Every new Pride Of Lions release is an alert for every rock enthusiast out there. Hence, “Dream Higher” arrives almost three years after “Lion Heart”, which was my least favorite album in the band’s discography until the new album was released. Even though Jim Peterik (Survivor) is a great songwriter who has been going on since the 70s and Toby Hitchcock is one of the best voices in the AOR / Melodic Rock scene right now, the new album falls short of expectations.
Well, to set things straight… there’s nothing wrong with the album. The musicianship is excellent, the production is tight and clear, and the final outcome is satisfactory. What I really miss are the big, catchy hooks and the refined melodies that all the previous releases used to have. I’m really struggling to find a “classic” POL song on the new album. The majority of the tracks are average, offering nothing fresh and lacking strong hooks. Of course, a few songs outperform the rest, but they are not enough to save the day.
Some may argue that this album is particularly strong; however, when compared to the band’s first three releases, there isn’t much to be said. Even when compared to the previous three albums, this one is the least inspired of the band’s releases.
Anyhow, if you do fancy Pride Of Lions, then you have no reason not to listen to this album. Then again, do not expect anything new or groundbreaking here… it’s more of the same, although there aren’t any particularly memorable melodies. Already looking forward to their next release…
