Review | Lionville – Supernatural

Frontiers Music srl

In their fourteen-year existence Italian AOR/heavy rockers Lionville released five albums of which the last two (‘So Close To Heaven’ and ‘Magic Is Alive’) were quite astonishing. In the Swede Lars Safsund they had the perfect vocalist whose voice was just carved out for the music that was mostly written by bandleader/guitarist Stefano Lionetti. Still, according to Lionetti it was time for a change, for a (partly) new musical direction. So mister Safsund was thanked for his services and replaced by another Swedish vocal wonder Alexander Strandell of Art Nation and more recently the star attraction of the Nitrate-album ‘Feel The Heat’ (that came out in October 2023).

RENEWED ENERGY

Although Stefano Lionetti has announced some changes, after hearing the album several times I can set the fans of this group at ease. It is not that Lionville has completely changed things around or sound totally different now. The biggest change lies in the renewed energy that has been put into the record. The AOR influences are still there but are no longer so evident. Songs such as ,,Gone’’, ,,Unbreakable’’ and the ballad ,,The Right Time’’ would have fitted on the last two records. But tracks such as the title-song, opener ,,Heading For A Hurricane’’ and ,,The Storm’’ are more guitar dominated.

Although I am a fan of Lars Safsund I think that the arrival of Alexander Strandell has certainly not done Lionville any harm at all. The man is versatile, can sing a ballad and handle a heavy rocker with ease. As he already proved on Nitrate’s ‘Feel The Heat’, he is the complete package. Able to take a band like Lionville by the hand and take them a few steps further.

LIONVILLE – THE CONCLUSION

In fact, Lionville has found a perfect mix that will help them forward. This album will please old fans as there are several songs that are in the old style. But the band is at the same time slowly but surely gearing and beefing up their sound and approach. I think ‘Supernatural’ is a great transition album that makes me curious how the next record will sound. Until then ‘Supernatural’ will do nicely. Key factor will be if they can keep their vocalist on board as Strandell is of such class that he could be snapped up in by a major act.

Release date: 15 November 2024