TOKYO MOTOR FIST: Lions (A.O.R.): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Let's be honest: the multiplication of stars associations within supergroups has been a regular source of disappointment. However, Tokyo Motor Fist silenced those fears with their debut eponymous album (2017). Backed by a dreamy rhythm section, the pair of Ted Poley (Danger Danger) and Steve Brown (Trixter) proved that the friendship that really bound them together allowed their artistic identities to blend together for the better instead of turning to the classic ego clash. Three years later, the quartet is back with a stable line-up, which is a good sign, for a new opus entitled "Lions".

Based on the famous adage that you don't change a winning team, the recipe will bring few surprises to fans. But is this what they are looking for? At first glance, no, and that's good because they won't be disappointed. Indeed, the formula always revolves around a melodic Hard Rock that navigates between a soft and luminous pop AOR ('Look Into Me') and a wilder US hard, worthy of Danger Danger's "Screw It" (1991), combining energy and catchy chorus ('Around Midnight'). The shadow of Def Leppard still hovers over always dynamic mid-tempi, with typical choruses ('Monster In Me') and bewitching melodies on which Ted's voice sometimes flirts with Joe Elliott's ('Blow Your Mind'). All this gives titles with hymnic refrains and 80's scents ('Mean It') with Steve Brown regularly playing fiery solos ('Youngblood', 'Dream Your Heart Out'). The summits are reached on 'Winner Takes All', a real little melodic bomb with contagious energy and an unstoppable chorus.

Moving away from this framework, the eponymous title offers a hypnotic and almost symphonic ballad with its string lines and bewitching chorus. Note that it is Dennis DeYoung (Styx) who comes to offer the keyboard solo. Another distinguished guest is saxophonist Mark Rivera (Billy Joel, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Foreigner...) who plays a brilliant solo on the astonishing 'Sedona', a sunny track with a contagious good mood, oscillating between Van Halen and Extreme with its brass section and groove. Harder but just as groovy, 'Decadence On 10th Street' fuses at the limits of funk, reminiscent of Extreme, Trixter or Led Zeppelin.

A transformed essay for Tokyo Motor Fist which confirms the quality of its first opus while incorporating to its formula some elements which will deserve to be more developed afterwards. With "Lions", the American quartet once again manages to leave ego aside and put their individual talents at the service of compositions that are as unstoppable as each other, sometimes with a delicious and light perfume of nostalgia. Another great soundtrack to accompany your summer holidays! - Official website

TOKYO MOTOR FIST

LIONS

FRONTIERS RECORDS

A.O.R.