Steve Harris' British Lion - Bring their tour to Oxford

August 20th 2015

Oxford, o2 Academy2, UK

***

This lion doesn’t roar enough for me!!!

Steve Harris’ British Lion *** everyone knows Steve Harris of course from Iron Maiden, but he is back again on the road with his new band British Lion. Tonight it’s Oxford’s turn to sample his new band, this will be the first time that Steve has played in Oxford since he was there with Iron Maiden for the 90’s. So their is quite some anticipation for tonight’s show, I am shocked to find he is not in the main room at the Oxford, o2 Academy, being put upstairs in the Academy 2 venue. Also the room does not fill up until about the second song of their set, and even then it’s not Sold Out!!!. You would think such a well known Metal legend would command a bigger audience than this.

The original line-up of British Lion actually was formed over twenty four years ago, but it was only a few years ago that their debut album came out… so you do wonder why this took so long. I think this maybe because a lot of people saw British Lion, the first time he took them on the road and realised that their are similarities to Maiden but they are also Worlds apart at the same time. British Lion have a far more European / Power Metal vibe to them. This is noticed in the first song in their set ‘This is my God’, which sounds with a 90’s Seattle guitar sound to it. With swirling guitars and the stopped up with vocals that would really suit the current line-up of Queensryche. Richard Taylor the bald headed frontman of the British Lion project is a very good singer, but I feel he is not distinctive enough for the music he is singing a long with.

His vocals are far too perfect, and don’t have the edge to them that would push the band to grab your attention more. These vocals work well for bands in the European Rock circuit, that have a very clean image, but I am not sure they work so well when added to a British Heavy Metal band like what British Lion are meant to be. They continue with the second track off the debut record ‘Lost Worlds’, just to bring back the songs from the first album to the audiences attention. There is a lot of Iron Maiden t-shirts in the audience, and you just think it would have been nice to see a few more British Lion ones. You do hope that not everyone is here because of the Iron Maiden connection and that a lot of people in the audience actually love the first British Lion album.

By this point already in the evening, It is starting to get hot and sweaty in the Oxford venue and everyone seems to be having a good time. ‘Father Lucifer’ is ok tonight, but ‘The Burning’ is far more interesting and shows of what the band can do more. I just feel at times that some of these songs should stand out more on the live stage, especially with the set up the band has been provided with onstage. They have the best instruments, the best amps and backdrops and artwork that looks amazing and really stands out. New song ‘Spitfire’ really stands out in the bands set, and shows off how good the new album could be… so I look forward to seeing if this song sounds so good recorded.

This song ha a Prog Rock feel to it, and sounds a little Medeval with a few lovely hints of the traditional Steve Harris sound added into it. Think early Maiden here, taken into this time and you might have it. ‘The Chosen Ones’ has a great retro feel to it, and Richard's vocals sound so much better on it. The song has a great bass rhythm too it, and shows Steve can do some great different bass lines to what he does with Iron Maiden. Also the guitar provided by David Hawkins and Graham Leslie is really inspire, mixing well while going down different paths at the same time.

‘These are the Hands’ is a little atmospheric and goes down well, and I think is one of the best written songs by the band. It has a more commercial vibe to it, and I would like to see more of this in British Lion’s music. Maybe they have been working on this, because in new song ‘Bible Black’ you can hear they have tried to add more of this element and I think this could be a possible single off their next record. Strangely they go from this into the more traditional and Blues orientated Glenn Hughes Esq. ‘Guineas and Crowns’, a track that I am not so keen on.

You can hear Steve Harris’ distinctive bass line in singles like ‘Us against the World’ and ‘Judas’, the second of which is far more up beat and one of the bands better songs. It’s also quite nice to see Steve doing his signature ‘Trooper’ esq. machine gun bass moves at the end of a few songs, but maybe he should leave them to be special for Iron Maiden shows and should do something different for British Lion… but it is nice to see. ‘Last Chance’ sounds like he has lifted elements out of Iron Maiden songs, so even though it is kind of enjoyable… I feel it’s just too similar to Maiden and maybe he should be doing something away from his other band with this project.

They where going to leave the stage, but they thought what the point and play on with ‘Let it Roll’, a UFO cover Ending the set with one of their best songs ‘Eyes of the Young’ off their self titled release. These songs end the set off really well, and you wish they had put the energy they put into these songs the whole way through the set. After the show Steve Harris was nice enough to stick around and get photo’s with fans and sign things, something a lot of people don’t do now without charging you. So good on you Steve for giving the fans what they want, and not exploiting them for more cash.

I would not run out to see British Lion, but they are not a band to be overlooked and this is coming from a life long Iron Maiden fan. This is especially when tonight we heard some promising songs for the next album. I would love to hear what these songs would sound like with a different singer, but this maybe just a personal choice. He just does not click with me, and for me being a singer myself. I have to identify with the vocals. If your a Iron Maiden, Saxon, UFO or a fan of Heavy Metal then British Lion are a band you have to check out and make your mind up for yourself.