Lioncage - Done At Last (2015)

LIONCAGE is a living paradox, and trying to resolve the questions concerning the deepest meaning of their Artistic approach, is like searching for the early main starting point in the big bang process.

Hailing from Germany the band breaks all the Teutonic rules and in the same time, LIONCAGE is more than other in total coherence with the timeless precepts of AOR with many referential formulas borrowed to the whole 80’s sound, a magic decade that built once and for all the codes and the dogmatic tags. However, their motto “What a great fucking day for Rock ‘n’ Roll” seems perhaps somehow out of place!

LIONCAGE is a new band formed by experienced players with lots of confidence and a total dedication to this Melodic rush. The veteran Lars Konig is the mastermind and the main creative force between the LIONCAGE moniker, he’s the guitar player and also the producer, the sonic design is in complete stylistic agreement with the genre, an ultra polished production in order to give some room to this guitar driven Melodic Rock with a few new perspectives that will lead inevitably to the Classic Anthemic arena Rock, his weakness but also all its expected arrangments elements like Keyboards layers, the commercial tricks and the typical Harmonized choirs, with a maniacal focus on catchy chorus and radio friendly hooks everywhere.

A easy listening/entertaining album (“Reach the Stars”/“Falling”/”Down Under” and “Where Do We Go”) predictable but catchy…Like SEVEN last year, it provides a real elegance (“Mission of Love”/"Till the Morning Comes"/”Pictures” ) classy but most of the time, unfortunately the rockin’ edge is missing (“Stay”/”Don't Be Afraid”) and sometimes, well sometimes this is simply too soft for me (“Dancing Queen”). Too wimpy !

The real paradox is that if “Done At Last ” will never reach the level of those legendary classic albums where they have taken their inspiration, however the honesty and the loyalty displayed all over the album is captivating enough to please some AOR integrists, even if it isn’t enough to ensure the success of such a regulated equilibrium of parameters in a larger scale.

Like if the expertise of the players, their perfectionism was maybe the problem, indeed it will never surprised and the lacks of energetic moments, and the slightly hermetic atmosphere is disappointing, the constant presence of some repetitive gimmicks in their highly formulaic themes is also deceptive.

An album made by AOR’s masters for the whole community of Melodic Rock fans following the rules and the dogma with care. Personally I feel puzzled, If i have a soft spot for this kind of subtle Melodic Hard Rock, in the same time, I' m always in need to some Powerful approach to complete the Melodic & Harmonic protocol. A mixed bag of sensations.

Like a living paradox!