Everything feels rehashed and amateurish. Obviously the band (White Lion it is NOT) is missing one key element in Vito Bratta, who was the main songwiter in the 80's. Why even put the name White Lion on this record?

I wanted to be excited for White Lion again. . . I wanted to love this album and declare my undying love to a band that shaped my youth. I can't do it this time. I know Mike Tramp has it in him to do this right. He is one thing that has not lost its value. His voice is as strong as ever, only aged to perfection. I'll give him another chance, but I won't be cheering for "Return of the Pride". .

Tramp has certainly matured in his songwriting, which shifts the band in a more contemporary direction
" I know, that sounds like a big yawner, but it's not. The Good
White Lion roar back onto the scene with the 8 minute history lesson "Sangre De Cristo. The track starts off tame and subdued, but soon the energy is let loose in the form of killer guitar riffs, driving drum beats, and melodic vocals. "Dream" is about never letting anyone tell you that you can't do something. The chorus is emotionally powerful and inspiring. "I Will" delves into a father's bond with his son. It's a borderline ballad, with plenty of punch.

If you didn't learn enough history with the album's opener, then White Lion tears off another page for you on "Battle of Little Big Horn. " The track has an epic movie-like feel to it, so it's not all learning. The piano-heavy ballad "Never Let You Go" is sure to jerk and emotion or two out of you. "Gonna Do It My Way" is a guitar-laden rocker similar to White Lion's hey-day. "Let Me Be" also resurrects the classic White Lion sound. The live version of "Wait" comes complete with a new, and better, introduction.

The Bad
Sound quality and production doesn't exactly live up to their classic material, but you really can't fault the band that much. The live version of "When the Children Cry" is a lot slower and down-tuned than the original. It just doesn't have the same appeal as the original. And yes, Mike Tramp can't belt it out anymore, so things are tuned-down and less vocally challenging.

The Verdict
Return of the Pride can't really hold a candle to White Lion's classic material, but it's still quite enjoyable. Tramp has certainly matured in his songwriting, which shifts the band in a more contemporary direction. There are still a few good rockers though.

Return Of The Pride indeed....
Simply put, this is a very good rock album for fans of the genre. Mike Tramp still sounds great after all these years. Its good to see some of these guys keepin' it alive.

Rock'n Roll still has White Lion...
The emotional vocals of Mike Tramp, the incredible guitar of Vito Bratta placed White Lion the deepest in our hearts. The original White Lion was loved so much although the band was only a few years active. . .
Eventhough White Lion broke up a long ago, eventhough the times have changed, there's still Mike Tramp and still keeps us rocking. . .
This album is not, of course, as good as the awesome albums like "Pride", "Big Game" and "Mane Attraction" of original White Lion, but it contains pure hard rock and very, very good songs. . .
My favourites from this album are "I Will", "Dream", "Set Me Free" and "Let Me Be Me" but other songs are good as well.
As final words, Thank You Mike Tramp, for giving us the wonderful rock'n roll again.

What a wonderful surprise! 4.5 stars.
I really have to give Mike Tramp some credit here, as I did NOT expect this quality at all from a "Vito-less" White Lion. What a great year 2008 turned out to be for Melodic ROCK/AOR fans! Great new CD's from Whitesnake, Dokken, Guns-N-Roses and Tesla! The only disappoinment was the new Def Leppard, which is mediocre at best. But credit him for writing some stunning music! These songs are great!

Mike truly is a great song writer. There is NOT a single bad track on this CD. I highly encourage you to pick up this album now! I frankly don't know how bands like White Lion do it, with the state of music these days. There is so much garbage music out today and this CD has more quality in it's first 3 tunes than most new bands produce in a career.

Although I like all 11 songs, my favorite tracks include: I Will, Finally See The Light, Never Let You Go, Live Your Life, Dream. . . . . and "Set Me Free" is the best song on the CD in my opinion. Tramp soulfully sings his best material since the "Big Game" CD.

Lead Guitarist Jamie Law does a good job filling in for Vito. We all know coming into this, that he could never be replaced, but Law is a fine shredder and has three great solos on the CD. Maybe one day Vito will want to get back into the music world, but until then Law deserves credit for this work.

Thank you Mike Tramp and White Lion! Please keep releasing great CD's like this and your fans will support you!

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You can see a complete list of all White Lion discography, or go back to the White Lion tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.