BAND MEMBERS:
Lee Small (The Sweet, ex-Shy) - lead vocals
Dennis Stratton (ex-Iron Maiden) - lead guitar/backing vocals
Steve Mann (MSG, ex-Liar) - lead guitar/backing vocals
Rocky Newton (Grand Slam, ex-MSG) - bass guitar/backing vocals
Clive Edwards (ex-Pat Travers, Uli Jon Roth & Wild Horses) - drums, percussion

THE REVIEW:
  40 years after their debut album, the boys are back with "Grace of a Dragonfly"
   European metal bands have a rich history of featuring a "who's who" of musicians from some of the biggest names in the business coming together to produce even more incredible music and Lionheart is certainly no exception.
   A quick history: Lionheart was formed in 1980 and has throughout its time featured artists that have been associated with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, UFO, MSG and many others who were/are apart of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
   The band broke up in 1986 and reformed a
handful of years ago and this is their third album since their return and their first in four years.
   Not satisfied with resting on their laurels, guitarist Steve Mann was ready to push forward and do something different: A concept album, and after talking with vocalist Lee Small, who also writes, Grace of a Dragonfly came to be and it  is just that: A concept album about World War II, but with a twist: It's an anti war album.
   Lee has "A fascination with World War II-it's a healthy fascination, it's not a morbid fascination" as Steve recently revealed, and it was agreed that the album would be as uplifting an concept album about a war could be.  "We wanted to respect and remember the people who fought for our liberty... but it has to be an anti war album" Steve went on to exclaim, and the songs are very much about the people that were caught up in everything.
   Living in dark times as we do today, the band's hope is that the listener can come out of the album actually feeling positive-perhaps learning from the past.
   The album opens with "Declaration" which from the opening notes, reminds one of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" from "The Exorcist" with guitars. It's almost chilling and builds and lays the foundation for the journey the listener is about to embark upon.
   "Flight 19" takes to the air, and makes great use of the bandmembers harmonies and speaks of the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle as well.
   "V is for Victory" soars and is very much and anthem of sorts and sounds like the "brightest" song on the album thus far.
   "This is a Woman's War" details the struggles of the family when the husband/father is off at war, which is an important factor that isn't always talked about in media. This is the bands tribute to ALL that are affected by war.
   "The Longest Night" starts with sirens and a great keybaord/guitar combo intro takes us back to the battle itself and possibly best encapsulates the experience to the listener.The twin guitar solos were recorded separately, but works very well.
   "The Eagle's Nest" sounds unlike the rest of the album and has a very lighter 80s vibe to my ears. Probably my favorite sounding track on the album. Musically this wouldn't sound out of place as a love ballad if it were on another album.
   "Little Ships" has a great groove from the opening notes, and is as uplifting as anything else on the album as it brings our journey closer to home.
   "Just a Man" tells the story of a captured prisoner of war and his experience with his captor.
   "UXB" is actually a favorite of Lee's according to Steve as they not only make great use once again of the bands' harmonies, but also is a testament to the fact that they don't rely on fillers or spend too much time on a song they feel isn't working, and this one certainly does.
   The title track follows and is the penultimate track on this journey and tells us of another part of war that is sometimes overlooked-the return home.
   The album ends with "Remembrance, Praying For World Peace" which sums up the bands' message in just over a minute and as stated earlier, the whole point of the concept of this album is to make the listener feel positive afterwards and it certainly does.
   Here's to hope for the future (and maybe a new concept album one day).
   Many thanks to the tremendous interview with Steve Mann conducted by Phil Aston for much of the info about the background for the album, from Now Spinning Magazine which can be found here