Get out the cat nip and a scratching post- and forget about any color challenged endangered species, the legion known as White Lion has resurged with a new cd and summer tour.
Many will remember White Lion from their highly successful run in the 80’s and early 1990’s and double platinum status for their mega hit “When the Children Cry” off of the album “Pride”. The band then became MTV darlings and also made the tour circuit as openers for everyone from Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Stryper, KISS and AC/DC on their Blow Up Your Video American tour. The result was that Pride became one of about 20 hard rock albums to ever have multiple top 10 hits and the band, exhausted and stretched, disbanded in 1992.
Lead singer Mike Tramp has now reformed with all new musicians (Jaime Law, guitars, Troy Patrick Farrell, drums, Claus Langeskov, bass and Henning Wanner, keyboards) and released “Return of the Pride” a 12 track romp through stadium guitar solo anthem, mournful ballad with a dash of soul and funk riffs. What the cd lacks in songs that at times can be a bit pedantic lyrically, it more than makes up for in delivery. Tramp has always been an impressive vocalist and he doesn’t fail to relinquish that vocal guarantee fans have come to expect. Live tracks such as “Wait” and “When the Children Cry” are picture perfect cigarette lighter anthems, proving that while “Return of the Pride” is a palatable offering; White Lion’s true forte is the open stage. Notably, Guitarist Law is an impressive shredder who gives former member Vitto Bratto a run for his guitar pick.
Other noteworthy songs include “Sangre de Cristo”, “Battle of Little Big Horn” and “Let Me Be Me”.
Worth a listen, worth seeing live, White Lion can still purr with best of them.
